High corn plants also protect young skunks from airborne and land predators without impeding their movements. The eastern spotted skunk, also known as the civet cat, reaches its northernmost limit in the northcentral United States. 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. Northern and central California, from the vicinity of Monterey Bay northward, west of the Sierra and Cascades, to the Willamette Valley, Oregon. The skunk excels at this potential and can discharge a foul-smelling fluid as a means of defense. Fun Facts: Protection and promoting general public awareness of a species is a good way to secure its status. Skunk fur is an important asset to the fur industry, with pelts with a greater percentage of black grading higher. They den in ground burrows, stumps, wood and rock piles, overhanging creek banks and beneath buildings. There is These glands have nozzle-like ducts, which protrude through the anus. [4] Emphasis was placed on selectively breeding the tamest and darkest colored skunks. Skunks are less abundant in closed forest or in areas with a water table that impacts den sites, but are common in most other portions of their range, including suburban, urban, and rural habitats. In general, adults range more widely than juveniles, males more widely than females. The striped skunk is an interesting component of New York's wildlife assortment. As an opportunistic feeder, it will fill its diet with a variety of insects, small mammals, eggs, and occasional plants. Scientific Name: Mephitis mephitis. [11] At this point, the kits may accompany their mother outside the den, becoming independent after 2 months. The novelty song "Dead Skunk" by Loudon Wainwright III was popular in the early 1970s. Florida to North Carolina, and in the mountains to West Virginia; west on the Gulf coast to the Mississippi River. Skunks dig out bumblebee nests and scratch at the entrances of beehives, catching and eating any honeybees that fly out. A strong market for fur-trimmed cloth coats developed in the late 1930s as our country recovered from the Great Depression. The striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis ) is a skunk of the genus Mephitis that occurs across much of North America, including southern Canada, the United States, and northern Mexico. The striped skunk has a white stripe that starts at the top of its head, splits at the neck, and extends down each side of its body. Great variation in color pattern and size of stripes. In the Eastern United States however, the spotted skunk extends north only to southwestern Pennsylvania. A medium-sized subspecies with a very long tail. 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. [10] The feet are plantigrade with bare soles,[10] and are not as broad or flat as those of hog-nosed skunks. Proudly founded in 1681 as a place of tolerance and freedom. There is a significant reduction in body mass during wintermonths, when striped skunks can lose up to 50 percent of their weight. For the Muscogee people, the skunk represented family loyalty and defense of loved ones. Skunks discharge their scent, or musk, through these nozzles, powering the stream with a strong hip muscle contraction. As a fur-bearing mammal, striped skunks were often hunted for their pelts; while these pelts are no longer in great demand, the state of Maryland regulates hunting and trapping of striped skunks to best manage their populations. [11] The skunk will also consume vegetable matter, such as apples, blueberries, black cherries, ground cherries, corn and nightshade when in season. Striped skunks are found in a variety of habitats from southern Canada throughout the United States into northern Mexico. Ball and K. R. Foresman This study was initiated in 1988 as a striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis^ removal program to improve nest success of upland nesting waterfowl. Striped skunks were a staple of the fur trade into the 1950s, but low pelt . Immune to snake venom, these animals will eat poisonous snakes such as rattlesnakes. (218) 788-2694 Occurrence estimates were calculated from species-specific distribution models fit using expert-opinion data and generalized linear mixed modeling. This oily musk, expelled through the anus, can cause temporary blindness and pain if sprayed in the eyes of a potential attacker. Additionally, most states permit skunk harvesting year-round. Although a market still exists, it is not as vigorous as it once was. Spotted skunks were common around farms, and state harvest peaked at 19,400 in 1946, before populations plummeted. The striped skunk has been protected under the Environmental Conservation Law since the late 1800s. An interesting side note is that house cats tolerate the presence of skunks. Cut back on single-use goods, and find creative ways to reuse products at the end of their life cycle. Each year the New York State hunting and trapping regulation guides remind hunters and trappers that the striped skunk is a valuable furbearing resource. 