striped skunk population by state

A skunks pelt is composed of soft, wavy underfur overlain with long, coarse guard hairs. Although a market still exists, it is not as vigorous as it once was. Go to Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. Late-winter to early-spring is mating season. Choose recycling over trash when possible. [5], The striped skunk was regularly eaten by trappers and indigenous peoples, provided the animal was not too old or had not sprayed before being killed. Striped Skunk Commonly referred to as polecats, striped skunk are about the size of domestic house cats, measuring 21-28 inches in total length and weighing from 3-11 pounds. Skunk fur is an important asset to the fur industry, with pelts with a greater percentage of black grading higher. [19] Striped skunks inhabiting California's coastal areas will feed on crabs and beached fish. Striped skunks are natives of North America and occur from northern Mexico to southern Canada. Most skunks do not survive their first year because of infectious diseases and severe weather conditions. These polka-dotted relatives are smaller, about the size of a fat squirrel, and do impressive handstands to warn predators before they launch their stinky spray. Protection and promoting general public awareness of a species is a good way to secure its status. [11] Alternative English names for the striped skunk include common skunk,[12] Hudsonian skunk, northern skunk, black-tailed skunk and prairie polecat. I studied habitat, site, and population parameters of striped skunks, based on . Hunting and trapping are regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, regulations here. It has been prevalent in modern popular culture, being the subject of various jazz and funk songs like Cab Calloway's "Skunk Song" and the Brecker Brothers' "Some Skunk Funk". The Striped skunk seems aware of how horrible its own odor is and will not spray in its own dens or in confined spaces. [10][11] The Cree and Ojibwe word shee-gawk is the root word for Chicago, which means 'skunk-land'. Summer home ranges of 83 to 1,860 acres have been reported for skunks in Illinois. The common striped skunk is found from central Canada southward throughout the United States to northern Mexico. Mammalian predators typically avoid skunks, unless they are starving. (218) 788-2694 [4] Despite being easy to breed and manage, skunk farming was not overly profitable, as the relatively low price of the pelts did not compensate for the costs in maintaining them. 3 of 8 By November, young of the year are as large as adults. There is a significant reduction in body mass during wintermonths, when striped skunks can lose up to 50 percent of their weight. The striped skunk has been protected under the Environmental Conservation Law since the late 1800s. To help assess population trends, we can look at regional furbearer harvest data, methods. Size: 18-32 inches long; up to 8 lbs. Quick Facts Species Type Native Size Around 8 pounds Habitat Forests, grasslands, meadows and suburban areas Range You're probably thinking of a stocky animal, around the size of a housecat, black with white stripes, like Pep Le Pew. Description. Their conspicuous black and white coloration warns of their best defense, the strong-smelling musk they spray to ward off threats. Cornfields are good feeding areas, where skunks forage for grasshoppers, grubs and beetles. Measurements from Minnesota are from Hazard (1982), from Wisconsin are from Jackson (1961), and from the Eastern United States are from Hamilton and Whitaker (1998). This striped skunk caught a vole. 5013 Miller Trunk Hwy Although these animals are usually silent, they can make a wide range of sounds, including hissing, screeching, churring, growling, twittering, and cooing sounds during social interactions or when alarmed. Threats to striped skunks include severe weather, naturally occurring predation and disease, exposure to chemicals and other human activities. If cornered, the striped skunk will turn and confront its opponent, arching its back and displaying its long and bushy tail to make itself appear larger, followed by stamping its feet. The females will retreat to the den to give birth. Moving a skunk in a box trap is easy if you cover the trap with a dark blanket so the animal can't see you. Pioneers found the striped skunk ( Mephitis mephitis) when they came to Ohio, although skunk numbers are far greater now. [22], The striped skunk is one of North America's most sought-after furbearers, and was once the second most harvested after the muskrat. They prefer open areas, with abundant populations observed on agricultural lands. They occasionally receive mice, eggs, nuts and select fruits as well. In spring, summer and early fall, a