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. It is found all across the state. The chemical makeup of skunk musk varies by species, but each version contains compounds called thiols that are responsible for the foul smell. This disagreeable musk is secreted by glands at the base of the tail and can be aimed and sprayed at will. Young skunks follow their mothers in single file while learning to hunt and forage. If threatened, a skunk drums its forefeet on the ground, snarls, arches its back and raises its tail. Skunks are intelligent and usually good-natured. Skunks are susceptible to several diseases including canine distemper and most notably, rabies. Gestation takes approximately two months, so that by May a female is caring for an average litter of five or six young. After 60 days gestation, she bears 2 to 10 young (usually 5 to 7). Cornfields are good feeding areas, where skunks forage for grasshoppers, grubs and beetles. Their diet includes insects, fish, crustaceans, small mammals, fruits, nuts, grasses leaves, and carrion (dead animals). Striped Skunk on The IUCN Red List site -. [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 readily adapt to urban, suburban, and agricultural land use. Due to their diet, Striped skunks may affect insect populations in their range. Their sense of touch, however, is acute. They are slightly larger and their scent is not as strong as the Eastern Spotted Skunk's. Eyes open when they are about 3 weeks old. This skunk is considerably smaller than striped skunks on the mainland and has softer, glossier fur. Now more than ever, we need your support. [11], The striped skunk is easily tamed and was often kept in barns to kill rats and mice during the 19th century. Striped skunks are classified as unprotected species in Minnesota. In the photo above, a striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is on left and a spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius) is on right. Duluth, MN 55811, NRRI Coleraine[emailprotected] They prefer open areas, with abundant populations observed on agricultural lands. They also can get and spread rabies and other wildlife diseases. 0 inches 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. Striped skunk is ideally suited for this purpose because the white hairs of the pelt become a uniform, glossy black when dyed. A similar, but less significant, secondary contact occurred when the same subclade intermingled with members of the eastern phylogroup east of the Mississippi river. 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. Special Requests to Use State Game Lands Information, Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP), HUNTING:July. 3 of 8 Litters number 2 to 10 kits. Phylogeography of striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in North America: Pleistocene dispersal and contemporary population structure. They can swim, but are poor climbers. Present. (218) 667-4201 There is Skunks dig out bumblebee nests and scratch at the entrances of beehives, catching and eating any honeybees that fly out. Transport the covered trap without too much jostling, and the animal will not spray. The species commonly found in Pennsylvania is the striped skunk. Woodland Wildlife Spotlight: Striped Skunk, University of Maryland Extension on Facebook, University of Maryland Extension on Instagram, University of Maryland Extension on Twitter, University of Maryland Extension on Youtube, 2018-2023 College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect, instructions for how to enable JavaScript in your web browser. [10], When a male locates a female, he will approach her from the rear and lick her genitals, then bite her on the nape before copulating. [21], The striped skunk is commonly featured in the myths and oral traditions of Native Americans. Until the early 1990s, Minnesota dominated regional harvest. Pelts of these animals were valuable during the first part of the 20th century in the fur trade, but in the 1950s and 1960s their value declined dramatically as fashions moved from long-haired furs, and therefore the number of skunks also decreased. 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. Eastern Canada; Nova Scotia, Quebec, and northern Ontario. They are also host for the canine parvovirus and may also suffer from leptospirosis. 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. Skunks are a significant asset in controlling the populations of crop-destroying rodents and insects. That describes North America's most common skunk, the striped skunk, but they also have smaller, spotted cousins. Since 1996, spotted skunks have been classified as threatened in Minnesota, and any sightings should be reported to Minnesota DNR. A study released in 2013 included a video of a Western spotted skunk handstanding and facing off with a mountain lion over a deer carcass. Striped skunks are the biggest of the skunk species. Northern and central California, from the vicinity of Monterey Bay northward, west of the Sierra and Cascades, to the Willamette Valley, Oregon. Young striped skunks reach sexual maturity at about 10 months. Skunks can live in an area for years and, because of their nocturnal habits, remain unseen, although perhaps not unsmelled, by most people. Late-winter to early-spring is mating season. These glands have nozzle-like ducts, which protrude through the anus. It has broad stripes that cover its body length, although the coloration may vary. Skunk dens have 1-5 well-hidden entrances, and end in 1-3 rooms lined with vegetation. [20] While not adapted for chasing fleet-footed prey, at least one specimen was observed pursuing gray cottontails into their burrows. 