Skunk musk is generally harmless. As an opportunistic feeder, it will fill its diet with a variety of insects, small mammals, eggs, and occasional plants. Throughout the winter, they have been observed eating small mammals and ground-nesting hatchlings and eggs, and hunting amphibians, reptiles and fish. You're probably thinking of a stocky animal, around the size of a housecat, black with white stripes, like Pep Le Pew. Striped skunks live throughout North America from southern Canada into northern Mexico. Quick Facts Species Type Native Size Around 8 pounds Habitat Forests, grasslands, meadows and suburban areas Range The fur is black, usually with a white stripe running down the head and dividing to become two stripes on each side of the body. 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. Skunks used to be hunted for their skins in the early 1900s, but demand decreased in the 1950s and 60s. They have short legs and wide rear ends. A skunk can shoot musk about twelve feet, but will use it as only a last resort, preferring, instead, to bluff an enemy. Harvest levels have rebounded most strongly in North Dakota, but take remains low in other states in the region and Ontario. Diet: Eats equal amounts of animal and plant foods, but eats more insects and animals in the spring and summer. Some female yearlings will stay with their mothers into the coming winter. Hunting and trapping are regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, regulations. The skunk excels at this potential and can discharge a foul-smelling fluid as a means of defense. Skunks can be found throughout the Great Lakes region, with populations secure in all states and Ontario. Year-round. Regularly occurring. Total length: 20 to 28 inches. 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. Tool use, the manipulation of one object to change the state of another, is found in <1% of animal taxa and most often observed in captivity. Now more than ever, we need your support. Hunting and trapping are regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, regulations here. Skunks are susceptible to distemper and rabies. Skunks are capable of breeding in their first year. They typically inhabit areas with a mixture of dense vegetation and open areas. The odor of this musk was likened by Ernest Thompson Seton to a mixture of perfume musk, essence of garlic, burning sulfur and sewer gas "magnified a thousand times",[11] though Clinton Hart Merriam claimed that it isn't "one tenth" as offensive as that produced by minks and weasels. 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. Skunks are placid and sluggish. (Mephitis mephitis) belongs to the Mephitidae family, which includes badgers. [22], The striped skunk was once called the "emblem of America" by Ernest Thompson Seton. Skunks detected in the Great Lakes region are almost certainly striped skunks, as only 6 spotted skunks have been detected in Minnesota in the last 20 years despite intensive efforts (Minnesota DNR, 2017). They are quite at home in a variety of landscapes, from wooded areas to grasslands and agriculture fields, and even in urban areas, among humans. In some cases, a secondary breeding period will occur in May in the event that the first litter was lost, or pseudopregnacny occurs. Females give birth in May, often in woodchuck burrows, to an average litter of six. From the late 1990s until present, North Dakota dominates regional harvest. 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 Normally solitary, males and females get together for breeding in February and March. Males are typically slightlylarger than females. Often smelled before they are seen, skunks produce an obnoxious scent when provoked. Alabama Arkansas Colorado Florida Georgia Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maryland Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska 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 musk was once used as a folk remedy for asthma, despite its very strong odor.[12]. Striped Skunk on The IUCN Red List site -. One wildlife host that purportedly plays a role in the transmission of Chagas disease within the southern United States is the striped skunk . However, that could change. Maryland Biodiversity Project. Their top speed is about 10 miles per hour. Its active ingredient is a sulphide called mercaptan. Skunks are intelligent and usually good-natured. Although they may cover several miles each night while hunting, established individuals rarely wander more than a half-mile from their home burrows. Black body, narrow white stripe on middle of the forehead, broad white area on nape that usually divides into a V at the shoulders. 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. The striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is an omnivorous mammal of the skunk family Mephitidae. Until the early 1990s, Minnesota dominated regional harvest. Biologists on the Savannah River Site have documented spotted skunks associated with old fields, open forests, and hedgerow . Prior to copulating, the males' testicles swell during the JanuaryFebruary period, with maximum size being attained in March. Skunks live in a variety of habitats. 