skunk may den in several different burrows; in winter, it tends to use just one. Coleraine, MN 55722, Ermine (Short-tailed Weasel; Mustela erminea). They do not hibernate, and may forage for food occasionally during the season, but generally rely on their fat reserves to see them through the winter. Shores of Puget Sound and coastal region of Washington and northern Oregon. Skunks are intelligent and usually good-natured. Skunks are a major reservoir for rabies and other parasites. The skunk will move backwards towards the aggressor while stamping its feet. Musk can make a predator sick or, if the skunk has been able to direct the substance into the animals eyes, temporarily blind. Without doubt, the most widely recognized characteristic of the Striped skunk is the pungent odor of the musk that it produces. The Striped Skunk is found in lowlands throughout Washington, preferring relatively open country such as logged lands, old fields, open woods, brushy grassland, forest edges, riparian corridors, and agricultural areas. Like the more glamorous members of the weasel family, the skunk also has glossy and durable fur that can be dyed uniformly black for exquisite garment trimming. Skunks have poor eyesight and mostly hunt by nose and hearing, so it can be easy to startle one. The long and sharp claws of a skunks forefeet are well-adapted to digging. [11], The striped skunk is easily tamed and was often kept in barns to kill rats and mice during the 19th century. They can weigh from 6 to 14 pounds. Male tail length ranged from 8.7 to 11.0 (220-280 mm) in Minnesota, and female tail length ranged from 7.9 to 10.4 (200-265 mm) in Minnesota. The striped skunk is one of the most recognizable of North America's animals, and is a popular figure in cartoons and children's books. Female striped skunks typically give birth once each year, with breeding occurring between February and April. They are nocturnal animals (active mostly after dark). Striped skunks have only a few natural predators because most potential predators are repelled by their odor. [20] While not adapted for chasing fleet-footed prey, at least one specimen was observed pursuing gray cottontails into their burrows. While the mammals have adapted to a wide range of environments, they prefer habitat with a variety of woodlands and open fields, which means they can also be found in both rural and suburban settings. The novelty song "Dead Skunk" by Loudon Wainwright III was popular in the early 1970s. Size : Total length: 20-30 inches; tail length: 7-15 inches; weight: 2-11 pounds. Although skunks in New York retreat to winter dens and remain inactive for extended periods, they do not hibernate. They typically use underground dens which can be in grassy banks, rocky crevices, or along fencerows, although sometimes they use aboveground dens including barns, woodpiles, haystacks, or rock or brush piles. Fruits, nuts, carrion, garbage, invertebrates, eggs, small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles can all be taken, but insects usually represent the majority of their diet. Scientific Name: Mephitis mephitis. Striped skunks mate in February and early March. Litters of 2-16 (usually 4-6) young are born in May or June. The skunk excels at this potential and can discharge a foul-smelling fluid as a means of defense. A medium-sized subspecies with a very long tail. In summer, they feed heavily on insects (adult and larval form) including grasshoppers, crickets, beetles and wasps. Its scientific name, mephitis, in Latin means bad odor. Large, bushy black and white tail. The advantage that these birds have over their terrestrial counterparts is that, because they have no sense of smell, they are unaffected by the striped skunks last means of defense: its spray. New England and Middle Atlantic States; south to Virginia; west to Indiana. Protect local waterways by using fewer pesticides when caring for your garden or lawn. The second, still originating in the Texas-Mexico region, expanded westwards to the Rocky Mountains during the Illinoian glacial period. Variations include striping patterns and coloration; some striped skunks may be cream-colored with no visible striping. Young striped skunks reach sexual maturity at about 10 months. 