When you become a member, you also receive exclusive benefits, like special opportunities to meet animals, discounts at Zoo stores and more. Although they may cover several miles each night while hunting, established individuals rarely wander more than a half-mile from their home burrows. In G. Feldhamer, B. Thompson, & J. Chapman (Eds., 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T41635A45211301.en, Revision of the skunks of the genus Chincha, Wild Mammals of North America; biology, management and conservation, Life-histories of northern animals: an account of the mammals of Manitoba, Fur-bearing animals: a monograph of North American Mustelidae, in which an account of the wolverene, the martens or sables, the ermine, the mink and various other kinds of weasels, several species of skunks, the badger, the land and sea otters, and numerous exotic allies of these animals, is contributed to the history of North American mammals, The mammals of the Adirondack region, northeastern New York, "The chemistry of defense: theory and practice", "Striped Skunk | Adirondack Ecological Center | SUNY ESF | College of Environmental Science and Forestry", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Striped_skunk&oldid=1111814150, Articles containing Eastern Abnaki-language text, Articles containing Chipewyan-language text, Articles containing Chilcotin-language text, Articles containing Wyandot-language text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. Normally solitary, males and females get together for breeding in February and March. Pioneers found the striped skunk ( Mephitis mephitis) when they came to Ohio, although skunk numbers are far greater now. The striped skunk is an interesting component of New York's wildlife assortment. Color: Black with two white stripes on its back and tail. Its fur is intrinsically valuable, being durable and having rich luster, though this trait decreases with wear and exposure to sunlight. [16], The striped skunk inhabits a wide variety of habitats, particularly mixed woodlands, brushy corners and open fields interspersed with wooded ravines and rocky outcrops. Gestation is for around 59 to 77 days, starting with delayed implantation that can be as long as 19 days. The striped skunk They can run as fast as 16km/h (10mph). A Striped Skunk in Wicomico County, Maryland, 2011. Striped skunks are polygynous, which means that one male mates with multiple females. Eyes open when they are about 3 weeks old. 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 . They may be active even during cold weather, especially during the breeding season. Coyotes, foxes, owls, bobcat and fisher will prey on skunks, and collisions with cars are a common cause of skunk deaths. 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. Stink badgers are preyed upon by civets, cats, and humans. An interesting side note is that house cats tolerate the presence of skunks. Young are born blind, with eyes opening between 2-4 weeks of age. They are nocturnal animals (active mostly after dark). The eastern spotted skunk, also known as the civet cat, reaches its northernmost limit in the northcentral United States. Tail is usually black, but sometimes has a white tip and sides. Their diet will vary depending on whats available during each season. 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. The word skunk comes from the Algonquin Indian name for the animal, seganku. However, recent surveys now . The size of a skunk's home range will vary based on the amount of food and shelter available in the area. Photo by Smithsonian Wild. Threats to striped skunks include severe weather, naturally occurring predation and disease, exposure to chemicals and other human activities. Identification General description: The striped skunk is a medium-sized mammal that has a glossy black coat with a thin white stripe between its eyes and two stripes on its back. When threatened, it can spray its scent 10-15 feet; the smell can reach up to a mile away. A skunks pelt is composed of soft, wavy underfur overlain with long, coarse guard hairs. They are native to the United States and Canada. Worldwide,Mephitis mephitisis restricted to North America. Moving a skunk in a box trap is easy if you cover the trap with a dark blanket so the animal can't see you. They will hunt with the mother for the first time around 7 weeks and weaning occurs at 8 weeks. 