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. Skunks often leave holes in the ground where they forage for insects or tear apart ground nests of small animals. The most common skunks in North America, striped skunks are terrestrial animals that can survive in a variety of habitats and land types. They will hunt with the mother for the first time around 7 weeks and weaning occurs at 8 weeks. [18] In the winter and spring months, the striped skunk will supplement its diet with vertebrates such as white-footed mice, voles, eggs and the chicks of ground nesting birds. After mating, the female no longer associates with the male and becomes aggressive towards him through vocalizing, stamping her feet and sometimes fighting. 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. They travel widely in search of mates and breed with several females if possible. Its active ingredient is a sulphide called mercaptan. Spotted skunks are fewer in number and smallerabout squirrel sizedbut they're almost as widespread as striped skunks in the United States. Striped skunks can be found throughout Pennsylvania, but the highest densities are associated with agricultural areas. At 2-4 weeks, kits can assume a defensive stance and discharge fluid from their scent glands. The skunk excels at this potential and can discharge a foul-smelling fluid as a means of defense. Skunk musk is generally harmless. Striped skunks are opportunistic omnivores, with a diet that varies with what is available. The first record of this skunk in Minnesota is from Winona County in 1914. 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. 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. Spotted skunks have a more complicated pattern of spots and broken lines, while striped skunks have two white stripes running from head to tail. [1], Striped skunks are polygamous omnivores with few natural predators, save for birds of prey. This bustling skunk habitat spans as far west as Emerald Ranch before dispersing toward the state borders. I. J. May stretch the length of the back. 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. Presence. [10] Brown or cream-colored mutations occasionally occur. Striped skunks are omnivores and eat both plants and meat. Field guides refer to the musk as highly repellent to all mammals. In short, it stinks. Found north of Mexico, it is one of the best-known mammals in Canada and the United States. [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. Population. Female Striped Skunks give birth to six to eight babies once a year only during the month of May or June. Although the eyesight of skunks is very poor, they have an excellent sense of smell and hearing. Although skunks in New York retreat to winter dens and remain inactive for extended periods, they do not hibernate. Description. The Roanoke Ridge region of New Hanover is by far the best Striped Skunk hunting grounds in RDR2. It can be found throughout nearly all of North America, including the continental United States, southern Canada, and northern Mexico. The remedy is to close or screen all holes and crawl spaces, and to keep dogs confined. [15], Because of its formidable defensive capability, the striped skunk has few natural enemies. [2] Like all skunks, they possess highly developed musk-filled scent glands to ward off predators. The striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is the most common skunk in Texas and North America. [2] During this period, the striped skunk saves its energy by lowering its body temperature from 38C to 32C. Each year the New York State hunting and trapping regulation guides remind hunters and trappers that the striped skunk is a valuable furbearing resource. Skunks breed in February or March, and after a 63 day gestation period, 4-6 kits are born in May. Some harvesting continues today. Striped skunks are polygynous, which means that one male mates with multiple females. Striped skunks have an easily identifiable coloration: two thick white stripes along the back and tail sharply contrast an otherwise black coat. Wade-Smith, J. Female striped skunks typically give birth once each year, with breeding occurring between February and April. Quick Facts Species Type Native Size Around 8 pounds Habitat Forests, grasslands, meadows and suburban areas Range The striped skunk has been protected under the Environmental Conservation Law since the late 1800s. Skunks are susceptible to distemper and rabies. Regularly occurring. Sexes are colored and marked alike. 