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. For reference, spotted skunks typically weigh less than 2 . Skunks can spray up to 15 feet, but the smell can carry up to a mile. When it is colder, they prefer to remain in underground dens. [4] Skunks are notable for being easy to trap, even approaching traps they had been previously caught in. 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. Kits are able to follow their mother on hunting trips at two months, and soon after disperse. Photo by Smithsonian Wild. 3001 Connecticut Ave., NW It has broad stripes that cover its body length, although the coloration may vary. They prefer open areas, with abundant populations observed on agricultural lands. Regionally, skunk harvest plummeted from peaks in the 1970s and 1980s. Habitat: Occurs around rocky, dense habitat, including fencerows, shrubby field borders, and farmland. The Latin name for skunk, Mephitis mephitis, means "double foul odor.". Written by Jason Dahl, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point student. Printable Striped Skunk Wildlife Note (PDF). Regularity. 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. The striped skunk ( Mephitis mephitis) is a distinctive member of Indiana's wildlife community. Skunks spray when threatened, serving as a nuisance for sprayed humans and pets. Skunks are a major reservoir for rabies and other parasites. They are also host for the canine parvovirus and may also suffer from leptospirosis. [10], The striped skunk may dig its own dens, though it will appropriate those abandoned by other animals should the opportunity present itself. A medium-sized subspecies, with a longer tail than that of. Worldwide,Mephitis mephitisis restricted to North America. Its body is often mostly black, with white occurring in a narrow blaze up the middle of its forehead. 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. Damaged building foundations and spaces underneath porches serve this purpose well. Tail is usually black, but sometimes has a white tip and sides. 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. Total length averaged 23.1 (586 mm), ranging from 17.6 to 25 (447-635 mm) in the Eastern United States, and ranged from 21.3 to 29.5 (540-750 mm) in Wisconsin. Reproduction. Their senses of sight, smell and hearing have been judged poor to fair compared with those of other wild mammals. Important Links; NY Nature Explorer; PDF Help; For help with PDFs on this page, please call 518-402-8883.; Contact for this Page; Bureau of Wildlife 625 Broadway Albany, NY 12233-4754 518-402-8883 Phylogeography of striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in North America: Pleistocene dispersal and contemporary population structure. If cornered, the striped skunk will turn and confront its opponent, arching its back and displaying its long and bushy tail to make itself appear larger, followed by stamping its feet. Striped skunks are typically found at elevations below 5,900 feet (1,800 meters). Skunks have poor eyesight and mostly hunt by nose and hearing, so it can be easy to startle one. [10] Although their musk is still undeveloped, kits of this age will instinctively assume the defensive stand position when threatened. 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. Instantly recognizable, striped skunks are known for their signature coloration and for their ability to emit a strong and pungent odor when upset. While the mammals have adapted to a wide range of environments, they prefer habitat with a variety of woodlands and open fields, which means they can also be found in both rural and suburban settings. Males in particular are likely to be active aboveground periodically. 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. Litters of 2-16 (usually 4-6) young are born in May or June. You may have heard that pelts of the striped skunk once were more valuable than they are in the current fur market. . 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 . Adult skunks are about two feet long, including a 7- to 10-inch tail. Musk can make a predator sick or, if the skunk has been able to direct the substance into the animals eyes, temporarily blind. Skunk pelt prices may have doubled from about 1939 through the early 1940s, but they were never as valuable as red fox. Breeding information: Striped Skunks start breeding in late February and usually only have one litter annually. In some cases, a secondary breeding period will occur in May in the event that the first litter was lost, or pseudopregnacny occurs. Striped skunks are common throughout their range. Striped skunks are typically docile mammals that tolerate humans in close proximity without showing aggression. Choosing reusable options instead can help reduce plastic pollution. From the late 1990s until present, North Dakota dominates regional harvest. [8], Phylogenetic analyses of the species' cytochrome b gene and microsatellite data in 2012 indicated that there are four phylogroups of striped skunk. The eastern United States will fill its diet with a strong and pungent odor when upset greater percentage black. Land predators without impeding their movements striped skunk population by state until present, North Dakota dominates regional.... 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