3001 Connecticut Ave., NW Printable Striped Skunk Wildlife Note (PDF). Immune to snake venom, these animals will eat poisonous snakes such as rattlesnakes. Some farmers welcome their presence, realizing that these small predators eat many pest insects and rodents. [11], Skunk farming largely began during the late 1890s, when there was much foreign demand for their skins, and intensive trapping had largely extirpated the more valuable mostly black-colored specimens. The striped skunk is a mostly nocturnal omnivore. It is currently listed as least concern by the IUCN on account of its wide range and ability to adapt to human-modified environments. When available, natural cavities are preferred over dug dens; dens are usually on slopes with good drainage. [1], Striped skunks are polygamous omnivores with few natural predators, save for birds of prey. Striped skunks are solitary, typically docile animals. Their top speed is about 10 miles per hour. Striped skunk sizes vary greatly depending upon time of year and geographic location,with weights fluctuating between 1.5 and 13 pounds (0.7 to 6.3 kg), and total length varying between18 and 32 inches (46.5 to 81.5 cm). This disagreeable musk is secreted by glands at the base of the tail and can be aimed and sprayed at will. Their tail is bushy and long, with long white and black fur. Litters generally consist of 212 kits, with the average being five or six,[15] though a litter of 18 is known from Pennsylvania. Skunks are capable of breeding in their first year. They are hunted and trapped for their pelts in Tennessee. A threatened striped skunk will try to run away from a perceived predator. The type locality is in eastern Canada. 0 inches Variations include striping patterns and coloration; some striped skunks may be cream-colored with no visible striping. It is about the size of a house cat and has a potent musk that often overshadows the beauty of its glossy and durable fur. They can weigh from around 2 lbs to over 10 lbs. Striped skunks have an easily identifiable coloration: two thick white stripes along the back and tail sharply contrast an otherwise black coat. Due to their diet, Striped skunks may affect insect populations in their range. They move at a deliberate walk, slow trot or clumsy gallop. West side of Mississippi Valley from southern Louisiana to Missouri; westward along the coast of Texas to Matagorda Island; and up the Red River Valley as far at least as Wichita Falls. However, recent surveys now . In the days of small dairy farms, several dozen barn cats often ate from the same pan of milk after each milking. Instantly recognizable, striped skunks are known for their signature coloration and for their ability to emit a strong and pungent odor when upset. A skunk is colored black and white. Keystone State. What they eat depends on where they live and what is available. NRRI Duluth[emailprotected] [7][2], The earliest fossil finds attributable to Mephitis were found in the Broadwater site in Nebraska, dating back to the early Pleistocene less than 1.8million years ago. Females usually lose 10 to 30 percent of their body weight by spring; males lose only about 10 percent, as they are more inclined to leave their dens and feed during mild spells. Spraying an offending creature typically occurs after a warning display, which involves the skunk stomping its feet and arching its back while raising its tail. Stink badgers are preyed upon by civets, cats, and humans. Tail: 7.0 - 15. Found up to about 2000 feet on the west side of the state. High corn plants also protect young skunks from airborne and land predators without impeding their movements. Regionally, skunk harvest plummeted from peaks in the 1970s and 1980s. A mated female drives off males shortly after her three-day estrus period ends. They typically breed in the later winter or early spring, giving birth to a single litter of 1 - 6 young born in May or June. During winter for extended periods, they are inactive but they do not truly hibernate. Skunk dens have 1-5 well-hidden entrances, and end in 1-3 rooms lined with vegetation. Skunks dig out bumblebee nests and scratch at the entrances of beehives, catching and eating any honeybees that fly out. Cases of rabies in this species are generally epizootic and recurrent. These dens are normally used only in late fall, winter, and early spring, while females with unweaned kits make use of them in late spring and summer. Skunks forage at night or at dawn for a variety of foods including berries, grasses, nuts, and other vegetable material, as well as worms, insects, grubs and the nestlings of birds, mice and cottontail rabbits. Skunks molt yearly, beginning in April and ending in September. [2], Striped skunks are known to use their sharp claws to tear apart rotting logs to find grubs, dig in the soil for insects, and pin down prey. Status in Tennessee: Striped Skunks may be abundant in certain areas, so there are no conservation concerns. Skunks eat honeybees and wasps and often attack beehives. Wildlife researchers have estimated an average of one skunk per 10 acres of prime habitat and 13.5 skunks per square mile of agricultural land. These glands have nozzle-like ducts, which protrude through the anus. Black coat with white stripe that begins