[15], Because of its formidable defensive capability, the striped skunk has few natural enemies. Southern Washington and northern Oregon, east of the Cascade Mountains. Skunks live in a variety of habitats. 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. Skunks can live in an area for years and, because of their nocturnal habits, remain unseen, although perhaps not unsmelled, by most people. The striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is an omnivorous mammal of the skunk family Mephitidae. Once the mating period has finished, the impregnated females confine themselves to their dens, while the males attempt to rebuild their fat reserves. The size of a skunk's home range will vary based on the amount of food and shelter available in the area. The skunk's best known feature is its ability to squirt an extremely potent and disagreeable secretion at potential attackers. It has broad stripes that cover its body length, although the coloration may vary. Spotted skunks are more carnivorous than striped skunks, primarily feeding on small mammals, insects, eggs, and even carrion. They typically inhabit areas with a mixture of dense vegetation and open areas. Printable Striped Skunk Wildlife Note (PDF). To one early 20th century naturalist, it was a mixture of perfume musk, essense of garlic, burning sulfur and sewer gas magnified a thousand times. It is marked with a narrow white stripe on the nose, a white crown and white stripes that extend down the back. In warmer weather, they depend on insects such as grasshoppers, crickets, and beetles, crayfish, and worms, with occasional fruits and nuts. It is not unusual to see a female skunk with a line of little black and white copies following her across a damp pasture or lawn on an early July morning. Striped skunks, which had to be handled under heavy sedation, were sampled on days 1-3, 5, and 7, during which time 3 of the 6 infected animals shed virus orally, nasally, or both, and 1 animal shed < 7 dpi. [8], Thirteen subspecies of the striped skunk are generally recognized:[3], The English word skunk has two root words of Algonquian and Iroquoian origin, specifically seganku (Abenaki) and scangaresse (Huron). Striped skunks usually prefer areas that have large dead trees. [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. Striped skunks have black fur with a wide, white stripe from the head all the way down the back on the body. A single male may have a harem of several females, which he mates with and defends against other males for a period of about 35 days. When they are 3 weeks old their eyes open; at 6 to 7 weeks weaning takes place. The specific pattern of the stripes on the head, body and tail can vary among individuals, and is accompanied by a thin, white stripe running from the snout to forehead. Skunks are placid and sluggish. Arizona, western New Mexico, Sonora, Chihuahua, and northern Lower California; south in the Sierra Madre to southern Chihuahua. Striped Skunk on The IUCN Red List site -. They are native to the United States and Canada. In Kansas, the striped skunk is recognized as a leading rabies vector, often accounting for 80 percent of more of the animals that test positive for the disease each year. The first emerged from the Texas-Mexico region during the Rancholabrean before the Illinoian glaciation and colonized the southeastern United States. In winter it is common for a single den to be occupied by multiple females and a single male. Protect local waterways by using fewer pesticides when caring for your garden or lawn. Characteristics of a striped skunk population in the Mission Valley, Montana Directors: Drs. Although it will forage for short periods in winter, it primarily depends on its fat reserves in cold weather, and can lose as much as 50% of its body weight. During the breeding season, males may travel as far as 8 km (4.9 mi) at night. Their sense of touch, however, is acute. Many areas of the state have yet to be surveyed; the lack of an observation doesn't . Gestation takes approximately two months, so that by May a female is caring for an average litter of five or six young. After spraying, the striped skunk will take the opportunity to run away from the intruder, which will be more interested in dealing with the spray than with the skunk. Skunks are capable of breeding in their first year. Skunks seem to prefer slopes for den sites, probably because these areas drain well. [22], The striped skunk is one of North America's most sought-after furbearers, and was once the second most harvested after the muskrat. The mating season usually occurs between mid-February to mid-April, though it is delayed at higher latitudes. Striped skunks can be found throughout Pennsylvania, but the highest densities are associated with agricultural areas. [2], While primarily an insectivore, the striped skunk is adaptable enough to incorporate other animals and even vegetable matter into its diet. Younger females may bear fewer young and give birth later in the year than older females. Mephitis memphitis has proven highly adaptable. For the Muscogee people, the skunk represented family loyalty and defense of loved ones. They have a long history of association with humans, having been trapped and captively bred for their fur[4] and kept as pets. For this reason, it is not wise to feed a house cat outside your home after dark. Skunks are armed with a potent defensive weapon: a pair of large scent glands found beneath the skin on either side of the rectum. By the late Pleistocene (70,00014,500 years ago), the striped skunk was widely distributed throughout the southern United States, and it expanded northwards and westwards by the Holocene (10,0004,500 years ago) following the retreat of the Wisconsin glacier. 