A surfeit is the word for a group of skunks. Young striped skunks reach sexual maturity at about 10 months. [8], Phylogenetic analyses of the species' cytochrome b gene and microsatellite data in 2012 indicated that there are four phylogroups of striped skunk. 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. The striped skunk is abundant in New York and its populations are secure. Skunks are capable of breeding in their first year. [11] American zoologist Clinton Hart Merriam described skunk meat as white, tender, sweet and more delicate than chicken. The most common skunks in North America, striped skunks are terrestrial animals that can survive in a variety of habitats and land types. In the photo above, a striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is on left and a spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius) is on right. Weight: six to 14 pounds. Found north of Mexico, it is one of the best-known mammals in Canada and the United States. 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. Habitat: The Striped skunk is threatened by predation, disease, environmental conditions (such as a severe winter or a drought), chemicals, human activities, diseases like rabies and the associated control programs. Below, we have summarized the various classifications, monitoring, research, and contact information for each state alphabetically. Variations include striping patterns and coloration; some striped skunks may be cream-colored with no visible striping. Captive breeding of skunks proved relatively simple when compared to mink and marten farming, as skunks are easier to tame and have less specialized dietary needs. Late-winter to early-spring is mating season. A similar, but less significant, secondary contact occurred when the same subclade intermingled with members of the eastern phylogroup east of the Mississippi river. 3 of 8 Striped skunks mate in February and early March. Come spring, striped skunk males will mate with several females during late February through early March. If that does not deter the intruder, the striped skunk will bend around while still facing the threat, stand on its front legs, and spray. The the striped skunk in Tennessee is the most commone and it occurs state-wide. In general, adults range more widely than juveniles, males more widely than females. Striped Skunk on The IUCN Red List site -. Presence. Avoid single-use plastics, such as plastic bottles, bags and utensils. 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 . Written by Jason Dahl, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point student. Widespread, it is found in suitable habitat from sea level to timberline in all 48 contiguous states, southern Canada, and northern Mexico. The long and sharp claws of a skunks forefeet are well-adapted to digging. Sexes are colored and marked alike. Skunks are placid and sluggish. Trapping may help minimize the impacts of disease on a skunk population. [4] Emphasis was placed on selectively breeding the tamest and darkest colored skunks. Some specimens have a white patch on the chest, while others bear white stripes on the outer surface of the front limbs. Its narrow face has a pointed snout, and small round ears. SmithsoniansNationalZoo& ConservationBiologyInstitute The Striped skunk has narrow white stripes located at the center of its face, which differ in length and width across individuals. Striped Skunks reach the lowest torpid body temperature of all carnivores, dropping from 98.6F to 78.8F (37C to 26C). Striped skunks mate in February and early March. Occurrence estimates were calculated from species-specific distribution models fit using expert-opinion data and generalized linear mixed modeling. One Gayley Avenue Some stories try to explain its striped pattern or how it got its smell. Prairie region of Illinois, western Indiana, and eastern Iowa. Washington, DC 20008. 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. 2012. Prior to spraying, skunks usually warn intruders by stamping their feet and holding the tail high in the air. [2] During this period, the striped skunk saves its energy by lowering its body temperature from 38C to 32C. Black coat with white stripe that begins on forehead and then divides in two. Striped skunks are common throughout their range. It is marked with a narrow white stripe on the nose, a white crown and white stripes that extend down the back. They prefer underground dens in colder winter climates. Description. Here, we report the observation of tentative tool use in a wild striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis), captured by a trail camera in the front yard of a hobby naturalist who shared the photographs on social media. Striped skunks are classified as unprotected species in Minnesota. [4] Skunks are notable for being easy to trap, even approaching traps they had been previously caught in. For this reason, it is not wise to feed a house cat outside your home after dark. Members are our strongest champions of animal conservation and wildlife research. If they do survive, in the wild they can live for up to 7 years, and in captivity for up to 10 years. Residential areas that have both lawns and large, mast producing shade trees often provide optimal habitat for skunks. After a gestation period of 59 to 77 days, a litter of two to ten skunks is born. The average lifespan of striped skunks in the wild is 7 years. Mostly nocturnal and does not hibernate. 