[11] The skunk will also consume vegetable matter, such as apples, blueberries, black cherries, ground cherries, corn and nightshade when in season. [11], The musk was once used as a folk remedy for asthma, despite its very strong odor.[12]. Arizona, western New Mexico, Sonora, Chihuahua, and northern Lower California; south in the Sierra Madre to southern Chihuahua. [6], The striped skunk was first formally named by Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber as Viverra mephitis. [11] Alternative English names for the striped skunk include common skunk,[12] Hudsonian skunk, northern skunk, black-tailed skunk and prairie polecat. 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. [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. Phylogeography of striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in North America: Pleistocene dispersal and contemporary population structure. Probably the largest subspecies, similar to. Some populations, particularly in northwestern Illinois, prefer cultivated areas over uncultivated ones. [2], 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. They nurse for about a month and a half in the mother's den". Some specimens have a white patch on the chest, while others bear white stripes on the outer surface of the front limbs. The eyes open after around three weeks, and are weaned after 42–56 days. They are easily identifiable by the white stripe running from head to tail and each individual has a unique pattern of stripes. It has been prevalent in modern popular culture, being the subject of various jazz and funk songs like Cab Calloway's "Skunk Song" and the Brecker Brothers' "Some Skunk Funk". [2] Striped skunks inhabiting California's coastal areas will feed on crabs and beached fish. The male will mate with more than one female in a breeding season, but the female will mate with only one male. Mammalian predators typically avoid skunks, unless they are starving. 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. The striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is the focus of research interest for a variety of reasons, including its roles as a rabies reservoir, urban pest, predator of bird eggs, and parasite host. [2], While primarily an insectivore, the striped skunk is adaptable enough to incorporate other animals and even vegetable matter into its diet. Reproduction and factors which may affect productivity were discussed, including: durati … A large, very long-tailed subspecies whose markings closely approach those of. The mating season usually occurs between mid-February to mid-April, though it is delayed at higher latitudes. [11] American zoologist Clinton Hart Merriam described skunk meat as white, tender, sweet and more delicate than chicken. Some stories try to explain its striped pattern or how it got its smell. It is the one and only variety present in Alberta. Reproduction in Skunks is like reproduction in many other mammals including humans. Young, called kits or … Skunks fill various roles in legends and may be featured as heroes, villains, tricksters, or monsters. The male will mate with more than one female in a breeding season, but the female will mate with only one male. 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. Cases of rabies in this species are generally epizootic and recurrent. Captive breeding of skunks proved relatively simple when compared to mink and marten farming, as skunks are easier to tame and have less specialized dietary needs. [2], Because of its formidable defensive capability, the striped skunk has few natural enemies. New England and Middle Atlantic States; south to Virginia; west to Indiana. If sprayed on the eyes, this compound can cause a temporary burning sensation. The striped skunk lives in every Indiana county. The reproductive organs in the female striped skunk are a vagina, a urogenital sinus, a uterus, paired oviduct, ovaries, and uterine horns, and the reproductive organs in a male striped skunk consist of a penis, a urogenital sinus, a prostate gland, paired vas deferens , epididymides, an os baculum , and scrotal testes . In G. Feldhamer, B. Thompson, & J. Chapman (Eds., 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", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Striped_skunk&oldid=1009105517, 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. 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. Males during this period will cover much ground in their search for females, sometimes covering 4 km (2.5 mi… Weather conditions had little effect on skunk activity levels except during the winter season, when snow cover and temperature negatively influenced daily ODBA. Males can become very aggressive with each other in their quest to be able to mate with a female. 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. [15], The striped skunk inhabits a wide variety of habitats, particularly mixed woodlands, brushy corners and open fields interspersed with wooded ravines and rocky outcrops. Striped skunks have an average life span of 3 years in the wild and 10 years in captivity. Create your own unique website with customizable templates. The skunk connection in these genres may be due to the term "funk" being a term for strong odor. No need to register, buy now! The babies are born blind and deaf, and won’t open their eyes for three weeks. "Wild Mammals of North America: Biology, Management, and Conservation" book page 693, http://www.esf.edu/aec/adks/mammals/striped_skunk.htm, http://www.avianandexoticvets.com/gallery/articles/skunk, http://www.skunksaspets.com/skunkstuff.htm, http://www.livestrong.com/article/92683-embryo-fetus-development-stages/. Skunk pelts are divided into four grades, with the most prized being the ones with a greater amount of black. Two subsequent subclades were formed during the Sangamonian interglacial on either side of the Sierra Nevada. The striped skunk can be found over the region. Food. A medium-sized subspecies with a very long tail. Mating occurs for the Striped Skunk from February to April. The peak of Striped Skunk breeding season is typically the third week in March. Fortunately, skunk romance only lasts a short time. Striped Skunk Mating Season. The striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is the focus of research interest for a variety of reasons, including its roles as a rabies reservoir, urban pest, predator of bird eggs, and parasite host. In cultivated areas, striped skunks will dig their dens in fencerows, likely because they are less likely to be disturbed by machinery or livestock. [13] It can be sprayed at a distance of several meters. The striped skunk occurs throughout most of Maine. Female striped skunks will usually breed only once each year, sometime between February and April. [10][11] The Cree and Ojibwe word shee-gawk is the root word for Chicago, which means 'skunk-land'. 