In Kansas, the striped skunk is recognized as a leading rabies vector, often accounting for 80 percent of more of the animals that test positive for the disease each year. [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. Striped skunks may be . Striped skunks are classified as unprotected species in Minnesota. Striped skunks are polygynous, which means that one male mates with multiple females. Black body, narrow white stripe on middle of the forehead, broad white area on nape that usually divides into a V at the shoulders. In some cases, a secondary breeding period will occur in May in the event that the first litter was lost, or pseudopregnacny occurs. Residential areas that have both lawns and large, mast producing shade trees often provide optimal habitat for skunks. 2. [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. Spotted skunks are fewer in number and smallerabout squirrel sizedbut they're almost as widespread as striped skunks in the United States. Confident. They are native to the United States and Canada. Alabama Arkansas Colorado Florida Georgia Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maryland Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska In warmer weather, they depend on insects such as grasshoppers, crickets, and beetles, crayfish, and worms, with occasional fruits and nuts. The the striped skunk in Tennessee is the most commone and it occurs state-wide. Hunting and trapping are regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, regulations here. The burrow has a central chamber (12 to 15 inches in diameter) about three feet underground, connected to the surface by one or more tunnels 5 to 15 feet long. Found north of Mexico, it is one of the best-known mammals in Canada and the United States. Fun Facts: The bottoms of their feet are hairless, like those of bears or raccoons. The most distinguishing characteristic is a skunk's ability to direct a stream or spray of musk as far as 10 feet from paired anal glands. Eastern spotted skunk 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. However, these animals may still be harvested in most parts of Canada and the United States. Striped Skunks become sexually mature when they are approximately ten months old. Regionally, skunk harvest plummeted from peaks in the 1970s and 1980s. Eastern Canada; Nova Scotia, Quebec, and northern Ontario. Many areas of the state have yet to be surveyed; the lack of an observation doesn't . Normally solitary, males and females get together for breeding in February and March. NRRI Duluth[emailprotected] Picture a skunk. Striped skunk is ideally suited for this purpose because the white hairs of the pelt become a uniform, glossy black when dyed. 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. Some populations, particularly in northwestern Illinois, prefer cultivated areas over uncultivated ones. For reference, spotted skunks typically weigh less than 2 . Their senses of sight, smell and hearing have been judged poor to fair compared with those of other wild mammals. May stretch the length of the back. 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. [10] Although their musk is still undeveloped, kits of this age will instinctively assume the defensive stand position when threatened. 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. They also prey on woodchucks and other young animals in burrows. Though . They can live up to 10 years in human care. If they do survive, in the wild they can live for up to 7 years, and in captivity for up to 10 years. Striped skunks can experience delayed implantation lasting up to 19 days. This bustling skunk habitat spans as far west as Emerald Ranch before dispersing toward the state borders. 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. Due to their diet, Striped skunks may affect insect populations in their range. 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. Southern Washington and northern Oregon, east of the Cascade Mountains. Maryland is home to two members of the skunk family. 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 . In some states, like Florida, skunks may be killed only during a season, but harvests year-round are allowed in most states. PO Box 188 The Striped skunk is similar in size to a normal house cat with a stout body, short legs, small head and a bushy tail. There is a high mortality rate among skunks; many do not survive beyond their first year. They weigh 3 to 12 pounds, depending on age, sex, physical condition and time of year. Striped Skunks reach the lowest torpid body temperature of all carnivores, dropping from 98.6F to 78.8F (37C to 26C). Striped skunks make a living throughout North America, from southern Canada into northern Mexico. Local populations are also affected by severe weather, food scarcities and habitat change. [2] Like all skunks, they possess highly developed musk-filled scent glands to ward off predators. To help assess population trends, we can look at regional furbearer harvest data, methods. Striped Skunk. Their top speed is about 10 miles per hour. Striped skunks usually prefer areas that have large dead trees. Musk can make a predator sick or, if the skunk has been able to direct the substance into the animals eyes, temporarily blind. Hooded and hog-nosed skunks occupy ranges from the U.S. Southwest to southernmost Argentina and Peru. Skunks are placid and sluggish. Widespread, it is found in suitable habitat from sea level to timberline in all 48 contiguous states, southern Canada, and northern Mexico. This species has been found in all parts of the state. Written by Jason Dahl, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point student. They may be active even during cold weather, especially during the breeding season. Cornfields are good feeding areas, where skunks forage for grasshoppers, grubs and beetles. The period of gestation for the female Striped Skunks lies between 59-77 days. Best places to see in Tennessee: Edges, corners, and fencerows of fields. Skunk pelts are divided into four grades, with the most prized being the ones with a greater amount of black. (1982). [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. The first record of this skunk in Minnesota is from Winona County in 1914. Northern and central California, from the vicinity of Monterey Bay northward, west of the Sierra and Cascades, to the Willamette Valley, Oregon. Black coat with white stripe that begins on forehead and then divides in two. Regional records for the eastern spotted skunk suggest that this species extended its range northward into Minnesota in the early 1900s. 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". Prior to copulating, the males' testicles swell during the JanuaryFebruary period, with maximum size being attained in March. Weight: six to 14 pounds. Some female yearlings will stay with their mothers into the coming winter. Striped skunks have an easily identifiable coloration: two thick white stripes along the back and tail sharply contrast an otherwise black coat. [12] The forefeet are armed with five long, curved claws adapted for digging, while those on the hind feet are shorter and straighter. It is also seenor its musky odor noticedin some suburban and urban locations, particularly near sources of open water. I. J. 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. Skunks dig out bumblebee nests and scratch at the entrances of beehives, catching and eating any honeybees that fly out. & Verts, B. J. Mostly nocturnal and does not hibernate. A skunk is colored black and white. 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. 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. [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. [13] The meat was prized by Chinese immigrants, who also bought skunk gall bladders for medicinal purposes. Striped skunks live throughout North America from southern Canada into northern Mexico. Maryland Biodiversity Project. 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. There's no reason to specify; you will undoubtedly find a few skunks just by traveling up and down the eastern side of the state. Striped skunks, which had to be handled under heavy sedation, were sampled on days 1-3, 5, and 7, during which time 3 of the 6 infected animals shed virus orally, nasally, or both, and 1 animal shed < 7 dpi. Population. Docile in nature, they are famous for their defense system of a bad-smelling spray that comes from two glands near the base of their tail. The bobcat is an adaptable predator that inhabits wooded areas, as well as semi-desert, urban edge, forest edges and swampland environments. 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. Eyes open when they are about 3 weeks old. They travel widely in search of mates and breed with several females if possible. Spotted skunks are generally less tolerant of humans than the striped skunk (Henderson 1976). One wildlife host that purportedly plays a role in the transmission of Chagas disease within the southern United States is the striped skunk . 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