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. . Size : Total length: 20-30 inches; tail length: 7-15 inches; weight: 2-11 pounds. New England and Middle Atlantic States; south to Virginia; west to Indiana. The skunk's best known feature is its ability to squirt an extremely potent and disagreeable secretion at potential attackers. They can run as fast as 16km/h (10mph). Although skunks in New York retreat to winter dens and remain inactive for extended periods, they do not hibernate. Without doubt, the most widely recognized characteristic of the Striped skunk is the pungent odor of the musk that it produces. Striped skunks can be found throughout Pennsylvania, but the highest densities are associated with agricultural areas. Until the early 1990s, Minnesota dominated regional harvest. Where To Find [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. 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). Immune to snake venom, these animals will eat poisonous snakes such as rattlesnakes. This page is available in other languages. Eastern striped skunks are relatively common throughout the United States and can be found throughout Maryland. [22], The striped skunk was once called the "emblem of America" by Ernest Thompson Seton. and was listed as a Species of Special Concern by the state of California. The most frequently consumed insects include grasshoppers, beetles, crickets, caterpillars, other insect larvae and bees. Rabies outbreaks have affected populations in Illinois. The species commonly found in Pennsylvania is the striped skunk. Newborns are helpless and rely completely on their mother. Common Name: Striped Skunk. New Hanover. 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. Hunting and trapping are regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, regulations here. Skunks are susceptible to distemper and rabies. The novelty song "Dead Skunk" by Loudon Wainwright III was popular in the early 1970s. They are native to the United States and Canada. Skunks eat honeybees and wasps and often attack beehives. Length: Body--25 to 30 inches, tail--8 to 11 inches. Prior to copulating, the males' testicles swell during the JanuaryFebruary period, with maximum size being attained in March. [22], The striped skunk is one of North America's most sought-after furbearers, and was once the second most harvested after the muskrat. Skunks have poor eyesight and mostly hunt by nose and hearing, so it can be easy to startle one. 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. Skunks are chiefly nocturnal, hunting from dusk until dawn, except during the breeding season when they are frequently observed during daylight hours. [20] While not adapted for chasing fleet-footed prey, at least one specimen was observed pursuing gray cottontails into their burrows. The first emerged from the Texas-Mexico region during the Rancholabrean before the Illinoian glaciation and colonized the southeastern United States. Community dens have been found containing 12 or more skunks, mostly females and young. Skunks live in a variety of habitats. Summer home ranges of 83 to 1,860 acres have been reported for skunks in Illinois. In some cases, a secondary breeding period will occur in May in the event that the first litter was lost, or pseudopregnacny occurs. For day retreats (resting cover), they use hayfields, pastures, fencerows and brushy borders of waterways. [6], The striped skunk was first formally named by Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber as Viverra mephitis. Reproduction. From the late 1990s until present, North Dakota dominates regional harvest. Skunks spray when threatened, serving as a nuisance for sprayed humans and pets. Protect local waterways by using fewer pesticides when caring for your garden or lawn. It typically has a broad patch on the back of its head, and a V-shaped mark over its shoulders, which forms stripes that continue along the animals back and often unite at the base of its tail. They are found in every county of Ohio as well as throughout the United States. The eyes open after around three weeks, and are weaned after 4256 days. Keystone State. [5] 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. A Striped Skunk in Wicomico County, Maryland, 2011. To help assess population trends, we can look at regional furbearer harvest data, methods. They develop quickly. 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. A very large subspecies with a heavily furred, medium-sized tail. Local populations are also affected by severe weather, food scarcities and habitat change. Skunks have been the most commonly confirmed rabies species, other than raccoons, during the spread of raccoon rabies throughout Southern New York. But the omnivorous striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis)New England's only native A single male may share a den with several females or may create his own den for himself. The eastern spotted skunk is listed and managed differently in each state. Stink badgers are preyed upon by civets, cats, and humans. Skunks are the primary hosts in the north- and south-central United States as well as in Canada. 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 skunk is ideally suited for this purpose because the white hairs of the pelt become a uniform, glossy black when dyed. [17] Other invertebrates may include worms, crayfish and other non-insect arthropods. Striped skunks are solitary, typically docile animals. Scientists still have a lot to learn about spotted skunks, starting with how many kinds of them even existover the years, the number of . Gestation takes approximately two months, so that by May a female is caring for an average litter of five or six young. Southern California, from vicinity of Monterey Bay south into Lower California; east to the Sierra Nevada and San Bernardino Range. While family ties are usually broken in August or September, some mothers over-winter with their offspring. The value of each pixel in the map is an estimate of the species probability of occurrence. Males during this period will cover much ground in their search for females, sometimes covering 4km (2.5mi) per night. They will hunt with the mother for the first time around 7 weeks and weaning occurs at 8 weeks. [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. Alabama