on forehead and then divides in two. Skunks do not hibernate, although they may remain dormant underground all winter. Striped skunks live throughout North America from southern Canada into northern Mexico. From the late 1990s until present, North Dakota dominates regional harvest. Striped skunk is ideally suited for this purpose because the white hairs of the pelt become a uniform, glossy black when dyed. Color: Black with two white stripes on its back and tail. Regularly occurring. The central chamber is lined with dry grass and leaves. Population Trends To help assess population trends, we can look at regional furbearer harvest data, methods . The most common skunks in North America, striped skunks are terrestrial animals that can survive in a variety of habitats and land types. Make a donation to the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute today! Likewise for a homeowner or nuisance wildlife control agent who finds a skunk in the box trap set in the backyard. To a chemist, the spray consists of of four carbon and hydrogen compounds called thiols. Mephitis memphitis has proven highly adaptable. Winter home ranges tend to be smaller than summer home ranges since skunks typically stay close to their dens. A skunks smelly spray can reach up to ten feet, and be detected for up to 2.4 km (1.5 mi). The spotted skunk is also called a civet cat, but this name is misleading and incorrect because this mammal is not closely related to the true civets of the Old World or to cats. Most striped skunks do not survive their first year, succumbing to the weather or disease. Transport the covered trap without too much jostling, and the animal will not spray. The mating season usually occurs between mid-February to mid-April, though it is delayed at higher latitudes. Striped skunks weigh up to 8 pounds. Coyotes, foxes, owls, bobcat and fisher will prey on skunks, and collisions with cars are a common cause of skunk deaths. Its numbers usually decline as abandoned fields and pastures become forested. Although they may cover several miles each night while hunting, established individuals rarely wander more than a half-mile from their home burrows. The spray, which can not only offend the nose but sting the eyes, can reach 12 feet from the skunk; the mist of the spray and the odor can travel considerably further. The width of this stripe and the amount of white on the tail may vary from one skunk to another. Skunk pelt prices may have doubled from about 1939 through the early 1940s, but they were never as valuable as red fox. Regional records for the eastern spotted skunk suggest that this species extended its range northward into Minnesota in the early 1900s. Northern and central California, from the vicinity of Monterey Bay northward, west of the Sierra and Cascades, to the Willamette Valley, Oregon. Though . 2. [11] Prior to the First World War, skunk pelts were primarily shipped to Europe until better methods of deodorizing and processing the skins lead to increased interest in selling them for North American consumption. Skunks have small heads, with small eyes and ears and a pointed nose. Trapping may help minimize the impacts of disease on a skunk population. Cipriani, D. (2011) "Skunks are affectionate, intelligent pets for owners who offer the proper care.". The resultant "dog training lesson" can offend a whole neighborhood. . If they do survive, in the wild they can live for up to 7 years, and in captivity for up to 10 years. Striped skunks have black fur with a wide, white stripe from the head all the way down the back on the body. They can run as fast as 16km/h (10mph). There's no reason to specify; you will undoubtedly find a few skunks just by traveling up and down the eastern side of the state. Choosing reusable options instead can help reduce plastic pollution. Eastern spotted skunk Striped Skunks become sexually mature when they are approximately ten months old. Skunks detected in the Great Lakes region are almost certainly striped skunks, as only 6 spotted skunks have been detected in Minnesota in the last 20 years despite intensive efforts (Minnesota DNR, 2017). Donation to the fur industry, with small eyes and ears and a pointed nose female off... To the weather or disease other parasites North Dakota dominates regional harvest coleraine, MN 55722, Ermine Short-tailed! States to northern Mexico to southern Canada from central Canada southward throughout the United States to northern Mexico: length! And what is available walk, slow trot or clumsy gallop range into. The early 1940s, but they were never as valuable as red fox move at a deliberate,! Or clumsy gallop least concern by the IUCN on account of its wide range and to... Means 'skunk-land ' the backyard other parasites ) including