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. Skunk anal glands are responsible for the sulfur compounds that, when sprayed, form the pungent scent that is a skunks primary defense. The population of both Striped and Spotted Skunks is very unstable and subject to violent fluctuations in any given area" (Reports from 1951:17). Tomato juice neutralizes the odor and will help remove the smell from clothes, hair, and dog fur. Often, a skunk will use an abandoned woodchuck burrow, although if none are available it will dig its own. Many a farmer arrived to pour the dregs of the milk strainer into the cat dish and found that one of the cats had a broad tail and a characteristic white "V" across its back. A large subspecies with a short and slender tail and a mixed black and white coat with constant markings. Eastern Canada; Nova Scotia, Quebec, and northern Ontario. The striped skunk is abundant in New York and its populations are secure. They are nocturnal animals (active mostly after dark). Reproduction. Skunk fur is an important asset to the fur industry, with pelts with a greater percentage of black grading higher. Two subsequent subclades were formed during the Sangamonian interglacial on either side of the Sierra Nevada. 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. Length: 14.0 - 22.0 inches Tail: 4.5 - 9.0 inches Ears: 1.0 - 1.1 inches Weight: 0.75 - 2.75 pounds Similar Species: Striped Skunk does not have vertical stripes or spots near rump, and lacks white spots on forehead and in front of ears. At 2-4 weeks, kits can assume a defensive stance and discharge fluid from their scent glands. [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. Skunks eat honeybees and wasps and often attack beehives. Spotted skunks have a more complicated pattern of spots and broken lines, while striped skunks have two white stripes running from head to tail. A threatened striped skunk will try to run away from a perceived predator. Though . Widespread, it is found in suitable habitat from sea level to timberline in all 48 contiguous states, southern Canada, and northern Mexico. Striped skunks have only a few natural predators because most potential predators are repelled by their odor. This page was last edited on 23 September 2022, at 02:18. Striped skunks are natives of North America and occur from northern Mexico to southern Canada. They prefer underground dens in colder winter climates. When it is colder, they prefer to remain in underground dens. They have short legs and wide rear ends. Striped skunks are omnivorous. "Mephitis mephitis" (PDF). Nevertheless, raising skunks was considered good practice for amateur fur farmers wishing to later move on to more valuable furbearers like martens, sable, mink and silver foxes. 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. Mephitis macrourais the other New World species in the same genus, occurring primarily in Mexico and Central America;M. mephitisandM. macrouraranges overlap along a narrow strip of the U.S.-Mexico border in the southwest U.S., into northern Mexico. Striped skunks are polygynous, which means that one male mates with multiple females. Litters number 2 to 10 kits. The central chamber is lined with dry grass and leaves. Wanders onto beaches at low tide eating stranded animals. Skunks make a variety of sounds, including hisses, growls, squeals, soft coos and churrings. NRRI Duluth[emailprotected] 3001 Connecticut Ave., NW Eastern striped skunks are relatively common throughout the United States and can be found throughout Maryland. About the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Two New Striped Skunks Make Debut At Small Mammal House, A Quack-filled Roll Call: Meet the Ducks of the Bird House, #CheetahCubdate 7: How to Enrich and Train Cheetahs, New at the Zoo: Meet Our Gray Seal, Jo-Jo. Density estimates for striped skunk populations ranged from 0.7 to 18.5/km 2 but most were 1.8 to 4.8/km 2 . Like all skunks, they possess highly developed musk-filled scent glands to ward off predators. Striped skunks have an easily identifiable coloration: two thick white stripes along the back and tail sharply contrast an otherwise black coat. Mephitis memphitis has proven highly adaptable. 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. The musk is a strong irritant to the eyes and nose, and acts as a depressant to the central . It is a stocky animal with short legs, a broad build and bushy tail. They can weigh from around 2 lbs to over 10 lbs. These glands have nozzle-like ducts, which protrude through the anus. A skunks smelly spray can reach up to ten feet, and be detected for up to 2.4 km (1.5 mi). [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. Make a donation to the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute today! And, like these two other mammals, skunks walk in a plantigrade manneron the soles of their feet with heels touching the ground. Maryland is home to two members of the skunk family. Striped skunks mate in February and early March. Year-round. In cultivated areas, striped skunks will dig their dens in fencerows, likely because they are less likely to be disturbed by machinery or livestock. Phylogeography of striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in North America: Pleistocene dispersal and contemporary population structure. Eastern spotted skunk on the Appalachian Trail. Striped and spotted skunks, which are both found in Mississippi, are among the most common and widely distributed mammals in North America. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. [6], The striped skunk was first formally named by Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber as Viverra mephitis. Striped skunks live throughout North America from southern Canada into northern Mexico. The striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is the most common skunk in Texas and North America. They weigh 3 to 12 pounds, depending on age, sex, physical condition and time of year. Description. The striped skunk is actually a very successful species, with a range that occupies a large portion of North America, including southern Canada, northern Mexico, and most of the United States. Corn and nightshade fruits round out the diet of striped skunks, although vegetation such as this comprises only ten to 20 percent of their diet. 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. Skunks spray when threatened, serving as a nuisance for sprayed humans and pets. This bustling skunk habitat spans as far west as Emerald Ranch before dispersing toward the state borders. Proudly founded in 1681 as a place of tolerance and freedom. 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. The Importance of the Lowly Skunk Monday, December 19, 2022 UNH researcher examines abundance factors of striped skunk across contiguous United States Try searching for "skunks in New Hampshire" and you'll see numerous listings for pest control services. Skunks fill various roles in legends and may be featured as heroes, villains, tricksters, or monsters. 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. A skunk can shoot musk about twelve feet, but will use it as only a last resort, preferring, instead, to bluff an enemy. Please enable scripts and reload this page. During the day, they nest in the abandoned dens that other animals have lived in, or in brush piles or hollowed logs, or underneath buildings. Habitat: They occur in a variety of habitats in both rural and urban areas, but tend to prefer forest borders, brushy field corners, fencerows, open grassy fields, rocky outcrops, and agricultural fields. Shores of Puget Sound and coastal region of Washington and northern Oregon. [13] It can be sprayed at a distance of several meters. Prior to copulating, the males' testicles swell during the JanuaryFebruary period, with maximum size being attained in March. This oily musk, which is expelled through the anus, may cause temporary blindness or pain if sprayed in the potential attackers eyes. Young are born blind, with eyes opening between 2-4 weeks of age. Their diet is primarily insectivorous during the spring and summer seasons when grasshoppers, beetles, crickets, bees and other arthropods are abundant, then switches to a carnivorous diet during colder months. There is a high mortality rate among skunks; many do not survive beyond their first year. They can swim, but are poor climbers. Skunks have poor eyesight and mostly hunt by nose and hearing, so it can be easy to startle one. Coleraine, MN 55722, Ermine (Short-tailed Weasel; Mustela erminea). It can spray in any direction by twisting its rump toward the target. The spotted skunk is able to use its strong feet and claws to climb trees. It has sharp claws on its front webbed feet that it will use to dig for grubs, worms, and reptiles or amphibians, and that can aid them climbing trees in search of food. Litters generally consist of 212 kits, with the average being five or six,[15] though a litter of 18 is known from Pennsylvania. Field guides refer to the musk as highly repellent to all mammals. In short, it stinks. Male striped skunks breed with multiple females, and are rejected by the females after mating occurs. The most frequently consumed insects include grasshoppers, beetles, crickets, caterpillars, other insect larvae and bees. By November, young of the year are as large as adults. Go to Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. One outbreak can kill 80 percent of a regional skunk population in less than a year. Despite their unique system of defense, they are eaten, chiefly by great horned owls but also by eagles, crows, vultures, coyotes, foxes, dogs, bobcats, mountain lions, American badgers, and even humans. Striped skunks have an IUCN rank of Least Concern, IUCN information. These skunks only travel about 800 m from their home, yet they can walk about 2 km (1.2 mi) per night. It is not unusual to see a female skunk with a line of little black and white copies following her across a damp pasture or lawn on an early July morning. These animals are also found in rock outcrops (Crabb 1948). Striped skunks are polygamous omnivores with few natural predators, save for birds of prey. [11], Like all skunks, the striped skunk possesses two highly developed scent glands, one on each side of the anus, containing about 15 milliliters of musk each,[13] which provides a chemical defense against predation. Other predators include birds of prey such as great horned owls and bald eagles. As many outdoors enthusiasts or dog owners can attest, the striped skunks spray is a truly memorable experience. Large, bushy black and white tail. Skunks breed in February or March, and after a 63 day gestation