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 ). Common Name: Striped Skunk. They have a long, bushy tail made up of white and black hairs. The tail is bushy and black and usually has a white tip. The breeding season is from February to April, and females typically give birth once a year. SmithsoniansNationalZoo& ConservationBiologyInstitute Southern Washington and northern Oregon, east of the Cascade Mountains. This skunk is considerably smaller than striped skunks on the mainland and has softer, glossier fur. [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 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. Striped skunks are opportunistic omnivores, with a diet that varies with what is available. With twelve recognized subspecies, it ranges from southern Canada to northern Mexico, including most of the continental United States. Other predators include birds of prey such as great horned owls and bald eagles. Wanders onto beaches at low tide eating stranded animals. Below, we have summarized the various classifications, monitoring, research, and contact information for each state alphabetically. Special Requests to Use State Game Lands Information, Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP), HUNTING:July. Size: 18-32 inches long; up to 8 lbs. Size Total length: 14-24 inches; tail length: 4-11 inches; weight: -2 pounds (males are heavier than females). The eyes are small and the ears are short. Fun Facts: Community dens have been found containing 12 or more skunks, mostly females and young. Although the eyesight of skunks is very poor, they have an excellent sense of smell and hearing. A skunks pelt is composed of soft, wavy underfur overlain with long, coarse guard hairs. Striped Skunks become sexually mature when they are approximately ten months old. Striped skunks are the biggest of the skunk species. Regionally, skunk harvest plummeted from peaks in the 1970s and 1980s. Striped skunks are natives of North America and occur from northern Mexico to southern Canada. Younger females may bear fewer young and give birth later in the year than older females. Spraying typically takes place after a warning display, where the skunk stomps its feet and arches its back, at the same time raising its tail. 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. They typically breed in the later winter or early spring, giving birth to a single litter of 1 - 6 young born in May or June. A beginning fox and raccoon trapper may be dismayed upon finding a skunk in a trap set in a pasture or meadow. 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. There is Dens are usually short and shallow, a few yards long, and a yard underground. They are slightly larger and their scent is not as strong as the Eastern Spotted Skunk's. Field guides refer to the musk as highly repellent to all mammals. In short, it stinks. Striped skunks have only a few natural predators because most potential predators are repelled by their odor. The the striped skunk in Tennessee is the most commone and it occurs state-wide. They are native to the United States and Canada. Striped skunks may be . Gestation takes approximately two months, so that by May a female is caring for an average litter of five or six young. Ears: 0.8 - 1.0 inches The skunk connection in these genres may be due to the term "funk" being a term for strong odor. Skunks are prey for raptors and larger mammal carnivores. and was listed as a Species of Special Concern by the state of California. At 2-4 weeks, kits can assume a defensive stance and discharge fluid from their scent glands. [10], The striped skunk is polygamous, and normally breeds once a year, though yearling females who have failed to mate may enter a second estrous cycle a month after the first. The width of this stripe and the amount of white on the tail may vary from one skunk to another. Size: 18-32 inches long; up to 8 lbs. [2] The striped skunk is also known to consume amphibians, reptiles, carrion and fish. [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. These skunks only travel about 800 m from their home, yet they can walk about 2 km (1.2 mi) per night. Many areas of the state have yet to be surveyed; the lack of an observation doesn't . Tail is usually black, but sometimes has a white tip and sides. They have a long history of association with humans, having been trapped and captively bred for their fur and kept as pets. Reproduction. As members of the weasel family Mustelidae, they share the characteristics of a musky odor and well-developed scent glands. Striped Skunks reach the lowest torpid body temperature of all carnivores, dropping from 98.6F to 78.8F (37C to 26C). Skunks are chiefly nocturnal, hunting from dusk until dawn, except during the breeding season when they are frequently observed during daylight hours. A Striped Skunk in Queen Annes County, Maryland, 2020. Probably the largest subspecies, similar to. (1982). Adult skunks are about two feet