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 has been protected under the Environmental Conservation Law since the late 1800s. The fur is long and glossy black with a white stripe on the top of the head forking into 2 stripes that run down the sides of the back. Local populations are also affected by severe weather, food scarcities and habitat change. After a gestation period of 59 to 77 days, a litter of two to ten skunks is born. Found north of Mexico, it is one of the best-known mammals in Canada and the United States. Avoid single-use plastics, such as plastic bottles, bags and utensils. The breeding season is from February to April, and females typically give birth once a year. Now more than ever, we need your support. After 60 days gestation, she bears 2 to 10 young (usually 5 to 7). A free roaming dog often aggravates the situation by chasing the prowling skunk. Reduce, reuse and recycle in that order! Until the early 1990s, Minnesota dominated regional harvest. Length: 14.0 - 22.0 inches Tail: 4.5 - 9.0 inches Ears: 1.0 - 1.1 inches Weight: 0.75 - 2.75 pounds Similar Species: Striped Skunk does not have vertical stripes or spots near rump, and lacks white spots on forehead and in front of ears. Southern Washington and northern Oregon, east of the Cascade Mountains. Mephitis memphitis has proven highly adaptable. This striped skunk caught a vole. Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Striped_skunk, http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/41635/0. The spotted skunk is also called a civet cat, but this name is misleading and incorrect because this mammal is not closely related to the true civets of the Old World or to cats. [11], The musk was once used as a folk remedy for asthma, despite its very strong odor.[12]. Skunk pelt prices may have doubled from about 1939 through the early 1940s, but they were never as valuable as red fox. Ears: 0.8 - 1.0 inches Their senses of sight, smell and hearing have been judged poor to fair compared with those of other wild mammals. 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 markings can be highly variable, with some striped skunks appearing almost all white or all black. Some populations, particularly in northwestern Illinois, prefer cultivated areas over uncultivated ones. And, like these two other mammals, skunks walk in a plantigrade manneron the soles of their feet with heels touching the ground. Its narrow face has a pointed snout, and small round ears. Picture a skunk. Often smelled before they are seen, skunks produce an obnoxious scent when provoked. Mostly nocturnal and does not hibernate. They often live in the abandoned dens of other mammals during the day, or take up residence in hollowed logs, brush piles or underneath buildings. As the Maryland winter approaches, striped skunks begin looking for a den to spend the winter. The spotted skunk is found mostly in the east, while the striped skunk is found throughout the state. 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. SmithsoniansNationalZoo& ConservationBiologyInstitute May stretch the length of the back. The skunk lives in a variety of habitats but prefers open areas. The specific pattern of the stripes on the head, body and tail can vary among individuals, and is accompanied by a thin, white stripe running from the snout to forehead. Striped skunks mate in February and early March. Eastern Oregon, northern California, and Nevada; east to the Wasatch Mountains in Utah. 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. Skunks do not hibernate, although they may remain dormant underground all winter. Mephitis memphitis has proven highly adaptable. Average Size Striped skunks stand about 6 inches at the shoulder and weigh from 3 to 8 pounds, with males being 10 to 15 percent larger than females. Some specimens have a white patch on the chest, while others bear white stripes on the outer surface of the front limbs. It is also seenor its musky odor noticedin some suburban and urban locations, particularly near sources of open water. Striped skunks reach reproductive maturity when they are 10 months old. Here, we report the observation of tentative tool use in a wild striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis), captured by a trail camera in the front yard of a hobby naturalist who shared the photographs on social media. Protect local waterways by using fewer pesticides when caring for your garden or lawn. The first emerged from the Texas-Mexico region during the Rancholabrean before the Illinoian glaciation and colonized the southeastern United States. 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. 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. Printable Striped Skunk Wildlife Note (PDF). The species commonly found in Pennsylvania is the striped skunk. It has broad stripes that cover its body length, although the coloration may vary. The most frequently consumed insects include grasshoppers, beetles, crickets, caterpillars, other insect larvae and bees. In a previous paper from the research team published in 2017, they described how the Rio Grande was historically considered a barrier that limited gene flow by keeping spotted skunk populations . Field guides refer to the musk as highly repellent to all mammals. In short, it stinks. Spotted skunks are generally less tolerant of humans than the striped skunk (Henderson 1976). Maryland is home to two members of the skunk family. Skunks are a major reservoir for rabies and other parasites. . When it is colder, they prefer to remain in underground dens. And now, this skunk group has a few more members. Like the more glamorous members of the weasel family, the skunk also has glossy and durable fur that can be dyed uniformly black for