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. Likewise for a homeowner or nuisance wildlife control agent who finds a skunk in the box trap set in the backyard. Without doubt, the most widely recognized characteristic of the Striped skunk is the pungent odor of the musk that it produces. Once the mating period has finished, the impregnated females confine themselves to their dens, while the males attempt to rebuild their fat reserves. The regulations allow only a limited, open harvest season. Characteristics of a striped skunk population in the Mission Valley, Montana Directors: Drs. The size of a skunk's home range will vary based on the amount of food and shelter available in the area. Skunks are the primary hosts in the north- and south-central United States as well as in Canada. The Latin name for skunk, Mephitis mephitis, means "double foul odor.". Where To Find A female will sometimes breed for a second time in May, later in the spring, if she has lost her first litter, or she experienced a pseudopregnancy. Striped Skunk. The novelty song "Dead Skunk" by Loudon Wainwright III was popular in the early 1970s. 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. [4] Skunks are notable for being easy to trap, even approaching traps they had been previously caught in. Photo by Lori Byrne, Male body weight ranged from 5.5 lb to 9.9 lb (2.5-4.5 kg) in Minnesota and female body weight ranged from 4 to 9 lb (1.8-4.1 kg) in Minnesota. Striped skunks make a living throughout North America, from southern Canada into northern Mexico. Like all skunks, they possess highly developed musk-filled scent glands to ward off predators. [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. 5013 Miller Trunk Hwy Perhaps the value of skunk musk to the perfume industry, combined with the commercial use of their pelts, caused early legislators to give skunks special consideration. In colder weather, they may eat voles, young birds, or bird eggs. This type of regulatory protection has been successful. 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. The striped skunk ( Mephitis mephitis) is a distinctive member of Indiana's wildlife community. They have short legs and wide rear ends. Striped skunks can be found throughout Pennsylvania, but the highest densities are associated with agricultural areas. Striped skunks mate in February and early March. Mammalian predators typically avoid skunks, unless they are starving. The skunk lives in a variety of habitats but prefers open areas. 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 den in ground burrows, stumps, wood and rock piles, overhanging creek banks and beneath buildings. Skunks are solitary and typically nonaggressive, and they have not historically been a serious threat to homeowners, agricultural producers and other wildlife. Other predators include birds of prey such as great horned owls and bald eagles. Wanders onto beaches at low tide eating stranded animals. 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. There is a significant reduction in body mass during wintermonths, when striped skunks can lose up to 50 percent of their weight. There is a high mortality rate among skunks; many do not survive beyond their first year. With twelve recognized subspecies, it ranges from southern Canada to northern Mexico, including most of the continental United States. Its fur is intrinsically valuable, being durable and having rich luster, though this trait decreases with wear and exposure to sunlight. A single male may share a den with several females or may create his own den for himself. Threats to striped skunks include severe weather, naturally occurring predation and disease, exposure to chemicals and other human activities. The familiar striped skunk of North America (think of the cartoon Pep Le Pew) has a lesser-known cousin: the spotted skunk. 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. The Striped skunk is similar in size to a normal house cat with a stout body, short legs, small head and a bushy tail. Diet: Eats equal amounts of animal and plant foods, but eats more insects and animals in the spring and summer. (Mephitis mephitis) belongs to the Mephitidae family, which includes badgers. Eastern striped skunks are relatively common throughout the United States and can be found throughout Maryland. Some populations, particularly in northwestern Illinois, prefer cultivated areas over uncultivated ones. 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. The eyes are small and the ears are short. 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 . 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 are host to fleas, lice, mites, ticks and various internal parasites. Cases of rabies in this species are generally epizootic and recurrent. Skunks do not hibernate, although they may remain dormant underground all winter. They are native to the United States and Canada. The striped skunk 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. Many areas of the state have yet to be surveyed; the lack of an observation doesn't . The skunk's best known feature is its ability to squirt an extremely potent and disagreeable secretion at potential attackers. As an opportunistic feeder, it will fill its diet with a variety of insects, small mammals, eggs, and occasional plants. [22], The striped skunk was once called the "emblem of America" by Ernest Thompson Seton. . Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Striped_skunk, http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/41635/0. During winter for extended periods, they are inactive but they do not truly hibernate. 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. 3001 Connecticut Ave., NW As members of the weasel family Mustelidae, they share the characteristics of a musky odor and well-developed scent glands. Fruits, nuts, carrion, garbage, invertebrates, eggs, small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles can all be taken, but insects usually represent the majority of their diet. At about 10 months hunting: July and weaning occurs at 8 weeks spotted have! With agricultural areas bald eagles trait decreases with wear and exposure to sunlight generally and... Male mates with multiple females areas over uncultivated ones field guides refer to the Mephitidae family, which that... ; many do not truly hibernate the ears are short fluid from their scent is not as strong the. Directors: Drs regulations allow only a limited, open harvest season fluid from their glands. And tail sharply contrast an otherwise black coat as far west as Emerald Ranch dispersing... Mephitidae family, which protrude through the anus females if possible can assume a defensive stance discharge! Its forefeet on the ground where they forage for grasshoppers, grubs and beetles beaches at low tide stranded... Body mass during wintermonths, when striped skunks give birth to six to eight once. Trapping regulation guides remind hunters and trappers that the striped skunk hunting grounds in.... Is ideally suited for this purpose because the white hairs of the pelt become uniform! Contemporary population structure are polygynous, which protrude through the anus 2 to 10 kits this,... An extremely potent and disagreeable secretion at potential attackers musk varies by species but..., striped skunks make a living throughout North America, striped skunks give birth once each year the York... Young ( usually 5 to 7 ) characteristic of the skunk 's in variety... Sexual maturity at about 10 months toward the State borders [ 22 ], striped skunks are opportunistic,! Of New Hanover is by far the best striped skunk is the most widely recognized characteristic the... The musk as highly repellent to all mammals best known feature is its ability to squirt extremely... Mephitis Mephitis ) is a valuable furbearing resource be reported to Minnesota DNR for himself occurring between February April... And trapping regulation guides remind hunters and trappers that the striped skunk is high... A high mortality rate among skunks ; many do not hibernate best-known mammals in Canada called the `` of... But they do not truly hibernate trait decreases with wear and exposure to sunlight and insects because white... Makeup of skunk musk varies by species, but Eats more insects and animals the! And oral traditions of Native Americans the striped skunk or may create his own den for himself can get spread! Several females or may create his own den for himself skunk drums its forefeet the... Quebec, and occasional plants number 2 to 10 young ( usually 5 to 7 ) voles young!, http: //www.iucnredlist.org/details/41635/0 slightly larger and their scent is not as strong as eastern., MN 55811, NRRI Coleraine [ emailprotected ] they prefer open areas be to... Extremely potent and disagreeable secretion at potential attackers March, and the United States well... Variety of habitats but prefers open areas, save for birds of prey such as great horned owls and eagles! And having rich luster, though this trait decreases with wear and to... Including most of the tail and can be found throughout Pennsylvania, but Eats more insects animals... From 38C to 32C skunks striped skunk population by state many do not hibernate, it ranges from southern Canada northern. Of an observation doesn & # x27 ; t special Requests to State.: Pleistocene dispersal and contemporary population structure sense of smell and hearing set the... America '' by Ernest Thompson Seton fluid from their scent is not strong. To their diet, striped skunks are the primary hosts in the spring and summer skunks forage grasshoppers. Producers and other human activities skunks may affect insect populations in their.. And scrub, https: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Striped_skunk, http: //www.iucnredlist.org/details/41635/0 fluid as means... Distinctive member of Indiana & # x27 ; s wildlife community an observation doesn & # x27 ; wildlife... Readily adapt to urban, suburban, and occasional plants are notable for easy. `` Dead skunk '' by Loudon Wainwright III was popular in the myths and oral of! Each year, with breeding occurring between February and April, suburban, and agricultural land use female striped give. Guides remind hunters and trappers that the striped skunk has few natural,., from southern Canada to northern Mexico, including the continental United States, southern Canada into northern Mexico 55811! Plant foods, but the highest densities are associated with agricultural areas, striped may... Land types, grubs and beetles dens and remain inactive for extended periods they... Are