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Lifespan, longevity, and ageing

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Maximum longevity: 13.9 years (captivity)
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Trophic Strategy

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Mephitis mephitis is an opportunistic feeder and will change its diet as needed. During the warmer spring and summer seasons, they are primarily insectivorous, known to feed on various grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, larvae and social insects such as bees. Other invertebrates may include worms, crayfish and other non-insect arthropods. Small mammals such as voles, as well as the eggs and young of ground-nesting birds are commonly consumed over the wintering period. Mephitis mephitis is also known to consume amphibians, reptiles, carrion and fish. While up to 80-90% of its diet is from an animal origin, M. mephitis is also known to feed on plant matter when in season. This includes corn, nightshade and fruits such as black and ground cherries.

Animal Foods: birds; mammals; amphibians; reptiles; fish; eggs; carrion ; insects; terrestrial non-insect arthropods; terrestrial worms; aquatic crustaceans

Plant Foods: seeds, grains, and nuts; fruit

Primary Diet: omnivore

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Kiiskila, J. 2013. "Mephitis mephitis" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Mephitis_mephitis.html
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Jeffrey Kiiskila, Michigan Technological University
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Associations

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Most mammals avoid Mephitis mephitis due to its defensive capabilities, however, large birds of prey are unaffected by the musk. The most prominent of these are great horned owls and eagles. Mammalian species known to prey on M. mephitis include mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, foxes, and badgers. Even though coyotes are known to prey on them, recent research showed that M. mephitis does not avoid areas of coyote activity.

Known Predators:

  • great horned owls (Bubo virginianus)
  • golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos)
  • bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
  • mountain lions (Puma concolor)
  • bobcats (Lynx rufus)
  • coyotes (Canis latrans)
  • gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus)
  • red foxes (Vulpes vulpes)
  • American badgers (Taxidea taxus)

Anti-predator Adaptations: aposematic

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Kiiskila, J. 2013. "Mephitis mephitis" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Mephitis_mephitis.html
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Morphology

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Striped skunks are easily distinguishable by their coloration pattern. With overall black pelage, they have a thin, white stripe along the center-top of their snout and forehead as well as a prominent white marking on their nape. While pattern varies greatly across individuals, the white marking on their nape typically runs along the dorsum, splitting into a thick, V-shape as it approaches their rump. Additionally, there are frequently white hairs on the edges of their bushy, black tail. With their small, triangular-shaped heads, striped skunks have short ears and black eyes that lack a nictitating membrane. Their maw holds 34 total teeth, with the following dental formula: I 3/3, C 1/1, P 3/3, M 1/2. Their legs are stout, with five-toed plantigrade feet and long foreclaws for digging.

They display minor sexual dimorphism, the males are slightly larger than the females. While most sources agree that M. mephitis is about the size of domestic cats, there is some discrepancy in their measurements. Their total length has been documented many times and estimates range from 465 to 815 mm. Their tail length differs slightly less; with measurements ranging 170 to 400 mm. Discrepancies are not as severe in the hindfoot measurements, with a range of 55 to 85 mm.

Measurements of body mass in M. mephitis also show a large range, between 0.7 to 6.3 kg. However, during periods of wintering, a reduction in body mass can result in losses of up to 47.7% in males and 50.1% in females, mostly due to fat metabolism. These overall differences could be an indication that M. mephitis differs in size across geographic ranges in the same way it differs in pelage patterns.

Range mass: 0.7 to 6.3 kg.

Range length: 465 to 815 mm.

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry

Sexual Dimorphism: male larger

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Kiiskila, J. 2013. "Mephitis mephitis" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Mephitis_mephitis.html
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Life Expectancy

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Mephitis mephitis has a high mortality rate and usually does not survive its first year due to severe weather conditions and infectious disease. Past their first year, they can live up to seven years in the wild and up to 10 years in captivity. Other factors contributing to mortality include predation and parasitism as well as risk from human road systems and a vulnerability to hunting.

Range lifespan
Status: wild:
7.0 (high) years.

Range lifespan
Status: captivity:
10 (high) years.

Average lifespan
Status: wild:
less than one years.

Average lifespan
Status: wild:
6.0 years.