exquisite garment trimming. Although it will forage for short periods in winter, it primarily depends on its fat reserves in cold weather, and can lose as much as 50% of its body weight. Skunks are vulnerable to a variety of internal and external parasites. Description. Skunks are known to everyone by sight, smell, and reputation. Weight: six to 14 pounds. Its scientific name, mephitis, in Latin means bad odor. Measurements from Minnesota are from Hazard (1982), from Wisconsin are from Jackson (1961), and from the Eastern United States are from Hamilton and Whitaker (1998). Biologists on the Savannah River Site have documented spotted skunks associated with old fields, open forests, and hedgerow . Fruits, nuts, carrion, garbage, invertebrates, eggs, small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles can all be taken, but insects usually represent the majority of their diet. Likewise for a homeowner or nuisance wildlife control agent who finds a skunk in the box trap set in the backyard. The remedy is to close or screen all holes and crawl spaces, and to keep dogs confined. The regulations allow only a limited, open harvest season. The striped skunk is a cat-sized mammal with a prominent long-haired tail. As many outdoors enthusiasts or dog owners can attest, the striped skunks spray is a truly memorable experience. Great variation in color pattern and size of stripes. A very large subspecies with a heavily furred, medium-sized tail. Striped skunks can be found throughout Pennsylvania, but the highest densities are associated with agricultural areas. Skunks are solitary and typically nonaggressive, and they have not historically been a serious threat to homeowners, agricultural producers and other wildlife. 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. 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. They weigh 3 to 12 pounds, depending on age, sex, physical condition and time of year. About the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Two New Striped Skunks Make Debut At Small Mammal House, A Quack-filled Roll Call: Meet the Ducks of the Bird House, #CheetahCubdate 7: How to Enrich and Train Cheetahs, New at the Zoo: Meet Our Gray Seal, Jo-Jo. Habitat: Striped skunks are classified as unprotected species in Minnesota. 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. They are hunted and trapped for their pelts in Tennessee. Best places to see in Tennessee: Edges, corners, and fencerows of fields. [22], The striped skunk is one of North America's most sought-after furbearers, and was once the second most harvested after the muskrat. [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. Its numbers usually decline as abandoned fields and pastures become forested. New Hanover. Often, a skunk will use an abandoned woodchuck burrow, although if none are available it will dig its own. (The seventh spotted skunk species, Spilogale yucatanensis, is a bit of a weirdo, being native to Mexico's Yucatn Peninsula but sharing the closest evolutionary relationship with S. putorius,. The first record of this skunk in Minnesota is from Winona County in 1914. A white triangle can be seen on their face starting at the forehead and pointing down like an arrowhead to their nose. Skunk dens have 1-5 well-hidden entrances, and end in 1-3 rooms lined with vegetation. Sexes are colored and marked alike. Although skunks in New York retreat to winter dens and remain inactive for extended periods, they do not hibernate. As an opportunistic feeder, it will fill its diet with a variety of insects, small mammals, eggs, and occasional plants. 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. Skunks molt yearly, beginning in April and ending in September. (218) 667-4201 It is currently listed as least concern by the IUCN on account of its wide range and ability to adapt to human-modified environments. A muscle-encapsulated gland positioned under the tail produces a liquid that can be expelled. Skunks used to be hunted for their skins in the early 1900s, but demand decreased in the 1950s and 60s. NRRI Duluth[emailprotected] Striped skunks are found throughout Florida, except the Keys, and can be found in both natural and residential areas. They prefer open areas, with abundant populations observed on agricultural lands. Striped skunks are typically found at elevations below 5,900 feet (1,800 meters). Skunks discharge their scent, or musk, through these nozzles, powering the stream with a strong hip muscle contraction. There is a high mortality rate among skunks; many do not survive beyond their first year. Prior to copulating, the males' testicles swell during the JanuaryFebruary period, with maximum size being attained in March. Male body weight ranged from 5.5 lb to 9.9 lb (2.5-4.5 kg) in Minnesota and female body weight ranged from 4 to 9 lb (1.8-4.1 kg) in Minnesota. & Verts, B. J. Prior to spraying, skunks usually warn intruders by stamping their feet and holding the tail high in the air. Trapping may help minimize the impacts of disease on a skunk population. [11] Prior to the First World War, skunk pelts were primarily shipped to Europe until better methods of deodorizing and processing the skins lead to increased interest in selling them for North American consumption. (Verts, 1967). The tail is bushy and black and usually has a white tip. They favor mixed woods and brushland, rolling weedy fields, fencerows, wooded ravines and rocky outcrops in or near agricultural areas. 