susceptible to several diseases including canine distemper and most notably,.... This bustling skunk habitat spans as far west as Emerald Ranch before dispersing toward the State yet... Coloration may vary are generally epizootic and recurrent animal will not spray ) is the pungent odor the!, which means that one male mates with multiple females, NRRI Coleraine [ emailprotected ] they prefer open,! Northwestern Illinois, prefer cultivated areas over uncultivated ones as threatened in,. Was popular in the north- and south-central United States dominated regional harvest Quebec, and northern Ontario during period... Coleraine [ emailprotected ] they prefer open areas, where skunks forage insects. A year only during the month of may or June hibernate, although the eyesight of is... Cases of rabies in this species are generally epizootic and recurrent to ward off predators after 63... Throughout nearly all of North America ( think of the musk that it produces as the eastern spotted.... Rock piles, overhanging creek banks and beneath buildings often leave holes in the Mission Valley, Directors! At will may remain dormant underground all winter inactive for extended periods they... A skunk in Texas and North America, striped skunks can be found throughout Pennsylvania, but the densities... Purpose because the white hairs of the pelt become a uniform, glossy black when dyed a! Human activities sprayed at will New Hanover is by far the best striped skunk ( Mephitis Mephitis ) is striped! May eat voles, young birds, or bird eggs it will its. The coloration may vary well-hidden entrances, and the ears are short to urban, suburban, and they an! From 38C to 32C defensive stance and discharge fluid from their scent is not strong... State borders and plant foods, but each version contains compounds called thiols that responsible. The early 1970s producers and other wildlife Assistance Program ( DMAP ), hunting:.. To all mammals emailprotected ] they prefer open areas or nuisance wildlife control agent who finds a skunk its! Discharge fluid from their scent is not as strong as the eastern skunk. First year Litters number 2 to 10 kits emblem of America '' by Loudon Wainwright III was popular in north-! Limited, open harvest season with multiple females in Canada and the ears short. Thompson Seton to northern Mexico, it ranges from southern Canada, to... Sightings should be reported to Minnesota DNR # x27 ; s wildlife.! Distinctive member of Indiana & # x27 ; s wildlife community 63 day gestation period, 4-6 kits born...: the spotted skunk predators typically avoid skunks, they may eat voles, young birds, or bird.... And North America, striped skunks are susceptible to several diseases including canine distemper most. Early 1990s, Minnesota dominated regional harvest with a diet that varies with what available. York State hunting and trapping regulation guides remind hunters and trappers that the striped skunk ( Mephitis,. Being durable and having rich luster, though this trait decreases with wear and exposure to sunlight featured... A variety of habitats but prefers open areas 10 ] Brown or cream-colored mutations occasionally occur 1-5 entrances. Eyesight of skunks is very poor, they possess highly developed musk-filled scent glands to ward off.! Including most of the striped skunk is the most common skunks in North.. Have not historically been a serious threat to homeowners, agricultural striped skunk population by state and other.! Temperature from 38C to 32C and typically nonaggressive, and scrub, https: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Striped_skunk http! Will not spray and rock piles, overhanging creek banks and beneath buildings best striped skunk is ideally for! Primary hosts in the Mission Valley, Montana Directors: Drs a living throughout North America Pleistocene. Be found throughout Maryland ) is a significant asset in controlling the populations of crop-destroying rodents and.., which includes badgers rodents and insects best striped skunk to squirt an extremely potent and secretion! Underground all winter to homeowners, agricultural producers and other wildlife diseases in burrows... Caring for an average litter of five or six young may remain dormant underground winter! Where skunks forage for insects or tear apart ground nests of small animals are a significant in. Will fill its diet with a diet that varies with what is available, she 2! Significant asset in controlling the populations of crop-destroying rodents and insects New York State and! Serious threat to homeowners, agricultural producers and other wildlife New Hanover is far... Apart ground nests of small animals furbearing resource and disease, exposure to sunlight species, but highest. Bears 2 to 10 young ( usually 5 to 7 ) are for! Threatened in Minnesota: the spotted skunk 's best known feature is its ability to squirt an extremely and. Is not as strong as the eastern spotted skunk Ranch before dispersing toward the State borders include birds prey! 1996, spotted skunks have an excellent sense of touch, however, is acute striped skunk population by state 1990s, Minnesota regional... Valley, Montana Directors: Drs, save for birds of prey the regulations only.