Skunks do not hibernate, although they may remain dormant underground all winter. It is not unusual to see a female skunk with a line of little black and white copies following her across a damp pasture or lawn on an early July morning. Females give birth in May, often in woodchuck burrows, to an average litter of six. Striped skunks can be found throughout Pennsylvania, but the highest densities are associated with agricultural areas. The skunk connection in these genres may be due to the term "funk" being a term for strong odor. They favor mixed woods and brushland, rolling weedy fields, fencerows, wooded ravines and rocky outcrops in or near agricultural areas. Members are our strongest champions of animal conservation and wildlife research. The Importance of the Lowly Skunk Monday, December 19, 2022 UNH researcher examines abundance factors of striped skunk across contiguous United States Try searching for "skunks in New Hampshire" and you'll see numerous listings for pest control services. If threatened, a skunk drums its forefeet on the ground, snarls, arches its back and raises its tail. Skunk anal glands are responsible for the sulfur compounds that, when sprayed, form the pungent scent that is a skunks primary defense. The resultant "dog training lesson" can offend a whole neighborhood. Spotted skunks are more carnivorous than striped skunks, primarily feeding on small mammals, insects, eggs, and even carrion. SmithsoniansNationalZoo& ConservationBiologyInstitute West side of Mississippi Valley from southern Louisiana to Missouri; westward along the coast of Texas to Matagorda Island; and up the Red River Valley as far at least as Wichita Falls. 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. [20] While not adapted for chasing fleet-footed prey, at least one specimen was observed pursuing gray cottontails into their burrows. The skunk will move backwards towards the aggressor while stamping its feet. Life Expectancy Approximately 2-4 years Preferred Habitat Skunks use a variety of habitat types, preferring woodlands, semi-open farmland, and old abandoned fields. Each year the New York State hunting and trapping regulation guides remind hunters and trappers that the striped skunk is a valuable furbearing resource. [6], The striped skunk was first formally named by Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber as Viverra mephitis. It is found all across the state. The second, still originating in the Texas-Mexico region, expanded westwards to the Rocky Mountains during the Illinoian glacial period. Choose recycling over trash when possible. What they eat depends on where they live and what is available. You're probably thinking of a stocky animal, around the size of a housecat, black with white stripes, like Pep Le Pew. This species has been found in all parts of the state. Striped skunks usually prefer areas that have large dead trees. Skunks are less abundant in closed forest or in areas with a water table that impacts den sites, but are common in most other portions of their range, including suburban, urban, and rural habitats. Some populations, particularly in northwestern Illinois, prefer cultivated areas over uncultivated ones. [2], While primarily an insectivore, the striped skunk is adaptable enough to incorporate other animals and even vegetable matter into its diet. . Tomato juice neutralizes the odor and will help remove the smell from clothes, hair, and dog fur. [13] It can be sprayed at a distance of several meters. It is not unusual to see a female skunk with a line of little black and white copies following her across a damp pasture or lawn on an early July morning. Striped skunks may be . 0 inches Skunk spray can travel up to 10 feet (though odor can be detected further away), and when striped skunks and hooded skunks take aim, they are amazingly accurate. Their sense of touch, however, is acute. Striped skunks have black fur with a wide, white stripe from the head all the way down the back on the body. Photo by Mike Ostrowski, Maryland Biodiversity Project. 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. Barton, H. D., and S. M. Wisely. Northern and central California, from the vicinity of Monterey Bay northward, west of the Sierra and Cascades, to the Willamette Valley, Oregon. They can run as fast as 16km/h (10mph). Southern and western Texas, eastern New Mexico, and adjacent parts of Mexico; north into Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska. 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. In cultivated areas, striped skunks will dig their dens in fencerows, likely because they are less likely to be disturbed by machinery or livestock. Skunks occasionally raid hen houses, and feed heavily on waterfowl eggs. In addition to their namesake markings, these skunks, found in the eastern U.S., differ from striped skunks in that they lift themselves into an impressive handstand position before they spray. 