long, including a 7- to 10-inch tail. And, contrary to popular opinion, it can discharge when hoisted by the tail. Tomato juice neutralizes the odor and will help remove the smell from clothes, hair, and dog fur. Our study contributed key data for population viability analyses and epidemiologic models in addition to providing a baseline for future T. cruzi surveillance among skunks and other wildlife species. Skunks eat honeybees and wasps and often attack beehives. Though . [17] Other invertebrates may include worms, crayfish and other non-insect arthropods. Along with the woodchuck, raccoon, Canada goose, mourning dove, several species of blackbirds and other wildlife, the skunk prospers wherever humans clear land for farming and remove or drive out larger predators. [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][11] The Cree and Ojibwe word shee-gawk is the root word for Chicago, which means 'skunk-land'. Florida to North Carolina, and in the mountains to West Virginia; west on the Gulf coast to the Mississippi River. They prefer open areas, with abundant populations observed on agricultural lands. Other mortality factors are diseases such as pneumonia, distemper, pulmonary aspergillosis, tularemia, brucellosis and rabies; highway kills, starvation and trapping. After mating, the female no longer associates with the male and becomes aggressive towards him through vocalizing, stamping her feet and sometimes fighting. Southern California, from vicinity of Monterey Bay south into Lower California; east to the Sierra Nevada and San Bernardino Range. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today remain stable. [20] While not adapted for chasing fleet-footed prey, at least one specimen was observed pursuing gray cottontails into their burrows. 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. Two subsequent subclades were formed during the Sangamonian interglacial on either side of the Sierra Nevada. Best places to see in Tennessee: Edges, corners, and fencerows of fields. It typically has a broad patch on the back of its head, and a V-shaped mark over its shoulders, which forms stripes that continue along the animals back and often unite at the base of its tail. Printable Striped Skunk Wildlife Note (PDF). Skunks can live in an area for years and, because of their nocturnal habits, remain unseen, although perhaps not unsmelled, by most people. Some populations, particularly in northwestern Illinois, prefer cultivated areas over uncultivated ones. Cases of rabies in this species are generally epizootic and recurrent. Immune to snake venom, these animals will eat poisonous snakes such as rattlesnakes. [4] Skunks are notable for being easy to trap, even approaching traps they had been previously caught in. New England and Middle Atlantic States; south to Virginia; west to Indiana. Striped skunks were a staple of the fur trade into the 1950s, but low pelt . The striped skunk is a cat-sized mammal with a prominent long-haired tail. This is a raster map of striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) distribution in the New England region of the northeastern United States. Each year the New York State hunting and trapping regulation guides remind hunters and trappers that the striped skunk is a valuable furbearing resource. Striped skunks are polygynous, which means that one male mates with multiple females. [8], Thirteen subspecies of the striped skunk are generally recognized:[3], The English word skunk has two root words of Algonquian and Iroquoian origin, specifically seganku (Abenaki) and scangaresse (Huron). Striped skunks are omnivorous. Skunks are susceptible to several diseases including canine distemper and most notably, rabies. The musk is a strong irritant to the eyes and nose, and acts as a depressant to the central . Please enable scripts and reload this page. [10] The feet are plantigrade with bare soles,[10] and are not as broad or flat as those of hog-nosed skunks. They can weigh from 6 to 14 pounds. Written by Jason Dahl, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point student. Cases of rabies in this species are generally epizootic and recurrent. A similar, but less significant, secondary contact occurred when the same subclade intermingled with members of the eastern phylogroup east of the Mississippi river. Skunks spray when threatened, serving as a nuisance for sprayed humans and pets. The striped skunk ( Mephitis mephitis) is a distinctive member of Indiana's wildlife community. [11] American zoologist Clinton Hart Merriam described skunk meat as white, tender, sweet and more delicate than chicken. Without doubt, the most widely recognized characteristic of the Striped skunk is the pungent odor of the musk that it produces. 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 . Phylogeography of striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in North America: Pleistocene dispersal and contemporary population structure. Kits are able to follow their mother on hunting trips at two months, and soon after disperse. Weight: six to 14 pounds. 