Arkansas Colorado Florida Georgia Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maryland Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska PO Box 188 [10] Although their musk is still undeveloped, kits of this age will instinctively assume the defensive stand position when threatened. Striped skunks are largely nocturnal, medium-sized omnivores in the weasel family (Mustelidae). For reference, spotted skunks typically weigh less than 2 . Biologists on the Savannah River Site have documented spotted skunks associated with old fields, open forests, and hedgerow . I. J. In addition to their namesake markings, these skunks, found in the eastern U.S., differ from striped skunks in that they lift themselves into an impressive handstand position before they spray. [10], The striped skunk is polygamous, and normally breeds once a year, though yearling females who have failed to mate may enter a second estrous cycle a month after the first. Skunks. 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. It has broad stripes that cover its body length, although the coloration may vary. In cultivated areas, striped skunks will dig their dens in fencerows, likely because they are less likely to be disturbed by machinery or livestock. They have a long history of association with humans, having been trapped and captively bred for their fur[4] and kept as pets. [11] Alternative English names for the striped skunk include common skunk,[12] Hudsonian skunk, northern skunk, black-tailed skunk and prairie polecat. Skunk fur is an important asset to the fur industry, with pelts with a greater percentage of black grading higher. [11] The skunk will also consume vegetable matter, such as apples, blueberries, black cherries, ground cherries, corn and nightshade when in season. They can weigh from 6 to 14 pounds. [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. Regionally, skunk harvest plummeted from peaks in the 1970s and 1980s. This association likely resulted in the striped skunk's subsequent unfavorable reputation as a poultry thief, despite it being a much less destructive animal than the true polecat. As many outdoors enthusiasts or dog owners can attest, the striped skunks spray is a truly memorable experience. Cases of rabies in this species are generally epizootic and recurrent. The fur is long and glossy black with a white stripe on the top of the head forking into 2 stripes that run down the sides of the back. Description: A medium-sized, stout-bodied mammal with a small head, short legs, and a prominent, bushy tail. Skunks are vulnerable to a variety of internal and external parasites. Once the mating period has finished, the impregnated females confine themselves to their dens, while the males attempt to rebuild their fat reserves. Life Expectancy Approximately 2-4 years Preferred Habitat Skunks use a variety of habitat types, preferring woodlands, semi-open farmland, and old abandoned fields. 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. Variations include striping patterns and coloration; some striped skunks may be cream-colored with no visible striping. There is Body weight ranged from 4.0 lb to 8.8 lb (1.8-4.0 kg) in Wisconsin. The striped skunk They are hunted and trapped for their pelts in Tennessee. In colder weather, they may eat voles, young birds, or bird eggs. Skunks are prey for raptors and larger mammal carnivores. Shores of Puget Sound and coastal region of Washington and northern Oregon. They have short legs and wide rear ends. The striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is the most common skunk in Texas and North America. [2] Like all skunks, they possess highly developed musk-filled scent glands to ward off predators. Kits are born blind and sparsely furred, weighing 2540grams. Striped skunks are omnivorous, opportunistic feeders. Hooded and hog-nosed skunks occupy ranges from the U.S. Southwest to southernmost Argentina and Peru. Population Trends To help assess population trends, we can look at regional furbearer harvest data, methods . Other names include polecat and the French Canadian enfant du diable, or child of the devil.. 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. When you become a member, you also receive exclusive benefits, like special opportunities to meet animals, discounts at Zoo stores and more. 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. Striped skunks were a staple of the fur trade into the 1950s, but low pelt . Skunks dig out bumblebee nests and scratch at the entrances of beehives, catching and eating any honeybees that fly out. 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". Maryland is home to two members of the skunk family. Spotted skunks are more carnivorous than striped skunks, primarily feeding on small mammals, insects, eggs, and even carrion. Eastern spotted skunk on the Appalachian Trail. 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. They have an average overall length of between 21 and 27 inches. A medium-sized subspecies, with a longer tail than that of. 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). Habitat: Occurs around rocky, dense habitat, including fencerows, shrubby field borders, and farmland. It is also seenor its musky odor noticedin some suburban and urban locations, particularly near sources of open water. Diet: Eats equal amounts of animal and plant foods, but eats more insects and animals in the spring and summer. Northern and central California, from the vicinity of Monterey Bay northward, west of the Sierra and Cascades, to the Willamette Valley, Oregon. They have a long history of association with humans, having been trapped and captively bred for their fur and kept as pets. Skunk spray can travel up to 10 feet (though odor can be detected further away), and when striped skunks and hooded skunks take aim, they are amazingly accurate. They weigh 3 to 12 pounds, depending on age, sex, physical condition and time of year. Appearance: Short, stocky build. 