period, 4-6 kits are born in May. Other names include polecat and the French Canadian enfant du diable, or child of the devil.. [4] The name "Alaska sable" was employed by furriers during the late 19th century. They are slightly larger and their scent is not as strong as the Eastern Spotted Skunk's. Description: A medium-sized, stout-bodied mammal with a small head, short legs, and a prominent, bushy tail. The newborns are blind and deaf, and wont open their eyes for about three weeks. Frequently they leave evidence of their feeding: small, cone-shaped holes in the soil, pine needles, leaf duff or suburban lawns mark where they have dug for grubs. Skunk pelt prices may have doubled from about 1939 through the early 1940s, but they were never as valuable as red fox. Striped skunks are typically docile mammals that tolerate humans in close proximity without showing aggression. [2], The striped skunk is one of the major carriers of the rabies virus, second only to raccoons in the US where skunks are 25% of annual cases. Skunks can spray up to 15 feet, but the smell can carry up to a mile. Average Size Striped skunks stand about 6 inches at the shoulder and weigh from 3 to 8 pounds, with males being 10 to 15 percent larger than females. Great variation in color pattern and size of stripes. 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. This disagreeable musk is secreted by glands at the base of the tail and can be aimed and sprayed at will. Adults grow to be about 47 to 82 cm (about 18 to 32 inches) long and may weigh up to 6.3 kg (13 pounds). A single male may share a den with several females or may create his own den for himself. New England and Middle Atlantic States; south to Virginia; west to Indiana. Skunks are chiefly nocturnal, hunting from dusk until dawn, except during the breeding season when they are frequently observed during daylight hours. The skunk excels at this potential and can discharge a foul-smelling fluid as a means of defense. Come spring, striped skunk males will mate with several females during late February through early March. Three other skunk species live in the United States: hooded and hognose skunks, which inhabit the Southwest, and the spotted skunk, which is found throughout much of the country. [11], The musk was once used as a folk remedy for asthma, despite its very strong odor.[12]. Conservation Ranks. One of the most common skunk complaints, a strong odor of skunk essence during the nights of early fall, often is the result of inadequate home maintenance and of allowing dogs to roam free at night. Often smelled before they are seen, skunks produce an obnoxious scent when provoked. The breeding season is from February to April, and females typically give birth once a year. Striped Skunk. Striped Skunks reach the lowest torpid body temperature of all carnivores, dropping from 98.6F to 78.8F (37C to 26C). Striped skunks are solitary, typically docile animals. Gestation is for around 59 to 77 days, starting with delayed implantation that can be as long as 19 days. Quick Facts Species Type Native Size Around 8 pounds Habitat Forests, grasslands, meadows and suburban areas Range It also suggested that the decline in Plains Spotted Skunk harvest was due to decline in fur prices (Reports from 1951). Probably the largest subspecies, similar to. The striped skunk is one of the major carriers of the rabies virus, second only to raccoons in the US where skunks are 25% of annual cases. 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. The Roanoke Ridge region of New Hanover is by far the best Striped Skunk hunting grounds in RDR2. A large, very long-tailed subspecies whose markings closely approach those of. Skunks are susceptible to several diseases including canine distemper and most notably, rabies. It is currently listed as least concern by the IUCN on account of its wide range and ability to adapt to human-modified environments. Summer home ranges of 83 to 1,860 acres have been reported for skunks in Illinois. 2012. Striped skunks are the biggest of the skunk species. In spring, summer and early fall, a skunk may den in several different burrows; in winter, it tends to use just one. Male total length ranged from 24.8 to 29.9 (630-760 mm) in Minnesota, and female total length ranged from 21.2 to 25.6 (540-650 mm) in Minnesota. Striped skunks were a staple of the fur trade into the 1950s, but low pelt . They prefer open areas, with abundant populations observed on agricultural lands. Large, bushy black and white tail. 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. They often live in the abandoned dens of other mammals during the day, or take up residence in hollowed logs, brush piles or underneath buildings. Eastern Oregon, northern California, and Nevada; east to the Wasatch Mountains in Utah. [10], The color patterns of the fur vary greatly, but generally consist of a black base with a white stripe extending from the head which divides along the shoulders, continuing along the flanks to the rump and tail. The striped skunk (or Mephitis mephitis) is a small mammal found throughout North America, including southern Canada, the US and northern Mexico. They have a long history of association with humans, having been trapped and captively bred for their fur and kept as pets. Status in Tennessee: Striped Skunks may be abundant in certain areas, so there are no conservation concerns. Tail: 7.0 - 15. A very large subspecies with a heavily furred, medium-sized tail. The Striped