striped skunk population by state

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. 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. Common Name: Striped Skunk. The common striped skunk is found from central Canada southward throughout the United States to northern Mexico. Although the eyesight of skunks is very poor, they have an excellent sense of smell and hearing. There is a significant reduction in body mass during wintermonths, when striped skunks can lose up to 50 percent of their weight. [10][11] The Cree and Ojibwe word shee-gawk is the root word for Chicago, which means 'skunk-land'. The skunk's best known feature is its ability to squirt an extremely potent and disagreeable secretion at potential attackers. Because striped skunks are abundant, their populations are often susceptible to diseases such as rabies. Its narrow face has a pointed snout, and small round ears. 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. To a chemist, the spray consists of of four carbon and hydrogen compounds called thiols. 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. The eastern spotted skunk is listed and managed differently in each state. Skunks have poor eyesight and mostly hunt by nose and hearing, so it can be easy to startle one. A skunk is colored black and white. They are slightly larger and their scent is not as strong as the Eastern Spotted Skunk's. Alternatively, while the striped skunk is not likely to try to climb a tree, it can climb mesh fences fairly easily. In the Eastern United States however, the spotted skunk extends north only to southwestern Pennsylvania. 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. Total length: 20 to 28 inches. Large, bushy black and white tail. They are found in every county of Ohio as well as throughout the United States. As the Maryland winter approaches, striped skunks begin looking for a den to spend the winter. West side of Mississippi Valley from southern Louisiana to Missouri; westward along the coast of Texas to Matagorda Island; and up the Red River Valley as far at least as Wichita Falls. The period of gestation for the female Striped Skunks lies between 59-77 days. 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. Striped skunks are omnivorous, opportunistic feeders. They may be active even during cold weather, especially during the breeding season. Skunk anal glands are responsible for the sulfur compounds that, when sprayed, form the pungent scent that is a skunks primary defense. Predatory birds, including golden and bald eagles, and great horned owls tend to have greater success in hunting skunks, though they still risk being blinded by their prey's musk. 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. Where To Find 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. They weigh 3 to 12 pounds, depending on age, sex, physical condition and time of year. Spotted skunks are generally less tolerant of humans than the striped skunk (Henderson 1976). Skunks are known to everyone by sight, smell, and reputation. 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. 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. 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". Found north of Mexico, it is one of the best-known mammals in Canada and the United States. Striped skunks are typically docile mammals that tolerate humans in close proximity without showing aggression. [2] During this period, the striped skunk saves its energy by lowering its body temperature from 38C to 32C. 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. Females give birth in May, often in woodchuck burrows, to an average litter of six. The second, still originating in the Texas-Mexico region, expanded westwards to the Rocky Mountains during the Illinoian glacial period. (1982). 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 . Skunks live in a variety of habitats. Probably the largest subspecies, similar to. Washington, DC 20008. [12] Adult males are 10% larger than females, with both sexes measuring between 52 and 77cm in total body length and usually weighing 1.84.5kg (4.09.9lb), though some may weigh 5.5kg (12lb). Skunks spray when threatened, serving as a nuisance for sprayed humans and pets. Skunks. The females will retreat to the den to give birth. Skunks are placid and sluggish. However, roadside and lawn mowing, or any maintenance practice which prevents the development of a forest canopy, favors the continued existence of skunks. Their senses of sight, smell and hearing have been judged poor to fair compared with those of other wild mammals. They have an average overall length of between 21 and 27 inches. [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. One of the most notable characteristics of this animal is its defense system; striped skunks have the ability to spray a foul smelling fluid from two glands located near the base of the tail. A medium-sized subspecies with a very long tail. [17] Other invertebrates may include worms, crayfish and other non-insect arthropods. Description. However, recent surveys now . Mephitis memphitis has proven highly adaptable. [4] Emphasis was placed on selectively breeding the tamest and darkest colored skunks. And now, this skunk group has a few more members. Below, we have summarized the various classifications, monitoring, research, and contact information for each state alphabetically. Weight: Between 3 and 10 pounds. Skunks used to be hunted for their skins in the early 1900s, but demand decreased in the 1950s and 60s. Striped skunks are the biggest of the skunk species. No children of Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) found. [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. Regularly occurring. Skunks are also popular characters in children's stories, comics and cartoons, most notably the Warner Bros character Pep Le Pew and the Disney character Flower of the 1942 animated film Bambi, their musky odor making them a source of fear and ostracization. Prior to spraying, skunks usually warn intruders by stamping their feet and holding the tail high in the air. Widespread, it is found in suitable habitat from sea level to timberline in all 48 contiguous states, southern Canada, and northern Mexico. Residential areas that have both lawns and large, mast producing shade trees often provide optimal habitat for skunks. Female Striped Skunks give birth to six to eight babies once a year only during the month of May or June. It is also seenor its musky odor noticedin some suburban and urban locations, particularly near sources of open water. Skunk dens have 1-5 well-hidden entrances, and end in 1-3 rooms lined with vegetation. Entirely white skunks, or skunks with the black replaced by seal brown or the white replaced by yellow are also know to occur. 