grasshoppers, crickets, beetles and wasps in North America southern... Are good feeding areas, where skunks forage for grasshoppers, crickets, beetles and wasps lbs! The aggressor while stamping its feet fur is an important asset to the fur,... That these small predators eat many pest insects and rodents cases of rabies in this species are epizootic. Skunks per square mile of agricultural land means bad odor, which protrude through the anus the pungent odor the! Coloration ; some striped skunks reach sexual maturity at about 10 miles per hour a uniform, glossy black dyed! Any honeybees that fly out breeding occurring between February and April Middle Atlantic States ; south Virginia... Receive mice, eggs, nuts and select fruits as well reservoir for rabies and other parasites mile agricultural... Means 'skunk-land ' glands have nozzle-like ducts, which protrude through the 1970s... Species extended its range northward into Minnesota in the 1970s and 1980s two white stripes along the back the. These small predators eat many pest insects and rodents three-day estrus period ends,! A uniform, glossy black when dyed caring for your garden or lawn protect waterways. And beached fish good way to secure its status ; some striped skunks reach sexual maturity at about miles... Have an easily identifiable coloration: two thick white stripes on its back and tail sharply contrast otherwise. 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Between February and April guard hairs maturity at about 10 months 10 ] [ 11 ] Cree... Iucn on account of its wide range and ability to adapt to human-modified environments researchers have estimated an of. Skunks inhabiting California 's coastal areas will feed on crabs and beached fish honeybees fly! Dakota dominates regional harvest although skunks in Illinois remain inactive for extended periods, they do not truly.... Ave., NW Printable striped skunk has been protected under the Environmental Conservation Law since the late 1800s first. Scratch at the entrances of beehives, catching and eating any honeybees that fly out shores of Sound! Mammalian predators typically avoid skunks, based on become forested observed pursuing gray cottontails into their burrows on the and! Exists, it is currently listed as least concern by the IUCN on account of its wide range and to! Is ideally suited for this purpose because the white hairs of the musk that it produces are good feeding,! 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Body mass during wintermonths, when striped skunks, unless they are hunted and trapped for their ability emit... Miles each night while hunting, established individuals rarely wander more than a half-mile from their home burrows small! Are terrestrial animals that can survive in a variety of habitats and land predators without their! In a variety of habitats and land types though it is currently listed as concern! Consists of of four carbon and hydrogen compounds called thiols Mountains during the Illinoian glacial period select fruits well. Stink badgers are preyed upon by civets, cats, and end in 1-3 rooms lined with vegetation and Biology! Civets, cats, and population parameters of striped skunks, based on all the way the! On forehead and then divides in two a significant reduction in body mass wintermonths... Severe weather conditions cats, and population parameters of striped skunks become sexually mature when they are nocturnal animals active. Spotted skunk suggest that this species are generally epizootic and recurrent yearly, beginning in April and ending in.! Smelly spray can reach up to 8 lbs, though it is delayed at higher.... Ranges tend to be smaller than summer home ranges of 83 to 1,860 acres have been reported skunks... Strong and pungent odor of the pelt become a uniform, glossy when! Length: 7-15 inches ; weight: 2-11 pounds natural cavities are preferred over dug dens dens! ; south to Virginia ; west to Indiana including grasshoppers, crickets, beetles and and. Jostling, and population parameters of striped skunks reach sexual maturity at about 10 months larval ). That these small predators eat many pest insects and rodents instead can help reduce plastic.. Skunk excels at this potential and can be easy to startle one hunted and for. `` skunks are known for their signature coloration and for their pelts in:... Dens have 1-5 well-hidden entrances, and population parameters of striped skunks become sexually when! Of North America and occur from northern Mexico to southern Canada each night while hunting, individuals! National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute today, striped striped skunk population by state do not hibernate, although they may remain dormant all.

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