Average lifespan
Status: captivity:
10.0 years.

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Kiiskila, J. 2013. "Mephitis mephitis" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Mephitis_mephitis.html
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Habitat

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Mephitis mephitis is commonly found in a variety of habitats including woodlands, forests, wooded ravines and grassy plains. Over time, however, they have become more prominent in areas of extreme cultivation as well as in suburban neighborhoods. Other habitats may include scrubland, riparian areas and urban environments. On average, M. mephitis is found at elevations from sea level to 1,800 m, but have been documented as high as 4,200 m.

Range elevation: sea level to 4,200 m.

Average elevation: sea level to 1,800 m.

Habitat Regions: temperate ; terrestrial

Terrestrial Biomes: savanna or grassland ; chaparral ; forest ; scrub forest

Other Habitat Features: urban ; suburban ; agricultural ; riparian

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Kiiskila, J. 2013. "Mephitis mephitis" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Mephitis_mephitis.html
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Jeffrey Kiiskila, Michigan Technological University
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Distribution

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Striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) have a range spanning most of North America. From east to west, they reach from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, covering most of the continental United States and southern regions of Canada. They also range to the south over a portion of northern Mexico.

Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )

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Kiiskila, J. 2013. "Mephitis mephitis" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Mephitis_mephitis.html
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Jeffrey Kiiskila, Michigan Technological University
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Associations

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Mephitis mephitis is an important source of insect control; however, it also a vector for parasitism and disease. These may include fleas, lice, mites, ticks, and botfly larvae as well as various parasitic worms. Among diseases, there have been reports of leptospirosis and canine distemper, though M. mephitis is better known as a notorious carrier of rabies. Some sources believe that communal denning aids in the spread of these infectious diseases. They may also carry a variety of other diseases including Q fever, listeriosis, pulmonary aspergillosis, pleuritis, ringworm, murine typhus, tularemia, Chagas' disease and canine parvovirus.

Mutualist Species:

  • human (Homo sapiens)

Commensal/Parasitic Species:

  • fleas (Siphonaptera)
  • lice (Phthiraptera)
  • mites (Arachnida)
  • ticks (Ixodida)
  • botfly larvae (Oestroidea)
  • Nematoda
  • Cestoda
  • Trematoda
  • Acanthocephala
  • Pentastomida
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Kiiskila, J. 2013. "Mephitis mephitis" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Mephitis_mephitis.html
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Jeffrey Kiiskila, Michigan Technological University
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Benefits

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In addition to the ecosystem, Mephitis mephitis serves as an important source of insect control for human populations. At one time, their pelts were valuable for the fur trade; however, they are not currently in high demand. Mephitis mephitis may have been a source of food for native North Americans and they may have been used in medical treatments for both the natives and the pioneers. There is no indication that they are still used as a source of food or medicine, however, the clinging quality of their musk has made it valuable as a perfume foundation. Along with other members of family Mephitidae, M. mephitis can be kept as a household pet in certain areas throughout the United States as well as in other countries, though this often requires a permit.

Positive Impacts: pet trade ; food ; body parts are source of valuable material; source of medicine or drug ; controls pest population

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Kiiskila, J. 2013. "Mephitis mephitis" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Mephitis_mephitis.html
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Benefits

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Mephitis mephitis can carry diseases and parasites infectious not only to humans, but also to other domesticated animals. They are sometimes considered general pests when they dig up lawns, take up residents in buildings or when they are provoked into discharging their musk.

Negative Impacts: injures humans (carries human disease); causes or carries domestic animal disease

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Kiiskila, J. 2013. "Mephitis mephitis" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Mephitis_mephitis.html
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Jeffrey Kiiskila, Michigan Technological University
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Conservation Status

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Striped skunks have an abundant population and are not threatened.

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

State of Michigan List: no special status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

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Kiiskila, J. 2013. "Mephitis mephitis" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Mephitis_mephitis.html
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Jeffrey Kiiskila, Michigan Technological University
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Behavior

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Mephitis mephitis relies primarily on visual displays to ward off predators or unwanted visitors and may resort to a chemical discharge if not left alone. Although they are usually silent, an individual can produce a wide variety of sounds from low growls to birdlike chirps. Little is known about their perception; however, an individual may react to auditory or visual cues at close range. Deprivation in visual, acoustic and even olfactory sensation has been considered a potential result of their defensive capabilities in additional to their passivity.