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. [11] The latter name was originally used by English settlers, who noted the animal's similarity to the European polecat. The striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis, Fig. [2] Like all skunks, they possess highly developed, musk-filled scent glands to ward off predators. Reproduction in Skunks is like reproduction in many other mammals including humans. Skunks are the primary hosts in the north- and south-central United States as well as in Canada. Find the perfect baby striped skunk stock photo. [13] The meat was prized by Chinese immigrants, who also bought skunk gall bladders for medicinal purposes. Skunks are omnivorous but seem to prefer insects and … A skunk's spray is an oily liquid produced by glands under its large tail. [18], The striped skunk was once called the "emblem of America" by Ernest Thompson Seton. It will be under a wood pile, dig a den in a bank, or inhabit an abandoned den from another animal, like a woodchuck's burrow. Striped skunks are pregnant for about 59 to 77 days. After a sixty day gestation period, female skunks give birth to a litter of pups in April or May. Skunks are also popular characters in children's stories, comics and cartoons, most notably the Warner Bros character Pepé Le Pew; their musky odor making them a source of fear and ostracization. [5], The striped skunk was regularly eaten by trappers and indigenous peoples, provided the animal was not too old or had not sprayed before being killed. skunks spray even before their eyes are open All skunks are striped from birth, which can vary in size and color and quantity. Its stripes start with a triangle at the head and break into two stripes down its back. [10], The gestation period lasts around 59–77 days, with kits being born at about mid-May to early June. Florida to North Carolina, and in the mountains to West Virginia; west on the Gulf coast to the Mississippi River. Reproduction and development. A medium-sized subspecies, with a longer tail than that of. Barton, H. D., and S. M. Wisely. Each striped skunk has a unique stripe pattern. [[[Striped skunk|edit]]] Behavior and reproduction [edit | edit source] [[]]EnlargeA striped skunk kitThe skunk is crepuscular. This page was last edited on 26 February 2021, at 19:12. Reproduction. Breeding occurs from February through late March. Though the skin sports only a light fuzz, the white stripes can already be seen on the black skin. [12] The forefeet are armed with five long, curved claws adapted for digging, while those on the hind feet are shorter and straighter. Beginning its search for food at dawn and dusk, it feeds on mice, eggs, carrion, insects, grubs, and berries. Prior to copulating, the males' testicles swell during the January–February period, with maximum size being attained in March. Female striped skunks typically give birth once each year, with breeding occurring between February and April. Many you… Two white lines forming a “V” from the shoulder area may extend part way or all of the way to the base of the bushy tail. Reproduction: Reproduction for the striped skunk occurs throughout February and March. Physical Description and Anatomy Striped skunks are about the size of an average domestic cat. The spotted skunk occurs in rocky foothills, mesas, canyons and along major rivers of the High Plains. Striped Skunks are on the prowl, as your nose may have told you recently – males are eagerly seeking out the company of females at this time of year and are often hit by cars traveling at night. Skunks become inactive during the coldest periods, but they do not hibernate and may be active year-round. Breeding occurs from February through late March. [10] Brown or cream-colored mutations occasionally occur. 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. However, if they lose their litter, they may reproduce again within the same season. Striped skunks are the biggest of the skunk species. The striped skunk is about the size of a house cat, with a large deep body, small head, and short legs. They are also host for the canine parvovirus and may also suffer from leptospirosis. This paper described in detail the care and management of this species in captivity. [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. [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. Skunks are intelligent and usually good natured. Shores of Puget Sound and coastal region of Washington and northern Oregon. Western Canada, from Manitoba to British Columbia; south in the United States to Colorado, Nebraska, and Minnesota. Male striped skunks breed with multiple females, and are rejected by the females after mating occurs. Adults can weigh anywhere between 2 – 12 lbs (0.9 – 5.4 kg), and are 18 – 32 inches Southern and western Texas, eastern New Mexico, and adjacent parts of Mexico; north into Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska. After mating, females no longer associate with males and will become aggressive towards them through vocalizing, stamping their feet and fighting if necessary. It will be under a wood pile, dig a den in a bank, or inhabit an abandoned den from another animal, like a woodchuck's burrow. [4] Skunks are notable for being easy to trap, even approaching traps they had been previously caught in. [18], The striped skunk is one of North America's most sought after furbearers, and was once the second most harvested after the muskrat. Their tails are usually a mixture of white and black fur. Skunks prosper in a variety of habitats including wetland, forest and agricultural edge. Reproduction Under normal circumstances, female striped skunks only reproduce once a year, although males will reproduce with multiple females. Gestation lasts about 2 months and results in 5 to 7 kits. In the spring of 2002, three wild-caught, pregnant females gave birth in captivity (mean litter size=7). Litters generally consist of 2–12 kits, though a litter of 18 is known from Pennsylvania. [11], The striped skunk is easily tamed and was often kept in barns to kill rats and mice during the 19th century. A very large subspecies with a heavily furred, medium-sized tail. Prior to copulating, the males' testiclesswell during the January–February period, with maximum size being attained in March. They have a long history of association with humans, having been trapped and captively bred for their fur[4] and kept as pets. The young are born sightle… After this time, they will begin to go outside and learn to hunt from their mother. [4] The name "Alaska sable" was employed by furriers during the late 19th century. [11], Like all skunks, the striped skunk possesses two highly developed scent glands, one on each side of the anus, containing about 15 milliliters of musk each,[13] which provides a chemical defense against predation. Cipriani, D. (2011) "Skunks are affectionate, intelligent pets for owners who offer the proper care.". 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