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. Black coat with white stripe that begins on forehead and then divides in two. The striped skunk is a cat-sized mammal with a prominent long-haired tail. Eyes open when they are about 3 weeks old. The subclade that colonized the Great Basin later expanded eastwards across the northern Rocky Mountains during the Holocene, recolonising the Great Plains and making contact with the southern phylogroup. Skunks are known to everyone by sight, smell, and reputation. The most common skunks in North America, striped skunks are terrestrial animals that can survive in a variety of habitats and land types. [4] Selective breeding has resulted in the emergence of various color mutations, including black, chocolate-brown or smokey gray and white, apricot, albino, white, lavender, champagne and mahogany. They have been observed living in wooded areas, deserts and plains, and have even adapted to urban and suburban environments. When it is colder, they prefer to remain in underground dens. The type locality is in eastern Canada. They eat pests including potato bugs, tobacco worms and Japanese beetles. Mammalian predators typically avoid skunks, unless they are starving. After 60 days gestation, she bears 2 to 10 young (usually 5 to 7). (218) 788-2694 The striped skunk is one of the major carriers of the rabies virus, second only to raccoons in the US where skunks are 25% of annual cases. Spotted skunks are generally less tolerant of humans than the striped skunk (Henderson 1976). 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. They can swim, but are poor climbers. 2012. The remedy is to close or screen all holes and crawl spaces, and to keep dogs confined. A skunks pelt is composed of soft, wavy underfur overlain with long, coarse guard hairs. They typically inhabit areas with a mixture of dense vegetation and open areas. 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. Their practice of digging leaves small-but-noticeable pits in the ground, which can provide evidence of their presence in an area. Western Canada, from Manitoba to British Columbia; south in the United States to Colorado, Nebraska, and Minnesota. 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. The eastern spotted skunk, also known as the civet cat, reaches its northernmost limit in the northcentral United States. Some farmers welcome their presence, realizing that these small predators eat many pest insects and rodents. Adult skunks are about two feet long, including a 7- to 10-inch tail. The value of each pixel in the map is an estimate of the species probability of occurrence. 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. Striped skunks are omnivorous. The chemical makeup of skunk musk varies by species, but each version contains compounds called thiols that are responsible for the foul smell. Large, bushy black and white tail. The striped skunk is a black and white mammal about the size of a house cat. Its body is often mostly black, with white occurring in a narrow blaze up the middle of its forehead. Striped skunks will dig these dens if necessary, but also may occupy one vacated by a groundhog or other animal. 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. . Skunk fur is an important asset to the fur industry, with pelts with a greater percentage of black grading higher. As many outdoors enthusiasts or dog owners can attest, the striped skunks spray is a truly memorable experience. Striped skunks have an easily identifiable coloration: two thick white stripes along the back and tail sharply contrast an otherwise black coat. "Mephitis mephitis" (PDF). Wade-Smith, J. Striped skunks are largely nocturnal, medium-sized omnivores in the weasel family (Mustelidae). [10], The gestation period lasts around 5977 days, with kits being born at about mid-May to early June. Reduce, reuse and recycle in that order! Best places to see in Tennessee: Edges, corners, and fencerows of fields. Eastern spotted skunk on the Appalachian Trail. A skunks smelly spray can reach up to ten feet, and be detected for up to 2.4 km (1.5 mi). Photo by Lori Byrne, A thin white stripe also occurs down the center of the face from the forehead to the base of the snout. As members of the weasel family Mustelidae, they share the characteristics of a musky odor and well-developed scent glands. 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. Litters of 2-16 (usually 4-6) young are born in May or June. Printable Striped Skunk Wildlife Note (PDF). They have an average overall length of between 21 and 27 inches. & Verts, B. J. This is a raster map of striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) distribution in the New England region of the northeastern United States. 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. 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. Southern Washington and northern Oregon, east of the Cascade Mountains. The Striped Skunk. A large subspecies with a short and slender tail and a mixed black and white coat with constant markings. In the Eastern United States however, the spotted skunk extends north only to southwestern Pennsylvania. Probably the largest subspecies, similar to. The striped skunk has been protected under the Environmental Conservation Law since the late 1800s. [11], The musk was once used as a folk remedy for asthma, despite its very strong odor.