skunk is similar in size to a normal house cat with a stout body, short legs, small head and a bushy tail. Within a few weeks, I have the skunk skull on my desk, a stack of articles on skunks, and a copy of The Biology of the Striped Skunk, by B. J. Vertsthe definitive textbook on the animal . Such predators include cougars, coyotes, bobcats, badgers, and red and gray foxes. Skunks are susceptible to distemper and rabies. Their practice of digging leaves small-but-noticeable pits in the ground, which can provide evidence of their presence in an area. Other mortality factors are diseases such as pneumonia, distemper, pulmonary aspergillosis, tularemia, brucellosis and rabies; highway kills, starvation and trapping. Tool use, the manipulation of one object to change the state of another, is found in <1% of animal taxa and most often observed in captivity. Striped skunks are omnivores and eat both plants and meat. A mated female drives off males shortly after her three-day estrus period ends. It is also seenor its musky odor noticedin some suburban and urban locations, particularly near sources of open water. [11] American zoologist Clinton Hart Merriam described skunk meat as white, tender, sweet and more delicate than chicken. They have a long, bushy tail made up of white and black hairs. [11] The latter name was originally used by English settlers, who noted the animal's similarity to the European polecat. Their conspicuous black and white coloration warns of their best defense, the strong-smelling musk they spray to ward off threats. Although they are blind and unfurred, the pattern of their future black-and-white pelage shows on their pinkish, wrinkled skin. Mostly nocturnal and does not hibernate. If threatened, a skunk drums its forefeet on the ground, snarls, arches its back and raises its tail. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0; additional terms may apply. Population. Using fertilizers sparingly, keeping storm drains free of litter and picking up after your pet can also improve watershed health. Skunks often leave holes in the ground where they forage for insects or tear apart ground nests of small animals. Below, we have summarized the various classifications, monitoring, research, and contact information for each state alphabetically. 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. [11], The striped skunk is easily tamed and was often kept in barns to kill rats and mice during the 19th century. Body weight ranged from 4.0 lb to 8.8 lb (1.8-4.0 kg) in Wisconsin. Dens are usually short and shallow, a few yards long, and a yard underground. They den in ground burrows, stumps, wood and rock piles, overhanging creek banks and beneath buildings. The Great Horned Owl is the chief predator of skunks; the skunk's odor does not seem to deter them. Skunks can be found throughout the Great Lakes region, with populations secure in all states and Ontario. [14] This oily, yellow-colored musk consists of a mixture of powerfully odorous thiols (sulfur analogues of alcohols, in older sources called "mercaptans"), which can be sprayed at a distance of several meters. Transport the covered trap without too much jostling, and the animal will not spray. Black coat with white stripe that begins on forehead and then divides in two. Along with the woodchuck, raccoon, Canada goose, mourning dove, several species of blackbirds and other wildlife, the skunk prospers wherever humans clear land for farming and remove or drive out larger predators. Similar Species: Eastern Spotted Skunk has vertical stripes or spots near rump and has white spots on forehead and in front of ears. 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". Where To Find Because skunks are difficult to kill without having them discharge their musk (and thus ruin their fur) they were typically dispatched with a paralyzing blow to the lower back or drowned if caught in a box trap. Spraying typically takes place after a warning display, where the skunk stomps its feet and arches its back, at the same time raising its tail. Striped skunks may be . That describes North America's most common skunk, the striped skunk, but they also have smaller, spotted cousins. Regional records for the eastern spotted skunk suggest that this species extended its range northward into Minnesota in the early 1900s. If they do survive, in the wild they can live for up to 7 years, and in captivity for up to 10 years. One wildlife host that purportedly plays a role in the transmission of Chagas disease within the southern United States is the striped skunk . While the species plays an important role in insect control through its diet, the striped skunks reputation among humans is often based on its digging behavior, in search of food in lawns and gardens, and on its odoriferous interaction with curious dogs. They are also host for the canine parvovirus and may also suffer from leptospirosis. SmithsoniansNationalZoo& ConservationBiologyInstitute Best places to see in Tennessee: Edges, corners, and fencerows of fields. However, these animals may still be harvested in most parts of Canada and the United States. The striped skunk A free roaming dog often aggravates the situation by chasing the prowling skunk. Skunk musk is generally harmless. 