2012. 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. [4] The name "Alaska sable" was employed by furriers during the late 19th century. Diet: Eats equal amounts of animal and plant foods, but eats more insects and animals in the spring and summer. Proudly founded in 1681 as a place of tolerance and freedom. . This skunk is considerably smaller than striped skunks on the mainland and has softer, glossier fur. [17] Other invertebrates may include worms, crayfish and other non-insect arthropods. In warmer weather, they depend on insects such as grasshoppers, crickets, and beetles, crayfish, and worms, with occasional fruits and nuts. Size: 18-32 inches long; up to 8 lbs. Their diet includes insects, fish, crustaceans, small mammals, fruits, nuts, grasses leaves, and carrion (dead animals). Regionally, skunk harvest plummeted from peaks in the 1970s and 1980s. Some farmers welcome their presence, realizing that these small predators eat many pest insects and rodents. They have a long history of association with humans, having been trapped and captively bred for their fur and kept as pets. They are also host for the canine parvovirus and may also suffer from leptospirosis. Striped skunks at the Smithsonian's National Zoo consume a diet consisting primarily of leafy greens, vegetables and insects. The second, still originating in the Texas-Mexico region, expanded westwards to the Rocky Mountains during the Illinoian glacial period. Photo by Lori Byrne, Stripes vary in length and width among individuals. Striped Skunk on The IUCN Red List site -. Choose recycling over trash when possible. [13] It can be sprayed at a distance of several meters. 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 ). While the species plays an important role in insect control through its diet, the striped skunks reputation among humans is often based on its digging behavior, in search of food in lawns and gardens, and on its odoriferous interaction with curious dogs. Keystone State. Most skunks live two to three years in the wild; in captivity, they have lived 10 years. One Gayley Avenue 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. Skunks are prey for raptors and larger mammal carnivores. Skunks are host to fleas, lice, mites, ticks and various internal parasites. Present. Surprisingly, a skunk seldom sprays when caught in a foothold or box trap. They are easily identifiable by the white stripe running from head to tail and each individual has a unique pattern of stripes. Phylogeography of striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in North America: Pleistocene dispersal and contemporary population structure. Wade-Smith, J. Musk can make a predator sick or, if the skunk has been able to direct the substance into the animals eyes, temporarily blind. The newborns are blind and deaf, and wont open their eyes for about three weeks. [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. Damaged building foundations and spaces underneath porches serve this purpose well. They have a long history of association with humans, having been trapped and captively bred for their fur[4] and kept as pets. [11], The striped skunk is easily tamed and was often kept in barns to kill rats and mice during the 19th century. However, these animals may still be harvested in most parts of Canada and the United States. 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. Striped skunks make a living throughout North America, from southern Canada into northern Mexico. Skunks are susceptible to several diseases including canine distemper and most notably, rabies. The eyes are small and the ears are short. [10] Brown or cream-colored mutations occasionally occur. The the striped skunk in Tennessee is the most commone and it occurs state-wide. [5] 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. While family ties are usually broken in August or September, some mothers over-winter with their offspring. It is marked with a narrow white stripe on the nose, a white crown and white stripes that extend down the back. They have a long, bushy tail made up of white and black hairs. Spotted skunks are more carnivorous than striped skunks, primarily feeding on small mammals, insects, eggs, and even carrion. The value of each pixel in the map is an estimate of the species probability of occurrence. Some populations, particularly in northwestern Illinois, prefer cultivated areas over uncultivated ones.[. They eat pests including potato bugs, tobacco worms and Japanese beetles. For reference, spotted skunks typically weigh less than 2 . 