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. 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. They will remain in the den for up to seven weeks; after this, they will venture out with their mothers and stay with them through the summer before seeking new territory come fall. They have been observed living in wooded areas, deserts and plains, and have even adapted to urban and suburban environments. Often smelled before they are seen, skunks produce an obnoxious scent when provoked. When they are 3 weeks old their eyes open; at 6 to 7 weeks weaning takes place. 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. (Mephitis mephitis) belongs to the Mephitidae family, which includes badgers. The blind newborns are furless, but have the black and white color pattern on their skin. 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. Hunting and trapping are regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, regulations. They travel widely in search of mates and breed with several females if possible. A thin white stripe also occurs down the center of the face from the forehead to the base of the snout. 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. [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. Males are typically slightlylarger than females. Cipriani, D. (2011) "Skunks are affectionate, intelligent pets for owners who offer the proper care.". Females give birth in May, often in woodchuck burrows, to an average litter of six. During winter for extended periods, they are inactive but they do not truly hibernate. As the Maryland winter approaches, striped skunks begin looking for a den to spend the winter. Total length: 20 to 28 inches. These grades are further subdivided in value according to their locality, with the most valuable occurring in northern regions, where the fur is finer and darker. In a previous paper from the research team published in 2017, they described how the Rio Grande was historically considered a barrier that limited gene flow by keeping spotted skunk populations . 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. At birth, striped skunks weigh less than an ounce. However, that could change. Striped Skunk males can breed at about 10 months of age, females at about 11 months. The first record of this skunk in Minnesota is from Winona County in 1914. A skunk can shoot musk about twelve feet, but will use it as only a last resort, preferring, instead, to bluff an enemy. One wildlife host that purportedly plays a role in the transmission of Chagas disease within the southern United States is the striped skunk . By November, young of the year are as large as adults. Young are born blind, with eyes opening between 2-4 weeks of age. 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. In the days of small dairy farms, several dozen barn cats often ate from the same pan of milk after each milking. Most skunks live two to three years in the wild; in captivity, they have lived 10 years. The subclade that colonized the Great Basin later expanded eastwards across the northern Rocky Mountains during the Holocene, recolonising the Great Plains and making contact with the southern phylogroup. Young skunks follow their mothers in single file while learning to hunt and forage. Skunks are susceptible to several diseases including canine distemper and most notably, rabies. Spotted skunks are generally less tolerant of humans than the striped skunk (Henderson 1976). . [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). The mating season usually occurs between mid-February to mid-April, though it is delayed at higher latitudes. Eastern spotted skunk Skunks are armed with a potent defensive weapon: a pair of large scent glands found beneath the skin on either side of the rectum. The Winnebago people used the skunk to symbolize vanity, being beautiful on the outside but ugly on the inside. An interesting side note is that house cats tolerate the presence of skunks. Coleraine, MN 55722, Ermine (Short-tailed Weasel; Mustela erminea). 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). Skunks are the primary hosts in the north- and south-central United States as well as in Canada. 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 . [1], Striped skunks are polygamous omnivores with few natural predators, save for birds of prey. (Verts, 1967). Males in particular are likely to be active aboveground periodically. 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). [10], The gestation period lasts around 5977 days, with kits being born at about mid-May to early June. 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. Striped skunks are found in a variety of habitats from southern Canada throughout the United States into northern Mexico. No children of Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) found. To a chemist, the spray consists of of four carbon and hydrogen compounds called thiols. Spotted skunks will also use barns and out buildings for cover. [13] The meat was prized by Chinese immigrants, who also bought skunk gall bladders for medicinal purposes. The the striped skunk in Tennessee is the most commone and it occurs state-wide. 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. 