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 blind newborns are furless, but have the black and white color pattern on their skin. Striped skunks are found in a variety of habitats from southern Canada throughout the United States into northern Mexico. These animals are also found in rock outcrops (Crabb 1948). The skunk will move backwards towards the aggressor while stamping its feet. Spotted skunks are generally less tolerant of humans than the striped skunk (Henderson 1976). They prefer open areas with a variety of habitats and inhabit particularly mixed woodlands, brushy corners, and open fields interspersed with wooded ravines and rocky outcrops. The Striped Skunk. There is Stink badgers are preyed upon by civets, cats, and humans. It can spray in any direction by twisting its rump toward the target. Proudly founded in 1681 as a place of tolerance and freedom. Transport the covered trap without too much jostling, and the animal will not spray. Where To Find The population of both Striped and Spotted Skunks is very unstable and subject to violent fluctuations in any given area" (Reports from 1951:17). Skunks occasionally raid hen houses, and feed heavily on waterfowl eggs. Throughout the winter, they have been observed eating small mammals and ground-nesting hatchlings and eggs, and hunting amphibians, reptiles and fish. Some harvesting continues today. Regularity. Striped skunks are largely nocturnal, medium-sized omnivores in the weasel family (Mustelidae). 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. Southern Washington and northern Oregon, east of the Cascade Mountains. They develop quickly. [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. Spotted skunks were common around farms, and state harvest peaked at 19,400 in 1946, before populations plummeted. The familiar striped skunk of North America (think of the cartoon Pep Le Pew) has a lesser-known cousin: the spotted skunk. These glands have nozzle-like ducts, which protrude through the anus. Stripes vary in length and width among individuals. A similar, but less significant, secondary contact occurred when the same subclade intermingled with members of the eastern phylogroup east of the Mississippi river. The females will retreat to the den to give birth. Present. [10], The gestation period lasts around 5977 days, with kits being born at about mid-May to early June. Skunks live in a variety of habitats. Striped skunks are common throughout their range. Skunks are chiefly nocturnal, hunting from dusk until dawn, except during the breeding season when they are frequently observed during daylight hours. Habitat: Residential areas that have both lawns and large, mast producing shade trees often provide optimal habitat for skunks. The burrow has a central chamber (12 to 15 inches in diameter) about three feet underground, connected to the surface by one or more tunnels 5 to 15 feet long. when the Island Spotted Skunk had a small population and was not well-studied, the skunk that time was designated as a species of concern. 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. Skunks are placid and sluggish. Striped skunks can experience delayed implantation lasting up to 19 days. 3001 Connecticut Ave., NW They typically inhabit areas with a mixture of dense vegetation and open areas. Local populations are also affected by severe weather, food scarcities and habitat change. [13] The meat was prized by Chinese immigrants, who also bought skunk gall bladders for medicinal purposes. They have a long, bushy tail made up of white and black hairs. Striped skunks have an IUCN rank of Least Concern, IUCN information. Northern and central California, from the vicinity of Monterey Bay northward, west of the Sierra and Cascades, to the Willamette Valley, Oregon. Cases of rabies in this species are generally epizootic and recurrent. Avoid single-use plastics, such as plastic bottles, bags and utensils. The period of gestation for the female Striped Skunks lies between 59-77 days. 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. A mated female drives off males shortly after her three-day estrus period ends. The skunk's best known feature is its ability to squirt an extremely potent and disagreeable secretion at potential attackers. A free roaming dog often aggravates the situation by chasing the prowling skunk. The musk is a strong irritant to the eyes and nose, and acts as a depressant to the central . The fur is black, usually with a white stripe running down the head and dividing to become two stripes on each side of the body. Protect local waterways by using fewer pesticides when caring for your garden or lawn. This page is available in other languages. They have a small, white stripe on their forehead which splits and expands down the sides of its back. The striped skunk can be a difficult neighbor because of its fearlessness and effective weaponry. [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. They have a long history of association with humans, having been trapped and captively bred for their fur and kept as pets. Striped skunk is ideally suited for this purpose because the white hairs of the pelt become a uniform, glossy black when dyed. The species commonly found in Pennsylvania is the striped skunk. 