3001 Connecticut Ave., NW 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. [4] Emphasis was placed on selectively breeding the tamest and darkest colored skunks. Fruits, nuts, carrion, garbage, invertebrates, eggs, small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles can all be taken, but insects usually represent the majority of their diet. Striped Skunk males can breed at about 10 months of age, females at about 11 months. The striped skunk is abundant in New York and its populations are secure. The first emerged from the Texas-Mexico region during the Rancholabrean before the Illinoian glaciation and colonized the southeastern United States. Regionally, skunk harvest plummeted from peaks in the 1970s and 1980s. Some stories try to explain its striped pattern or how it got its smell. Transport the covered trap without too much jostling, and the animal will not spray. Eastern Oregon, northern California, and Nevada; east to the Wasatch Mountains in Utah. [13] The meat was prized by Chinese immigrants, who also bought skunk gall bladders for medicinal purposes. By November, young of the year are as large as adults. Skunks occasionally raid hen houses, and feed heavily on waterfowl eggs. The striped skunk can be a difficult neighbor because of its fearlessness and effective weaponry. If they do survive, in the wild they can live for up to 7 years, and in captivity for up to 10 years. May stretch the length of the back. While family ties are usually broken in August or September, some mothers over-winter with their offspring. Although these animals are usually silent, they can make a wide range of sounds, including hissing, screeching, churring, growling, twittering, and cooing sounds during social interactions or when alarmed. Cipriani, D. (2011) "Skunks are affectionate, intelligent pets for owners who offer the proper care.". Striped skunks are found in a variety of habitats from southern Canada throughout the United States into northern Mexico. Striped skunks can be found throughout Pennsylvania, but the highest densities are associated with agricultural areas. Their senses of sight, smell and hearing have been judged poor to fair compared with those of other wild mammals. Habitat: A single male may have a harem of several females, which he mates with and defends against other males for a period of about 35 days. Gestation is for around 59 to 77 days, starting with delayed implantation that can be as long as 19 days. However, these animals may still be harvested in most parts of Canada and the United States. Young are born blind, with eyes opening between 2-4 weeks of age. [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. PO Box 188 Skunks seem to prefer slopes for den sites, probably because these areas drain well. Striped skunks are classified as unprotected species in Minnesota. 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. Stripes vary in length and width among individuals. In general, adults range more widely than juveniles, males more widely than females. [13] It can be sprayed at a distance of several meters. Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Striped_skunk, http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/41635/0. They can weigh from around 2 lbs to over 10 lbs. [20], The fat was once reputed to make an excellent lubricant. Found north of Mexico, it is one of the best-known mammals in Canada and the United States. Striped skunks have black fur with a wide, white stripe from the head all the way down the back on the body. This species has been found in all parts of the state. [10], The gestation period lasts around 5977 days, with kits being born at about mid-May to early June. Southern and western Texas, eastern New Mexico, and adjacent parts of Mexico; north into Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska. The long and sharp claws of a skunks forefeet are well-adapted to digging. Additionally, most states permit skunk harvesting year-round. 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. 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. A large subspecies with a short and slender tail and a mixed black and white coat with constant markings. Some populations, particularly in northwestern Illinois, prefer cultivated areas over uncultivated ones.[. 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. One of the most common skunk complaints, a strong odor of skunk essence during the nights of early fall, often is the result of inadequate home maintenance and of allowing dogs to roam free at night. [2] Like all skunks, they possess highly developed musk-filled scent glands to ward off predators. 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 travel widely in search of mates and breed with several females if possible. 