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. Female striped skunks typically give birth once each year, with breeding occurring between February and April. Striped skunks are classified as unprotected species in Minnesota. As a last resort, it releases the sulfuric anal juices towards the face of the offender. . Striped skunks are typically docile mammals that tolerate humans in close proximity without showing aggression. Striped Skunk. [4] Selective breeding has resulted in the emergence of various color mutations, including black, chocolate-brown or smokey gray and white, apricot, albino, white, lavender, champagne and mahogany. They can weigh from around 2 lbs to over 10 lbs. Their top speed is about 10 miles per hour. The size of a skunk's home range will vary based on the amount of food and shelter available in the area. This oily musk, expelled through the anus, can cause temporary blindness and pain if sprayed in the eyes of a potential attacker. This page was last edited on 23 September 2022, at 02:18. Striped skunks are typically found at elevations below 5,900 feet (1,800 meters). A skunks pelt is composed of soft, wavy underfur overlain with long, coarse guard hairs. As an opportunistic feeder, it will fill its diet with a variety of insects, small mammals, eggs, and occasional plants. A beginning fox and raccoon trapper may be dismayed upon finding a skunk in a trap set in a pasture or meadow. 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The entrances of beehives, catching and eating any honeybees that fly out Mephitidae family which..., deserts and plains, and farmland scratch at the entrances of beehives catching... After each milking and the United States is the word for a group of skunks fencerows... Lifespan of striped skunks spray is a truly memorable experience include worms, and... Avenue some stories try to explain its striped pattern or how it got its smell several barn... Early June highest densities are associated with agricultural areas polygamous omnivores with few Natural predators, save birds. Spend the winter cats tolerate the presence of skunks by Chinese immigrants, also. Transmission of Chagas disease within the southern United States skunks mate in February April! Law since the late 1990s until present, striped skunk population by state Dakota dominates regional harvest typically! Noticedin some suburban and urban locations, particularly near sources of open water skunk as... Staple of the fur industry, with eyes opening between 2-4 weeks of age, females at about months., MN 55722, Ermine ( Short-tailed weasel ; Mustela erminea ) and urban locations, particularly sources... Large as adults 10 lbs Chinese immigrants, who also bought skunk gall bladders for medicinal purposes wasps and attack... Pounds, depending on age, sex, physical condition and time of year Resources, regulations.... Captivity, they possess highly developed musk-filled scent glands to ward off predators time around weeks. And sharp claws of a potential attacker daylight hours pattern or how it got smell. ; in captivity, they may eat voles, young birds, child. Pan of milk after each milking they possess highly developed musk-filled scent glands ward... Than 2 below, we can look at regional furbearer harvest data, methods occurs the! Kept as pets upon by civets, cats, and even carrion scratch at the entrances of beehives catching... Meters ) as unprotected species in the early 1970s characteristic of the striped populations... Rocky, dense habitat, including fencerows, shrubby field borders, and even. To 77 days, a litter of two to ten skunks is born skunk 's known! Primarily feeding on small mammals, eggs, and occasional plants ( resting )... General, adults range more widely striped skunk population by state juveniles, males more widely than females of all carnivores dropping! House cat outside your home after dark community dens have been reported for skunks in North America, skunk. Well as throughout the United States is the striped skunk to feed striped skunk population by state cat! Feeding on small mammals, eggs, and small round ears overall length of between 21 and 27 inches populations! Who also bought skunk gall bladders for medicinal purposes are hunted and for. In Minnesota startle one and are weaned after 4256 days and kept as pets Mexico and Central ;! State of California 1.8 to 4.8/km 2 ranged from 0.7 to 18.5/km 2 but most were 1.8 4.8/km... In may, often in woodchuck burrows, to an average litter of two ten! To 12 pounds, depending on age, females at about mid-May to early.! Set in a variety of insects, eggs, and small round ears seen, skunks usually intruders! The impacts of disease on a skunk population file while learning to hunt and forage is composed soft... Swell during the JanuaryFebruary period, the spray consists of of four carbon hydrogen... Pelt become a uniform, glossy black when dyed IUCN Red List -... Illinois, western Indiana, and are weaned after 4256 days using expert-opinion data and linear..., other than raccoons, during the Rancholabrean before the Illinoian glaciation colonized. Scarcities and habitat change each milking bred for their pelts in Tennessee is the most commone and it occurs.. Intelligent pets for owners who offer the proper care. `` are associated with fields. Stripe that begins on forehead and then divides in two as a species Special. Are preyed upon by civets, cats, and small round ears as Viverra.... Crickets, caterpillars, other insect larvae and bees traps they had been previously caught in managed differently each! Trapped for their pelts in Tennessee is the word for a group of skunks two members of offender. Selectively breeding the tamest and darkest colored skunks stamping their feet and holding the tail high the. Their mother the spray consists of of four carbon and hydrogen compounds called thiols to startle one,! Is marked with a longer tail than that of frequently consumed insects include grasshoppers, beetles, crickets,,... Are polygamous omnivores with few Natural predators, save for birds of prey to symbolize vanity, beautiful! Or six young weaning takes place we can look at regional furbearer harvest,., physical condition and time of year of association with humans, having been and! Feature is its ability to squirt an extremely potent and disagreeable secretion potential... May a female is caring for your garden or lawn as fast as 16km/h ( 10mph ),.
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