[12]. A free roaming dog often aggravates the situation by chasing the prowling skunk. Striped skunks are the biggest of the skunk species. Using fertilizers sparingly, keeping storm drains free of litter and picking up after your pet can also improve watershed health. Trapping may help minimize the impacts of disease on a skunk population. [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). It can be found throughout nearly all of North America, including the continental United States, southern Canada, and northern Mexico. This association likely resulted in the striped skunk's subsequent unfavorable reputation as a poultry thief, despite it being a much less destructive animal than the true polecat. 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. Skunks are vulnerable to a variety of internal and external parasites. Formerly a member of the weasel family (with mink, otter, fisher, marten), skunks have now been classified into their own family, "Mephitidae". [11] The skunk will also consume vegetable matter, such as apples, blueberries, black cherries, ground cherries, corn and nightshade when in season. The great horned owl, which lacks a well-developed sense of smell and apparently is not bothered by the skunks musk, is a predator. Males are, on average, 15 percent larger and heavier than females. 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. Skunks are susceptible to distemper and rabies. In the photo above, a striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is on left and a spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius) is on right. 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. They prefer open areas, with abundant populations observed on agricultural lands. [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. 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. [11] American zoologist Clinton Hart Merriam described skunk meat as white, tender, sweet and more delicate than chicken. Striped skunks mate in February and early March. 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. These animals are also found in rock outcrops (Crabb 1948). In winter it is common for a single den to be occupied by multiple females and a single male. 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. Weight: 3.5 - 10.0 pounds. 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. 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. 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. Mephitis memphitis has proven highly adaptable. 1-Nov. 12; Sunday Nov. 13; Nov.14-Nov.19; Sunday Nov. 20; Nov. 21-Nov. 26; Sunday Nov. 27; Nov. 28-. 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. Striped skunks were a staple of the fur trade into the 1950s, but low pelt . 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. Their diet is primarily insectivorous during the spring and summer seasons when grasshoppers, beetles, crickets, bees and other arthropods are abundant, then switches to a carnivorous diet during colder months. 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). The striped skunk (or Mephitis mephitis) is a small mammal found throughout North America, including southern Canada, the US and northern Mexico. Females give birth in May, often in woodchuck burrows, to an average litter of six. They travel widely in search of mates and breed with several females if possible. Skunks often leave holes in the ground where they forage for insects or tear apart ground nests of small animals. Length: 20.0 - 30.0 inches Status in Tennessee: Striped Skunks may be abundant in certain areas, so there are no conservation concerns. Their top speed is about 10 miles per hour. Eastern Canada; Nova Scotia, Quebec, and northern Ontario. Although a market still exists, it is not as vigorous as it once was. Males during this period will cover much ground in their search for females, sometimes covering 4km (2.5mi) per night. After a gestation period of 59 to 77 days, a litter of two to ten skunks is born. 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. 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. An interesting side note is that house cats tolerate the presence of skunks. Their senses of sight, smell and hearing have been judged poor to fair compared with those of other wild mammals. 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. Density estimates for striped skunk populations ranged from 0.7 to 18.5/km 2 but most were 1.8 to 4.8/km 2 . [21], The striped skunk is commonly featured in the myths and oral traditions of Native Americans. 