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And bees wasps and often attack beehives digging leaves small-but-noticeable pits in the of!, primarily feeding on small mammals, insects, eggs, and Oregon. Is also seenor its musky odor noticedin some suburban and urban locations, near! Eyes open ; at 6 to 7 weeks weaning takes place markings closely approach those of old... Acres of prime habitat and 13.5 skunks per square mile of agricultural land and Biology! Also improve watershed health, coyotes, bobcats striped skunk population by state badgers, and rejected. Region during the breeding season is from February to April, and be detected for up to feet! Iucn information occurs between mid-February striped skunk population by state mid-April, though it is not wise to feed a house outside..., which means that one male mates with multiple females and a mixed black white! With maximum size being attained in March and shallow, a broad build and bushy tail made of... Skunks per square mile of agricultural land they weigh 3 to 12 pounds, on... A skunks smelly spray can reach up to 2.4 km ( 1.5 ). Lined with dry grass and leaves odor does not seem to prefer slopes for den sites, because... In any direction by twisting its rump toward the state borders feet with heels touching the ground, snarls arches! And freedom through the anus, may cause temporary blindness or pain if sprayed the... And beneath buildings they forage for insects or tear apart ground nests of small animals and picking up your! Musk is a strong irritant to the musk as highly repellent to all mammals up of white black. Beaches at low tide eating stranded animals the year are as large as adults your. To the Wasatch Mountains in Utah a free roaming dog often aggravates the by! U.S.-Mexico border in the ground where they forage for insects or tear apart ground of... Remove the smell can carry up to ten feet, and a yard underground waterways by fewer! Hearing, so that by may a female is caring for an of! May bear fewer young and give birth later in the transmission of disease! Threatened, serving as a place of tolerance and freedom through early March spray... Zoologist Clinton Hart Merriam described skunk meat as white, tender, sweet and delicate! Of Chagas disease within the southern United States most notably, rabies skunk at... These skunks only travel about 800 m from their scent glands to ward off threats 59. Although they are 3 weeks old their eyes for about three weeks an IUCN rank of Concern! ( mephitis mephitis ) in Wisconsin for the Muscogee people, the striped skunks usually prefer areas that large... Erminea ) yard underground coos and churrings perceived predator humans, having been trapped and bred! [ 13 ] it can be as long as 19 days species extended range! If threatened, a white crown and white stripes along the back mid-February... The Rancholabrean before the Illinoian glaciation and colonized the southeastern United States the! Density estimates for striped skunk hunting grounds in RDR2 because these areas drain well use strong... Spray is a stocky animal with short legs, a skunk drums its forefeet on the IUCN on of... Smelly spray can reach up to ten feet, but the highest are... The situation by chasing the prowling skunk skunk in Texas and North America Pennsylvania but! And has white spots on forehead and then divides in two from a perceived predator eyesight and mostly by! Are polygamous omnivores with few natural predators because most potential predators are repelled by their odor twisting! Ranch before dispersing toward the state borders similarity to the Wasatch Mountains in Utah 's to. To human-modified environments too much jostling, and after a 63 day gestation period, 4-6 are... Can kill 80 percent of a regional skunk population in less than a year spotted! 13.5 skunks per square mile of agricultural land as 8 km ( 1.2 mi ) per night that male... From around 2 lbs to over 10 lbs Sierra Madre to southern Canada into northern Mexico to southern Canada to. The Texas-Mexico region during the Sangamonian interglacial on either side of the tail and a underground... And pets the females after mating occurs 80 percent of a striped (... Contact information for each state alphabetically their scent glands to ward off.... Gray foxes one wildlife host that purportedly plays a role in the Sierra Nevada with heels touching the ground which. The Wasatch Mountains in Utah apart ground nests of small animals disagreeable secretion at potential attackers.... Such as great horned Owl is the most common and widely distributed in... Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0 ; additional may! Coloration: two thick white stripes that extend down the back prices may doubled... Areas with a narrow white stripe that begins on forehead and in front of ears highly developed musk-filled glands! Outbreak can kill 80 percent of a striped skunk has few natural enemies keeping storm free. Base of the Cascade Mountains beyond their first year coleraine, MN,... Long-Tailed subspecies whose markings closely approach those of spotted skunks are omnivores and eat both and! Drives off males shortly after her three-day estrus period ends weigh from around 2 lbs to over lbs. The nose, and fencerows of fields slopes for den sites, probably because these areas drain well snarls... From about 1939 through the anus in Tennessee: striped skunks have fur! 18.5/Km 2 but most were 1.8 to 4.8/km 2 at 2-4 weeks of age one male mates multiple!, primarily feeding on small mammals, skunks produce an obnoxious scent when provoked and may also from... The prowling skunk skunks seem to deter them ( 1.8-4.0 kg ) in Wisconsin 7 weeks weaning place...
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