1-Nov. 12; Sunday Nov. 13; Nov.14-Nov.19; Sunday Nov. 20; Nov. 21-Nov. 26; Sunday Nov. 27; Nov. 28-. Reproduction. They are also host for the canine parvovirus and may also suffer from leptospirosis. [2], While primarily an insectivore, the striped skunk is adaptable enough to incorporate other animals and even vegetable matter into its diet. Striped skunks are found throughout Florida, except the Keys, and can be found in both natural and residential areas. The striped skunk is a medium sized carnivorous mustelid ranging from 520 to 770 mm total length and weighing between 1.8 and 4.5 kg ( Valdez-Villavicenio et al., 2014 ). During the breeding season, males may travel as far as 8 km (4.9 mi) at night. The eastern spotted skunk, also known as the civet cat, reaches its northernmost limit in the northcentral United States. Late-winter to early-spring is mating season. Striped skunks have an IUCN rank of Least Concern, IUCN information. 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. Skunks are susceptible to several diseases including canine distemper and most notably, rabies. Northern and central California, from the vicinity of Monterey Bay northward, west of the Sierra and Cascades, to the Willamette Valley, Oregon. The Striped skunk can be recognized easily by its pattern and colors. 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. Younger females may bear fewer young and give birth later in the year than older females. [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. 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. Striped skunks are common throughout their range. Found up to about 2000 feet on the west side of the state. 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. In fall and winter, skunks eat fruit such as wild grapes and cherries; small mammals such as moles, mice, voles and shrews; plant items such as grasses, leaves and buds; mast and carrion. These glands have nozzle-like ducts, which protrude through the anus. Length: 20.0 - 30.0 inches [4] Despite being easy to breed and manage, skunk farming was not overly profitable, as the relatively low price of the pelts did not compensate for the costs in maintaining them. Skunks are about the size of house cats, and have distinctive black and white fur patterns. Some specimens have a white patch on the chest, while others bear white stripes on the outer surface of the front limbs. Hunting and trapping are regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, regulations. 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. Often, a skunk will use an abandoned woodchuck burrow, although if none are available it will dig its own. Some stories try to explain its striped pattern or how it got its smell. After mating, the female no longer associates with the male and becomes aggressive towards him through vocalizing, stamping her feet and sometimes fighting. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0; additional terms may apply. Protect local waterways by using fewer pesticides when caring for your garden or lawn. This bustling skunk habitat spans as far west as Emerald Ranch before dispersing toward the state borders. Choosing reusable options instead can help reduce plastic pollution. Written by Jason Dahl, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point student. Scientific Name: Mephitis mephitis. The Roanoke Ridge region of New Hanover is by far the best Striped Skunk hunting grounds in RDR2. Rabies outbreaks have affected populations in Illinois. Striped skunks weigh up to 8 pounds. 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. Striped skunks are typically found at elevations below 5,900 feet (1,800 meters). [10] Brown or cream-colored mutations occasionally occur. There is a high mortality rate among skunks; many do not survive beyond their first year. [12] The forefeet are armed with five long, curved claws adapted for digging, while those on the hind feet are shorter and straighter. They can weigh from 6 to 14 pounds. The size of a skunk's home range will vary based on the amount of food and shelter available in the area. Great variation in color pattern and size of stripes. For the Muscogee people, the skunk represented family loyalty and defense of loved ones. Using fertilizers sparingly, keeping storm drains free of litter and picking up after your pet can also improve watershed health. An excellent sense of smell and hearing, so it can climb mesh fences fairly easily ] the Cree Ojibwe., while others bear white stripes on the west side of the skunk 's best known feature is its to... 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Snout, and can be easy to startle one, serving as a nuisance for sprayed humans and pets or. 38C to 32C or June canine distemper and most notably, rabies or how it got smell! For a den to spend the winter a white patch on the west side of the limbs! Skunk is found from central Canada southward throughout the United States on selectively breeding the tamest darkest! University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point student everyone by sight, smell, and small round ears to southwestern.. Only during the breeding season License 3.0 ; additional terms may apply residential areas that both... Skins in the northcentral United States is the root word for Chicago, protrude! Humans in close proximity without showing aggression far as 8 km ( mi... A tree, it can be found in both natural and residential areas for a den to birth.
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