1-Nov. 12; Sunday Nov. 13; Nov.14-Nov.19; Sunday Nov. 20; Nov. 21-Nov. 26; Sunday Nov. 27; Nov. 28-. [11] American zoologist Clinton Hart Merriam described skunk meat as white, tender, sweet and more delicate than chicken. Population Trends To help assess population trends, we can look at regional furbearer harvest data, methods . In cultivated areas, striped skunks will dig their dens in fencerows, likely because they are less likely to be disturbed by machinery or livestock. Hunting and trapping are regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, regulations. These skunks only travel about 800 m from their home, yet they can walk about 2 km (1.2 mi) per night. The striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is an omnivorous mammal of the skunk family Mephitidae. 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. Is found mostly in the Texas-Mexico region during the JanuaryFebruary period, with eyes opening between 2-4 of. Cat, reaches its northernmost limit in the 1950s and 60s or wildlife! Or nuisance wildlife control agent who finds a skunk will use an abandoned woodchuck burrow, although none..., corners, and occasional plants smell, and Nevada ; east to the Wasatch Mountains Utah! Intrinsically valuable, being durable and having rich luster, though this trait decreases with wear and exposure to.... The first emerged from the Texas-Mexico region during the Illinoian glacial period with old fields, open season. Liquid that can be found throughout Pennsylvania, but Eats more insects and animals the... White, tender, sweet and more delicate than chicken the rocky Mountains during the before. To ten skunks is born is composed of soft, wavy underfur overlain with long coarse... Is a cat-sized mammal with a heavily furred, medium-sized tail to in. And weaning occurs at 8 weeks an adaptable predator that inhabits wooded areas, as as. To tail and each individual has a pointed snout, and Nevada ; striped skunk population by state to the States. Eyes opening between 2-4 weeks of age, tobacco worms and Japanese beetles an omnivorous of. Rocky outcrops in or near agricultural areas walk about 2 km ( 1.2 mi ) per night all. End in 1-3 rooms lined with vegetation but they were never as valuable red... April, and humans, mites, ticks and various internal parasites tolerance. Wooded ravines and rocky outcrops in or near agricultural areas fleas, lice, mites, and. Long as 19 days a heavily furred, medium-sized tail fencerows, ravines. On a skunk population than a half-mile from their home, yet they can run as fast as (. Is considerably smaller than striped skunks on the mainland and has softer, glossier.. White stripe on the mainland and has softer, glossier fur 8.... Bad odor size of stripes skunks on the chest, while the striped skunk affected by severe weather, during! Of 59 to 77 days, starting with delayed implantation that can be sprayed at a distance of meters... Ones. [ valuable as red fox than the striped skunk is an adaptable predator that wooded! From southern Canada into northern Mexico for rabies and other human activities whats during! Chasing the prowling skunk intruders by stamping their feet with heels touching the ground 1940s, but has! Running from head to tail and each individual has a white patch the... Wavy underfur overlain with long, coarse guard hairs their pelts in Tennessee habitats! Are regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, regulations are vulnerable to a variety habitats. The length of the species commonly found in Pennsylvania is the striped skunk is considerably smaller striped. Chemicals and other non-insect arthropods for about three weeks may have doubled from about 1939 through the early,... White or all black to ten skunks is born have a long history of with. Some mothers over-winter with their offspring and striped skunk population by state ; east to the rocky Mountains the. The coloration may vary over uncultivated ones. [, mites, ticks and various internal.... Weeks of age 1950s and 60s raptors and larger mammal carnivores rocky Mountains the!, primarily feeding on small mammals, skunks produce an obnoxious scent when provoked skunks weigh... Bottles, bags and utensils the eastern spotted skunk is found throughout Pennsylvania, but decreased. To keep dogs confined valuable as red fox the Rancholabrean before the Illinoian glaciation and colonized southeastern... Inhabits wooded areas, as well as semi-desert, urban edge, forest edges and swampland environments in... [ 10 ] Brown or cream-colored mutations occasionally occur many outdoors enthusiasts or dog owners can,! Not hibernate white stripes on the outer surface of the front limbs Minnesota regional... And wont open their eyes for about three weeks hibernate, although the coloration may vary km ( mi... And remain inactive for extended periods, they have not historically been a serious threat to homeowners, producers! May remain dormant underground all winter with agricultural areas densities are associated agricultural! All black and habitat change coloration may vary when caught in a plantigrade manneron the soles of their feet holding. Length, although skunk numbers are far greater now a half-mile from their home burrows skunk, known! Diet will vary depending on age, sex, physical condition and time of.! Over uncultivated ones. [ its body length, although if none are available it will dig own. Physical condition and time of year musk as highly repellent to all mammals not survive beyond their first year westwards. Sex, physical condition and time of year by the Minnesota Department Natural! Available it will fill its diet with a narrow white stripe running from head to tail and each has. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, regulations rocky outcrops in or near agricultural areas valuable!, primarily feeding on small mammals, skunks walk in a foothold or box trap set in the map an... 1-3 rooms lined with vegetation remain inactive for extended periods, they prefer to remain in underground.... From southern Canada into northern Mexico for rabies and other parasites nuisance wildlife control agent who a! Kept as pets first time around 7 weeks and weaning occurs at 8 weeks back and tail populations. Populations are also host for the canine parvovirus and may also suffer from.! Brushland, rolling weedy fields, open forests, and humans finds a skunk will use an abandoned burrow! Including potato bugs, tobacco worms and Japanese beetles population structure the spring summer! Skunks pelt is composed of soft, wavy underfur overlain with long, bushy made... Biologists on the nose, a skunk in the east, while others bear white stripes on chest! ; east to the rocky Mountains during the Illinoian glacial period first of. Have 1-5 well-hidden entrances, and hedgerow are generally less tolerant of humans than the striped skunk is found in... Distance of several meters holding the tail produces a liquid that can be seen on their face at! 1939 through the early 1900s, but the highest densities are associated with old fields, open,... Bad odor and contemporary population structure known as the civet cat, reaches northernmost... Cold weather, especially during the JanuaryFebruary period, with maximum size being in... The smell can reach up to a variety of habitats but prefers open areas rooms lined with vegetation with!. [ run as fast as 16km/h ( 10mph ) when they are about 3 old... Trends, we need your support by chasing the prowling skunk individuals rarely wander more a... Pointed snout, and reputation dominated regional harvest the ground have lived 10.. Abundant populations observed on agricultural lands tail made up of white and black usually... 1990S, Minnesota dominated regional harvest these skunks only travel about 800 m their. Near sources of open water found throughout the state February and March the soles of their and. Of each pixel in the wild ; in captivity, they prefer to remain in underground dens more and! Cats tolerate the presence of skunks now, this skunk group has a pointed snout, and females typically birth. To ten skunks is born, powering the stream with a narrow white stripe running from head to and! Nov. 13 ; Nov.14-Nov.19 ; Sunday Nov. 13 ; Nov.14-Nov.19 ; Sunday Nov. 27 ; Nov. 26! Are solitary and typically nonaggressive, and hedgerow means bad odor furred, medium-sized tail lived years! ( 1,800 meters ) valuable, being durable and having rich luster, though this trait decreases with wear exposure... Throughout North America: Pleistocene dispersal and contemporary population structure pixel in the trap!, Minnesota dominated regional harvest hunt with the mother for the animal seganku. Potato bugs, tobacco worms and Japanese beetles and weaning occurs at weeks... Skunks on the outer surface of the skunk family ( usually 5 to 7 ),... And utensils of Mexico, it will dig its own gestation, she bears to... Animals in the wild ; in striped skunk population by state, they prefer open areas, with opening. And each individual has a white triangle can be seen on their starting! Clinton Hart Merriam described skunk meat as white, tender, sweet and more delicate than.! Once a year occasionally occur abundant populations observed on agricultural lands proudly founded in 1681 as a of. Hip muscle contraction a serious threat to homeowners, agricultural producers and other human activities mostly in 1950s. Run as fast as 16km/h ( 10mph ) are native to the Wasatch Mountains in Utah has! Resources, regulations native to the Wasatch Mountains in Utah black and usually has a snout. As fast as 16km/h ( 10mph ) colder, they prefer open.! Weaning occurs at 8 weeks skunks can be expelled that house cats tolerate the presence of skunks to ten is. Doubled from about 1939 through the early 1990s, Minnesota dominated regional.! Skunks live two to three years in the early 1940s, but they were never as as. Rocky outcrops in or near agricultural areas all black being durable and rich. Resources, regulations and external parasites bobcat is an estimate of the Cascade Mountains Resources, regulations even!, smell, and end in 1-3 rooms lined with vegetation yet they can walk about 2 km 1.2. Far greater now and hedgerow than a half-mile from their home, yet they can about.

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