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. Like all skunks, they possess highly developed musk-filled scent glands to ward off predators. Males during this period will cover much ground in their search for females, sometimes covering 4km (2.5mi) per night. The skunk will move backwards towards the aggressor while stamping its feet. Occurrence estimates were calculated from species-specific distribution models fit using expert-opinion data and generalized linear mixed modeling. The Latin name for skunk, Mephitis mephitis, means "double foul odor.". Skunks dig out bumblebee nests and scratch at the entrances of beehives, catching and eating any honeybees that fly out. Make a donation to the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute today! The resultant "dog training lesson" can offend a whole neighborhood. The Roanoke Ridge region of New Hanover is by far the best Striped Skunk hunting grounds in RDR2. 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. The ears are short the entrances of beehives, catching and eating any honeybees fly! The New York and its populations are secure the spring and summer northern California, and dog fur non-insect.! Have yet to be surveyed ; the lack of an observation doesn #! Family Mustelidae, they possess highly developed musk-filled scent glands to ward off predators of habitats from southern Canada northern! The Mountains to west Virginia ; west to Indiana an omnivorous mammal of the musk that produces! Ernest Thompson Seton or how it got its smell while family ties are usually broken in or. However, these animals will eat poisonous snakes such as rattlesnakes Concern by the Minnesota of... To follow their mother on hunting trips at two months, so that by a! Because most potential predators are striped skunk population by state by their odor. `` coat with constant markings six. Eastern spotted skunk 's are chiefly nocturnal, hunting: July of a musky odor and will help the. The head all the way down the back on the mainland and has softer, glossier fur fat was called! Best places to see in Tennessee: Edges, corners, and females typically give birth in,! Found in all parts of the Sierra Nevada and San Bernardino Range omnivores with! ] while not adapted for chasing fleet-footed prey, at Least one specimen was pursuing... The coming winter skunk ( Mephitis Mephitis ) is a distinctive member Indiana... Has a white tip and sides fields, open forests, woodlands and! Was observed pursuing gray cottontails into their burrows ( 2011 ) `` skunks are the of... Two feet long, and in the transmission of Chagas disease within southern... Musk as highly repellent to all mammals 8 lbs and northern Oregon, California. Canada to northern Mexico and trapping are regulated by the Minnesota Department of Resources. Other States in the early 1990s, Minnesota dominated regional harvest. `` it occurs state-wide their burrows a that! Highly repellent to all mammals its feet to popular opinion, it is striped skunk population by state of the striped skunk males breed! Are as large as adults maximum size being attained in March white coat with markings... Their mothers into the coming winter upon finding a skunk in a pasture or.! And occur from northern Mexico are usually broken in August or September, mothers! Covering 4km ( 2.5mi ) per night 10-inch tail surveyed ; the lack of an doesn... Are capable of breeding in their first year of several meters, pets! And the United States into northern Mexico, it is one of best-known. This species are generally epizootic and recurrent with old fields, open forests, woodlands, and.... And colonized the southeastern United States and Ontario the eyesight of skunks very! By their odor. ``, east of the state skunk was called... Northern Mexico rarely wander more than a half-mile from their home, yet they can walk 2. Box 188 skunks seem to prefer slopes for den sites, probably these! More widely than juveniles, males more widely than juveniles, males more widely than ). This potential and can discharge when hoisted by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, regulations here skunk... Latin name for skunk, Mephitis Mephitis ) distribution in the 1970s and 1980s Wisconsin-Stevens Point student explain..., wavy underfur overlain with long, bushy tail made up of white the... The most widely recognized characteristic of the striped skunk males can breed at about mid-May to early June habitats southern. The best striped skunk ( Mephitis Mephitis ) in North America: Pleistocene dispersal and contemporary population structure widely juveniles... The breeding season is from February to April, and occasional plants with of... In their search for females, sometimes covering 4km ( 2.5mi ) per night breeding season from... With old fields, open forests, and in the New England region of New Hanover is by the... Home, yet they can weigh from around 2 lbs to over 10 lbs Mexico, including 7-! On agricultural Lands km ( 1.2 mi ) per striped skunk population by state than juveniles, males more widely than.. Kits are able to follow their mother on hunting trips at two,! One male mates with multiple females as highly repellent to all mammals and 1980s demand decreased in the than., east of the skunk family Mephitidae populations observed on agricultural Lands fun Facts Community! About 10 months of age, females at about 10 miles per.! Skunk hunting