Found up to about 2000 feet on the west side of the state. Adults grow to be about 47 to 82 cm (about 18 to 32 inches) long and may weigh up to 6.3 kg (13 pounds). These animals are also found in rock outcrops (Crabb 1948). [17] Other invertebrates may include worms, crayfish and other non-insect arthropods. The eastern spotted skunk is listed and managed differently in each state. A thin white stripe also occurs down the center of the face from the forehead to the base of the snout. Striped skunks can experience delayed implantation lasting up to 19 days. Fruits, nuts, carrion, garbage, invertebrates, eggs, small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles can all be taken, but insects usually represent the majority of their diet. Prior to copulating, the males' testicles swell during the JanuaryFebruary period, with maximum size being attained in March. 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. Skunks occasionally raid hen houses, and feed heavily on waterfowl eggs. Male total length ranged from 24.8 to 29.9 (630-760 mm) in Minnesota, and female total length ranged from 21.2 to 25.6 (540-650 mm) in Minnesota. Other names include polecat and the French Canadian enfant du diable, or child of the devil.. A similar, but less significant, secondary contact occurred when the same subclade intermingled with members of the eastern phylogroup east of the Mississippi river. [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. They can weigh from around 2 lbs to over 10 lbs. Rabies outbreaks have affected populations in Illinois. Their body temperature remains near normal. Striped skunks are opportunistic omnivores, with a diet that varies with what is available. Eastern spotted skunk Striped skunks can be found throughout Pennsylvania, but the highest densities are associated with agricultural areas. Now more than ever, we need your support. Although they may cover several miles each night while hunting, established individuals rarely wander more than a half-mile from their home burrows. They may be active even during cold weather, especially during the breeding season. The type locality is in eastern Canada. They have short legs and wide rear ends. Reproduction. The striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is the most common skunk in Texas and North America. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today remain stable. Its body is often mostly black, with white occurring in a narrow blaze up the middle of its forehead. Biologists on the Savannah River Site have documented spotted skunks associated with old fields, open forests, and hedgerow . A Striped Skunk in Wicomico County, Maryland, 2011. Alternatively, while the striped skunk is not likely to try to climb a tree, it can climb mesh fences fairly easily. The chemical makeup of skunk musk varies by species, but each version contains compounds called thiols that are responsible for the foul smell. Although they are blind and unfurred, the pattern of their future black-and-white pelage shows on their pinkish, wrinkled skin. [22], The striped skunk was once called the "emblem of America" by Ernest Thompson Seton. They are easily identifiable by the white stripe running from head to tail and each individual has a unique pattern of stripes. If they do survive, in the wild they can live for up to 7 years, and in captivity for up to 10 years. "Mephitis mephitis" (PDF). Skunks are chiefly nocturnal, hunting from dusk until dawn, except during the breeding season when they are frequently observed during daylight hours. Southern California, from vicinity of Monterey Bay south into Lower California; east to the Sierra Nevada and San Bernardino Range. Spotted skunks were common around farms, and state harvest peaked at 19,400 in 1946, before populations plummeted. 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. Like all skunks, they possess highly developed musk-filled scent glands to ward off predators. [11] The skunk will also consume vegetable matter, such as apples, blueberries, black cherries, ground cherries, corn and nightshade when in season. Ears: 0.8 - 1.0 inches 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. Fun Facts: Its numbers usually decline as abandoned fields and pastures become forested. Young are born blind, with eyes opening between 2-4 weeks of age. They prefer open areas, with abundant populations observed on agricultural lands. Though . Names . A very large subspecies with a heavily furred, medium-sized tail. 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. Skunk pelt prices may have doubled from about 1939 through the early 1940s, but they were never as valuable as red fox. Reduce, reuse and recycle in that order! Conservation Ranks. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0; additional terms may apply. The width of this stripe and the amount of white on the tail may vary from one skunk to another. Tail length averaged 8.7 (221 mm), ranging from 6.3 to 11.4 (159-290 mm) in the Eastern United States, and ranged from 7.9 to 11.0 (200-280 mm) in Wisconsin. Western Canada, from Manitoba to British Columbia; south in the United States to Colorado, Nebraska, and Minnesota. In the photo above, a striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is on left and a spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius) is on right. Males during this period will cover much ground in their search for females, sometimes covering 4km (2.5mi) per night. 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. The one limiting factor is a need to have a water supply close by, generally within 2 miles of their home range. [10] Brown or cream-colored mutations occasionally occur. Skunks make a variety of sounds, including hisses, growls, squeals, soft coos and churrings. After a gestation period of 59 to 77 days, a litter of two to ten skunks is born. The the striped skunk in Tennessee is the most commone and it occurs state-wide. Males are, on average, 15 percent larger and heavier than females. There is a significant reduction in body mass during wintermonths, when striped skunks can lose up to 50 percent of their weight. Description. The striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is an omnivorous mammal of the skunk family Mephitidae. Community dens have been found containing 12 or more skunks, mostly females and young. [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. Males in particular are likely to be active aboveground periodically. Tomato juice neutralizes the odor and will help remove the smell from clothes, hair, and dog fur. The common striped skunk is found from central Canada southward throughout the United States to northern Mexico. Skunks eat honeybees and wasps and often attack beehives. Young skunks follow their mothers in single file while learning to hunt and forage. Stripes vary in length and width among individuals. Great variation in color pattern and size of stripes. Males are typically slightlylarger than females. Total length: 20 to 28 inches. This bustling skunk habitat spans as far west as Emerald Ranch before dispersing toward the state borders. Some stories try to explain its striped pattern or how it got its smell. Winter home ranges tend to be smaller than summer home ranges since skunks typically stay close to their dens. Mephitis memphitis has proven highly adaptable. The bottoms of their feet are hairless, like those of bears or raccoons. Striped skunks are omnivorous, opportunistic feeders. Regionally, skunk harvest plummeted from peaks in the 1970s and 1980s. Immune to snake venom, these animals will eat poisonous snakes such as rattlesnakes. Large, bushy black and white tail. Their sense of touch, however, is acute. Skunks do not hibernate, although they may remain dormant underground all winter. After three weeks, their scent glands become functional; at four weeks, their eyes open; and at about two months the young are weaned and ready to leave the den for nighttime hunting forays. Their diet will vary depending on whats available during each season. Female Striped Skunks give birth to six to eight babies once a year only during the month of May or June. Until the early 1990s, Minnesota dominated regional harvest. Formerly a member of the weasel family (with mink, otter, fisher, marten), skunks have now been classified into their own family, "Mephitidae". 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 eat pests including potato bugs, tobacco worms and Japanese beetles. 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). They have an average overall length of between 21 and 27 inches. As many outdoors enthusiasts or dog owners can attest, the striped skunks spray is a truly memorable experience. The striped skunk 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. Found north of Mexico, it is one of the best-known mammals in Canada and the United States. Arizona, western New Mexico, Sonora, Chihuahua, and northern Lower California; south in the Sierra Madre to southern Chihuahua. This page is available in other languages. The species commonly found in Pennsylvania is the striped skunk. 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