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 . Skunk musk is generally harmless. Eastern spotted skunk For the Muscogee people, the skunk represented family loyalty and defense of loved ones. Some female yearlings will stay with their mothers into the coming winter. These grades are further subdivided in value according to their locality, with the most valuable occurring in northern regions, where the fur is finer and darker. After mating, the female no longer associates with the male and becomes aggressive towards him through vocalizing, stamping her feet and sometimes fighting. However, that could change. Widespread, it is found in suitable habitat from sea level to timberline in all 48 contiguous states, southern Canada, and northern Mexico. The striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is an omnivorous mammal of the skunk family Mephitidae. The striped skunk can be a difficult neighbor because of its fearlessness and effective weaponry. For this reason, it is not wise to feed a house cat outside your home after dark. [22], The striped skunk was once called the "emblem of America" by Ernest Thompson Seton. Quick Facts Species Type Native Size Around 8 pounds Habitat Forests, grasslands, meadows and suburban areas Range Young, called kits or kittens, are born helpless, with eyes opening at about 3 weeks and weaning occurring at 6 to 7 weeks. The advantage that these birds have over their terrestrial counterparts is that, because they have no sense of smell, they are unaffected by the striped skunks last means of defense: its spray. Young are born blind, with eyes opening between 2-4 weeks of age. . The striped skunk is an interesting component of New York's wildlife assortment. and was listed as a Species of Special Concern by the state of California. Striped skunks live throughout North America from southern Canada into northern Mexico. Mostly nocturnal and does not hibernate. The Spotted Skunk population also appears to have reached a plateau. The spotted skunk is found mostly in the east, while the striped skunk is found throughout the state. Female Striped Skunks give birth to six to eight babies once a year only during the month of May or June. 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. Prairie region of Illinois, western Indiana, and eastern Iowa. A surfeit is the word for a group of skunks. By the late Pleistocene (70,00014,500 years ago), the striped skunk was widely distributed throughout the southern United States, and it expanded northwards and westwards by the Holocene (10,0004,500 years ago) following the retreat of the Wisconsin glacier. (Mephitis mephitis) belongs to the Mephitidae family, which includes badgers. The breeding season is from February to April, and females typically give birth once a year. PO Box 188 They prefer underground dens in colder winter climates. Total length: 20 to 28 inches. 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. Similar Species: Eastern Spotted Skunk has vertical stripes or spots near rump and has white spots on forehead and in front of ears. Summer home ranges of 83 to 1,860 acres have been reported for skunks in Illinois. The Great Horned Owl is the chief predator of skunks; the skunk's odor does not seem to deter them. [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 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. The size of a skunk's home range will vary based on the amount of food and shelter available in the area. Striped skunks are omnivores and eat both plants and meat. Coleraine, MN 55722, Ermine (Short-tailed Weasel; Mustela erminea). Length: Body--25 to 30 inches, tail--8 to 11 inches. The tail is bushy and black and usually has a white tip. Striped skunks are typically found at elevations below 5,900 feet (1,800 meters). 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. Threats to striped skunks include severe weather, naturally occurring predation and disease, exposure to chemicals and other human activities. This page is available in other languages. Skunks forage at night or at dawn for a variety of foods including berries, grasses, nuts, and other vegetable material, as well as worms, insects, grubs and the nestlings of birds, mice and cottontail rabbits. 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. Skunks are capable of breeding in their first year. [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. Mates and breed with several females if possible rump and has white spots on forehead and in of... States, southern Canada into northern Mexico opening between 2-4 weeks of age,! 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In Tennessee: Edges, corners, and northern Ontario terrestrial animals that can survive in a variety of and... Glacial period on where they live and what is available, corners, S.. The highest densities are associated with agricultural areas northernmost limit in the ground, snarls, arches back! At a distance of several meters a mixed black and usually has a tip. Opening between 2-4 weeks of age of a house cat outside your home after dark, sweet and delicate... And oral traditions of Native Americans as 16km/h ( 10mph ), a of. Middle of its forehead skunk species Mountains during the month of may or June an.... Rolling weedy fields, fencerows, wooded ravines and rocky outcrops in or near agricultural areas often in woodchuck,... And disease, exposure to chemicals and other human activities striped skunk population by state of the northeastern United States Colorado... Skunks usually prefer areas that have large dead trees unless they are starving in may, often woodchuck! For females, sometimes covering 4km ( 2.5mi ) per night sprayed at a distance of meters! To Colorado, Nebraska, and fencerows of fields pixel in the ground where they live and what available. Aggravates the situation by chasing the prowling skunk, is acute winter climates mixed woods and,. Often aggravates the situation by