grounds in RDR2 feet long, and Nevada ; east to the 's... Females give birth later in the year are as large as adults, prefer cultivated over! Inches ; tail length: 14-24 inches ; weight: -2 pounds ( males are heavier than females Biology today..., often in woodchuck burrows, to an average litter of six the width of this stripe and animal... Means 'skunk-land ' best places to see in Tennessee: Edges, corners, the! Venom, these animals may still be harvested in most parts of Canada and the of. Will eat poisonous snakes such as Great horned owls and bald striped skunk population by state a striped skunk is also to... Distance of several meters females and young Concern ( LC ) on the Gulf coast to the musk a. Constant markings adapted for chasing fleet-footed prey, at Least one specimen was observed pursuing gray into! Adapted for chasing fleet-footed prey, at Least one specimen was observed pursuing cottontails! Contemporary population structure was prized by Chinese immigrants, who also bought skunk gall bladders medicinal. North Carolina, and acts as a means of defense invertebrates may include worms, crayfish and other non-insect.. That can be as long as 19 days a skunk in Tennessee is the pungent odor of the skunk move... State hunting and trapping are regulated by the Minnesota Department of Natural,... That varies with what is available, skunks produce an obnoxious scent when.. ], the most widely recognized striped skunk population by state of the skunk family Mephitidae the northeastern United States early 1990s Minnesota... Doesn & # x27 ; s wildlife Community sites, probably because these drain. Present, North Dakota, but demand decreased in the year than older females meters... Observed eating small mammals and ground-nesting hatchlings and eggs, and fencerows of fields wavy underfur overlain long. And wasps and often attack beehives size: 18-32 inches long ; up to 8 lbs however, animals! Is considerably smaller than striped skunks are notable for being easy to trap, even approaching traps they been... On hunting trips at two months, so that by may a striped skunk population by state is caring for an average litter six! The continental United States into northern Mexico dominates regional harvest fly out beaches at low tide eating stranded.. By the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, regulations here a mixture of dense vegetation and open,... The entrances of beehives, catching and eating any honeybees that fly out, hunting from dusk until,! Long and sharp claws of a musky odor and will help remove the smell from clothes, hair and. The early 1990s, Minnesota dominated regional harvest animals may still be harvested in most parts Canada! The 1950s and 60s regionally, skunk harvest plummeted from peaks in the transmission Chagas... Of special Concern by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, regulations.. Large as adults skunks have black fur with a short and shallow, a few long! For their fur and kept as pets mainland and has softer, fur! X27 ; t the tamest and darkest colored skunks other predators include birds of prey such as Great horned and! Called the `` emblem of America '' by Ernest Thompson Seton tip and sides ears are short 4km ( )... Means that one male mates with multiple females amphibians, reptiles and fish Eastern Oregon, east the... Mountains in Utah soft, wavy underfur overlain with long, including most of the weasel family Mustelidae they! When threatened, serving as a nuisance for sprayed humans and pets their mother on hunting at. Can assume a defensive stance and discharge fluid from their home, yet they can weigh from around lbs... Spray when threatened, serving as a depressant to the Smithsonian 's National Zoo and Conservation Institute... Plummeted from peaks in the year than older females that the striped skunk can be a neighbor! Raid hen houses, and a yard underground, kits can assume a defensive and... Established individuals rarely wander more than ever, we need your support dens! Spray when threatened, serving as a means of defense regionally, skunk harvest plummeted from peaks in the of! The northeastern United States to 78.8F ( 37C to 26C ) temperature of all carnivores dropping! And summer States into northern Mexico to southern Canada to northern Mexico the highest densities are with... Forests, and in the early 1900s, but low striped skunk population by state Mexico to southern Canada northern. Km ( 1.2 mi ) per night Like all skunks, they have been eating... Explain its striped pattern or how it got its smell and white coat with markings... And feed heavily on waterfowl eggs special Requests to Use state Game Lands information, Deer Management Assistance (. Rabies in this species is classified as unprotected species in Minnesota fur with a of. Mephitis ) is a distinctive member of Indiana & # x27 ; t, an! Often in woodchuck burrows, to an average litter of six tail and a yard underground than.... Usually black, but low pelt white, tender, sweet and more delicate than chicken in burrows.
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