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. They weigh 3 to 12 pounds, depending on age, sex, physical condition and time of year. Although they are blind and unfurred, the pattern of their future black-and-white pelage shows on their pinkish, wrinkled skin. [16], The striped skunk inhabits a wide variety of habitats, particularly mixed woodlands, brushy corners and open fields interspersed with wooded ravines and rocky outcrops. This oily musk, expelled through the anus, can cause temporary blindness and pain if sprayed in the eyes of a potential attacker. Biologists on the Savannah River Site have documented spotted skunks associated with old fields, open forests, and hedgerow . (The seventh spotted skunk species, Spilogale yucatanensis, is a bit of a weirdo, being native to Mexico's Yucatn Peninsula but sharing the closest evolutionary relationship with S. putorius,. Skunks are prey for raptors and larger mammal carnivores. However, recent surveys now . When it is colder, they prefer to remain in underground dens. 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. When they are 3 weeks old their eyes open; at 6 to 7 weeks weaning takes place. Presence. (females slightly smaller) Lifespan: Up to 7 years in the wild. Skunk fur is an important asset to the fur industry, with pelts with a greater percentage of black grading higher. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Florida to North Carolina, and in the mountains to West Virginia; west on the Gulf coast to the Mississippi River. Females give birth in May, often in woodchuck burrows, to an average litter of six. One outbreak can kill 80 percent of a regional skunk population in less than a year. The second, still originating in the Texas-Mexico region, expanded westwards to the Rocky Mountains during the Illinoian glacial period. The striped skunk is a mostly nocturnal omnivore. It is also seenor its musky odor noticedin some suburban and urban locations, particularly near sources of open water. They are quite at home in a variety of landscapes, from wooded areas to grasslands and agriculture fields, and even in urban areas, among humans. They prefer open areas with a variety of habitats and inhabit particularly mixed woodlands, brushy corners, and open fields interspersed with wooded ravines and rocky outcrops. They can live up to 10 years in human care. . 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. Skunk dens have 1-5 well-hidden entrances, and end in 1-3 rooms lined with vegetation. 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. 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). The word skunk comes from the Algonquin Indian name for the animal, seganku. They have been observed living in wooded areas, deserts and plains, and have even adapted to urban and suburban environments. Docile in nature, they are famous for their defense system of a bad-smelling spray that comes from two glands near the base of their tail. Its body is often mostly black, with white occurring in a narrow blaze up the middle of its forehead. 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 Winnebago people used the skunk to symbolize vanity, being beautiful on the outside but ugly on the inside. The mating season usually occurs between mid-February to mid-April, though it is delayed at higher latitudes. As many outdoors enthusiasts or dog owners can attest, the striped skunks spray is a truly memorable experience. 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. Until the early 1990s, Minnesota dominated regional harvest. 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. In G. Feldhamer, B. Thompson, & J. Chapman (Eds., 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T41635A45211301.en, Revision of the skunks of the genus Chincha, Wild Mammals of North America; biology, management and conservation, Life-histories of northern animals: an account of the mammals of Manitoba, Fur-bearing animals: a monograph of North American Mustelidae, in which an account of the wolverene, the martens or sables, the ermine, the mink and various other kinds of weasels, several species of skunks, the badger, the land and sea otters, and numerous exotic allies of these animals, is contributed to the history of North American mammals, The mammals of the Adirondack region, northeastern New York, "The chemistry of defense: theory and practice", "Striped Skunk | Adirondack Ecological Center | SUNY ESF | College of Environmental Science and Forestry", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Striped_skunk&oldid=1111814150, Articles containing Eastern Abnaki-language text, Articles containing Chipewyan-language text, Articles containing Chilcotin-language text, Articles containing Wyandot-language text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. , having been trapped and captively bred for their fur and kept pets. 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