Communication Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical

Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical

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Kiiskila, J. 2013. "Mephitis mephitis" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Mephitis_mephitis.html
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Untitled

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Members of family Mephitidae were once classified in family Mustelidae, but molecular techniques have shown differences in their phylogenetic relationship and they have since been elevated to their own family.

The name Mephitis comes from the Latin word mephit, which means "bad odor". Members of family Mephitidae are also the subjects of folklore for the Native Americans.

Members of genus Mephitis have been bred for the discovery of different patterns and pelage colors. Mephitis pudita, otherwise known as Eastern skunks, were utilized for the discovery of entirely black or white morphs as well as seal brown with white stripes and a few others.

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Kiiskila, J. 2013. "Mephitis mephitis" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Mephitis_mephitis.html
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Reproduction

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Under normal circumstances, female striped skunks only reproduce once a year, although males will reproduce with multiple females. Beyond fertilization, a female no longer associates with males and in fact will become aggressive towards them through vocalizing, stamping their feet and fighting if necessary.

Mating System: polygynous

Males approach from behind and begin by smelling and licking the female’s vulva. Seeking to mount, the male moves by the female's side where he proceeds to seize her nape. Females often resist, not becoming receptive until estrous, in which case they will usually take a submissive posture. Once successfully mounted, the male continues his copulatory thrusts. Copulation typically ends one minute after the male's acceptance.

Breeding usually occurs sometime between February and April. However, a secondary period can take place in May if the first litter is lost or in other cases, such as pseudopregnancy. Gestation lasts about 59 to 77 days, beginning with a period of delayed implantation that can last up to 19 days. Mephitis mephitis can produce a litter that ranges from 2 to 10 individuals, with individual masses of 32 to 35 g.

Breeding interval: Female striped skunks breed once a year under normal circumstances.

Breeding season: Breeding occurs from February to April, or during May under extenuating circumstances.

Range number of offspring: 2.0 to 10.0.

Average number of offspring: 4.0 to 7.0.

Range gestation period: 59 to 77 days.

Range weaning age: 6.0 to 7.0 weeks.

Range time to independence: 0.5 to 1.0 years.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 10 months.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 10 months.

Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization ; viviparous ; delayed implantation

Average birth mass: 33.5 g.

Average number of offspring: 5.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male)
Sex: male:
335 days.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)
Sex: female:
335 days.

Although they are altricial with sparse pelage at birth, younglings have discernable patterns prior to birth. The younglings do not open their eyes until about three weeks of age and are typically weaned at six to seven weeks. It is at this time they learn to forage and hunt by following their mother in a single file line during her outings. Younglings rely on the protection of their mother, during this time she will display extremely defensive behavior. Male younglings become independent by July or August, while the female younglings may remain with their mother until the following spring. Both male and female younglings become sexually mature by the end of the first year, around 10 months of age on average.

Parental Investment: altricial ; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-independence (Protecting: Female); post-independence association with parents

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Kiiskila, J. 2013. "Mephitis mephitis" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Mephitis_mephitis.html
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Jeffrey Kiiskila, Michigan Technological University
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Striped skunk

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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.[3] It is currently listed as least concern by the IUCN on account of its wide range and ability to adapt to human-modified environments.[1]

Striped skunks are polygamous omnivores with few natural predators, save for birds of prey.[2] Like all skunks, they possess highly developed musk-filled scent glands to ward off predators. They have a long history of association with humans, having been trapped and captively bred for their fur[4] and kept as pets.[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.[6]

Taxonomy

The striped skunk was first formally named by Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber as Viverra mephitis. The type locality is in eastern Canada.[7][2]

Evolution and subspecies

The earliest fossil finds attributable to Mephitis were found in the Broadwater site in Nebraska, dating back to the early Pleistocene less than 1.8 million years ago. By the late Pleistocene (70,000–14,500 years ago), the striped skunk was widely distributed throughout the southern United States, and it expanded northwards and westwards by the Holocene (10,000–4,500 years ago) following the retreat of the Wisconsin glacier.[8]

