striped skunk population by statestriped skunk population by state

However, recent surveys now . Young striped skunks reach sexual maturity at about 10 months. Two subsequent subclades were formed during the Sangamonian interglacial on either side of the Sierra Nevada. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0; additional terms may apply. Large, bushy black and white tail. Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Striped_skunk, http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/41635/0. Scientific Name: Mephitis mephitis. 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. New Hanover. 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. A thin white stripe also occurs down the center of the face from the forehead to the base of the snout. Hooded and hog-nosed skunks occupy ranges from the U.S. Southwest to southernmost Argentina and Peru. [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. Color: Black with two white stripes on its back and tail. 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. Three other skunk species live in the United States: hooded and hognose skunks, which inhabit the Southwest, and the spotted skunk, which is found throughout much of the country. The Striped skunk seems aware of how horrible its own odor is and will not spray in its own dens or in confined spaces. 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. Some farmers welcome their presence, realizing that these small predators eat many pest insects and rodents. Similar Species: Eastern Spotted Skunk has vertical stripes or spots near rump and has white spots on forehead and in front of ears. Skunks do not hibernate, although they may remain dormant underground all winter. You may have heard that pelts of the striped skunk once were more valuable than they are in the current fur market. Skunks live in a variety of habitats. Skunks. The striped skunk is a cat-sized mammal with a prominent long-haired tail. After 60 days gestation, she bears 2 to 10 young (usually 5 to 7). In the photo above, a striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is on left and a spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius) is on right. 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. Length: Body--25 to 30 inches, tail--8 to 11 inches. There is a significant reduction in body mass during wintermonths, when striped skunks can lose up to 50 percent of their weight. Ears: 0.8 - 1.0 inches What they eat depends on where they live and what is available. Striped skunks reach reproductive maturity when they are 10 months old. The Great Horned Owl is the chief predator of skunks; the skunk's odor does not seem to deter them. 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. [17] Other invertebrates may include worms, crayfish and other non-insect arthropods. After a gestation period of 59 to 77 days, a litter of two to ten skunks is born. Make a donation to the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute today! Skunks have been the most commonly confirmed rabies species, other than raccoons, during the spread of raccoon rabies throughout Southern New York. Skunks spray when threatened, serving as a nuisance for sprayed humans and pets. Worldwide,Mephitis mephitisis restricted to North America. A very large subspecies with a heavily furred, medium-sized tail. If they do survive, in the wild they can live for up to 7 years, and in captivity for up to 10 years. This page was last edited on 23 September 2022, at 02:18. If sprayed on the eyes, this compound can cause a temporary burning sensation. Maryland is home to two members of the skunk family. Eastern Oregon, northern California, and Nevada; east to the Wasatch Mountains in Utah. 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. [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. But the omnivorous striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis)New England's only native The females will retreat to the den to give birth. Spotted skunks were common around farms, and state harvest peaked at 19,400 in 1946, before populations plummeted. Phylogeography of striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in North America: Pleistocene dispersal and contemporary population structure. Common Name: Striped Skunk. Skunks are vulnerable to a variety of internal and external parasites. Striped skunks at the Smithsonian's National Zoo consume a diet consisting primarily of leafy greens, vegetables and insects. Barton, H. D., and S. M. Wisely. The blind newborns are furless, but have the black and white color pattern on their skin. 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. Mostly nocturnal and does not hibernate. [13] The meat was prized by Chinese immigrants, who also bought skunk gall bladders for medicinal purposes. Musk can make a predator sick or, if the skunk has been able to direct the substance into the animals eyes, temporarily blind. The species has triangular shaped heads that taper to the nose, small round ears and black eyes. [11], Like all skunks, the striped skunk possesses two highly developed scent glands, one on each side of the anus, containing about 15 milliliters of musk each,[13] which provides a chemical defense against predation. As one of the most recognizable mammals anywhere, striped skunks are known for their black fur and characteristic white stripes on their head and down their back. They den in ground burrows, stumps, wood and rock piles, overhanging creek banks and beneath buildings. They are also host for the canine parvovirus and may also suffer from leptospirosis. Confident. The striped skunk Some stories try to explain its striped pattern or how it got its smell. Striped skunks are omnivores and eat both plants and meat. In colder weather, they may eat voles, young birds, or bird eggs. Skunks are a significant asset in controlling the populations of crop-destroying rodents and insects. [10] Brown or cream-colored mutations occasionally occur. [2] The striped skunk is also known to consume amphibians, reptiles, carrion and fish. Some female yearlings will stay with their mothers into the coming winter. One wildlife host that purportedly plays a role in the transmission of Chagas disease within the southern United States is the striped skunk . The word skunk comes from the Algonquin Indian name for the animal, seganku. The second, still originating in the Texas-Mexico region, expanded westwards to the Rocky Mountains during the Illinoian glacial period. As members of the weasel family Mustelidae, they share the characteristics of a musky odor and well-developed scent glands. The skunk will move backwards towards the aggressor while stamping its feet. If threatened, a skunk drums its forefeet on the ground, snarls, arches its back and raises its tail. Variations include striping patterns and coloration; some striped skunks may be cream-colored with no visible striping. 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. [2] Like all skunks, they possess highly developed musk-filled scent glands to ward off predators. [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. 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. Conservation Ranks. In summer, they feed heavily on insects (adult and larval form) including grasshoppers, crickets, beetles and wasps. 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. Striped skunks are classified as unprotected species in Minnesota. Skunks seem to prefer slopes for den sites, probably because these areas drain well. This oily musk, expelled through the anus, can cause temporary blindness and pain if sprayed in the eyes of a potential attacker. Description: A medium-sized, stout-bodied mammal with a small head, short legs, and a prominent, bushy tail. The chemical makeup of skunk musk varies by species, but each version contains compounds called thiols that are responsible for the foul smell. Rosatte, R. & Lawson, S. (2003). The average lifespan of striped skunks in the wild is 7 years. Female striped skunks typically give birth once each year, with breeding occurring between February and April. A Striped Skunk in Wicomico County, Maryland, 2011. (1982). Found up to about 2000 feet on the west side of the state. Juvenile skunks are capable of spraying at 8 days old, around two weeks before their eyes open. A skunks smelly spray can reach up to ten feet, and be detected for up to 2.4 km (1.5 mi). [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. A white triangle can be seen on their face starting at the forehead and pointing down like an arrowhead to their nose. There is Eastern spotted skunk The great horned owl, which lacks a well-developed sense of smell and apparently is not bothered by the skunks musk, is a predator. Skunks are susceptible to distemper and rabies. Younger females may bear fewer young and give birth later in the year than older females. [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). Its fur is intrinsically valuable, being durable and having rich luster, though this trait decreases with wear and exposure to sunlight. Skunk family the characteristics of a potential attacker ; additional terms may apply peaked at 19,400 1946. Female striped skunks are vulnerable to a variety of internal and external parasites rump and has white spots on and... Mutations occasionally occur, carrion and fish after 60 days gestation, she 2. 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