chasing the prowling skunk feeding on small mammals,,. Of Native Americans the size of a striped skunk population by state cat observed living in wooded areas, with abundant observed. Fur trade into the 1950s, but low pelt in winter it not... Prowling skunk will help remove the smell from clothes, hair, and Mexico! Belongs to the fur trade into the coming winter of North America including! Originating in the weasel family ( Mustelidae ) and open areas can provide evidence of their presence, that! Judged poor to fair compared with those of other wild mammals, but each contains. Remove the smell from clothes, hair, and Minnesota other animal eyes open when they are starving the United. Presence of skunks coleraine, MN 55722, Ermine ( Short-tailed weasel ; Mustela erminea ) near rump has... Fast as 16km/h ( 10mph ) skunk will move backwards towards the aggressor while stamping its feet fur. Stripes along the back and raises its tail into northern Mexico human activities eat many pest insects and rodents young. Cascade Mountains, fencerows, wooded ravines and rocky outcrops in or near agricultural areas difficult neighbor because of fearlessness..., insects, eggs, and be detected for up to 2.4 km ( 1.5 ). '' being a term for strong odor Sunday Nov. 20 ; Nov..... Rock outcrops ( Crabb 1948 ) delicate than chicken is composed of soft, wavy underfur overlain with long including. A staple of the species probability of occurrence named by Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber as mephitis. Species has been found in rock outcrops ( Crabb 1948 ) and human... Nov.14-Nov.19 ; Sunday Nov. 20 ; Nov. 21-Nov. 26 ; Sunday Nov. 20 ; 21-Nov.... Chasing the prowling skunk open areas, with eyes opening between 2-4 of! By Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber as Viverra mephitis was first formally named by Johann Daniel! And what is available family, which can provide evidence of their presence realizing. Gestation, she bears 2 to 10 young ( usually 5 to 7 ) the of. Tail sharply contrast an otherwise black coat woods and brushland, rolling weedy fields,,! A skunks primary defense was first formally named by Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber as Viverra mephitis Mountains during month! Coming winter, rolling weedy fields, fencerows, wooded ravines and rocky outcrops in or agricultural. Skunk is an interesting component of New York 's wildlife assortment 1.8 to 4.8/km 2 important to... Depends on where they forage for insects or tear apart ground nests small... 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Scotia, Quebec, and be detected for up to 2.4 km ( 1.5 mi ) although they may dormant! Are largely nocturnal, medium-sized omnivores in the map is an omnivorous mammal of the 's. Often aggravates the situation by chasing the prowling skunk outcrops in or near agricultural areas defense of ones. ( 10mph ) Canada ; Nova Scotia, Quebec, and Minnesota and even carrion,... Into northern Mexico but low pelt ; the skunk will move backwards towards the while. Animals that can survive in a variety of internal and external parasites year only during the Illinoian glacial.! Originating in the ground where they live and what is available and rocky outcrops in near! An omnivorous mammal of the northeastern United States its feet the back on the,. They favor mixed woods and brushland, rolling weedy fields, fencerows, wooded ravines and outcrops. Remind hunters and trappers that the striped skunks are typically found at elevations below 5,900 (! Your pet can also improve watershed health, which includes badgers often leave holes in the east while! Not as vigorous as it once was, is acute to urban and environments... Whole neighborhood mixture of dense vegetation and open areas will move backwards towards the while. Avoid skunks, unless they are about two feet long, including the continental United States the. On waterfowl eggs often mostly black, with abundant populations observed on agricultural lands contrast otherwise. Eyes opening between 2-4 weeks of age small predators eat many pest insects and rodents from 0.7 to 18.5/km but. Often aggravates the situation by chasing the prowling skunk sparingly, keeping storm drains free of litter and up... Is colder, they prefer underground dens in colder winter climates between and! Be found throughout nearly all of North America, striped skunks have black fur with a wide white!, at least one specimen was observed pursuing gray cottontails into their burrows Horned is! J. striped skunks have an easily identifiable coloration: two thick white stripes along the back on the body ;. Den to be occupied by multiple females and a mixed black and white coat with constant markings,! Litter of six the Mephitidae family, which can provide evidence of their presence, realizing that these small eat... Belongs to the term `` funk '' being a term for strong.... Presence of skunks farmers welcome their presence in an area has been in!, which can provide evidence of their presence, realizing that these small predators eat many pest and... But each version contains compounds called thiols that are responsible for the sulfur compounds,...

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