Phylogenetic analyses of the species' cytochrome b gene and microsatellite data in 2012 indicated that there are four phylogroups of striped skunk. The first emerged from the Texas-Mexico region during the Rancholabrean before the Illinoian glaciation and colonized the southeastern United States. The second, still originating in the Texas-Mexico region, expanded westwards to the Rocky Mountains during the Illinoian glacial period. Two subsequent subclades were formed during the Sangamonian interglacial on either side of the Sierra Nevada. 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. A similar, but less significant, secondary contact occurred when the same subclade intermingled with members of the eastern phylogroup east of the Mississippi river.[8]

Thirteen subspecies of the striped skunk are generally recognized:[3]

Vernacular names

The English word skunk has two root words of Algonquian and Iroquoian origin, specifically seganku (Abenaki) and scangaresse (Huron).[10][11] The Cree and Ojibwe word shee-gawk is the root word for Chicago, which means 'skunk-land'.[11] Alternative English names for the striped skunk include common skunk,[12] Hudsonian skunk, northern skunk, black-tailed skunk and prairie polecat.[11] The latter name was originally used by English settlers, who noted the animal's similarity to the European polecat. 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.[4] The name "Alaska sable" was employed by furriers during the late 19th century.[13]

Local indigenous names include:

Description

Skull of a striped skunk

The striped skunk is a stoutly-built, short-limbed animal with a small, conical head and a long, heavily furred tail.[12] Adult males are 10% larger than females, with both sexes measuring between 52 and 77 cm in total body length and usually weighing 1.8–4.5 kg (4.0–9.9 lb), though some may weigh 5.5 kg (12 lb).[10] The feet are plantigrade with bare soles,[10] and are not as broad or flat as those of hog-nosed skunks.[12] The forefeet are armed with five long, curved claws adapted for digging, while those on the hind feet are shorter and straighter.[10]

Left hind foot of an albino skunk

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. Some specimens have a white patch on the chest, while others bear white stripes on the outer surface of the front limbs.[10] Brown or cream-colored mutations occasionally occur.[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.[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. 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.[13] It can be sprayed at a distance of several meters. If sprayed on the eyes, this compound can cause a temporary burning sensation.[10]

Life history

Reproduction and development

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 mating season usually occurs between mid-February to mid-April, though it is delayed at higher latitudes. Prior to copulating, the males' testicles swell during the January–February period, with maximum size being attained in March. Males during this period will cover much ground in their search for females, sometimes covering 4 km (2.5 mi) per night.[10]

When a male locates a female, he will approach her from the rear and lick her genitals, then bite her on the nape before copulating. 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. Once the mating period has finished, the impregnated females confine themselves to their dens, while the males attempt to rebuild their fat reserves.[10]

Striped skunk pair

The gestation period lasts around 59–77 days, with kits being born at about mid-May to early June. Litters generally consist of 2–12 kits, with the average being five or six,[15] though a litter of 18 is known from Pennsylvania. Kits are born blind and sparsely furred, weighing 25–40 grams. The eyes open after around three weeks, and are weaned after 42–56 days.[10] Although their musk is still undeveloped, kits of this age will instinctively assume the defensive stand position when threatened.[11] At this point, the kits may accompany their mother outside the den, becoming independent after 2½ months.[10]

Denning and sheltering behaviors

The striped skunk may dig its own dens, though it will appropriate those abandoned by other animals should the opportunity present itself. 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. In cultivated areas, striped skunks will dig their dens in fencerows, likely because they are less likely to be disturbed by machinery or livestock. In winter it is common for a single den to be occupied by multiple females and a single male.[2] During this period, the striped skunk saves its energy by lowering its body temperature from 38 °C to 32 °C. 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.[16]

Ecology

Striped skunk in Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Habitat

The striped skunk inhabits a wide variety of habitats, particularly mixed woodlands, brushy corners and open fields interspersed with wooded ravines and rocky outcrops. Some populations, particularly in northwestern Illinois, prefer cultivated areas over uncultivated ones.[2]

Diet

In defensive posture with erect and puffed tail, indicating that it may be about to spray

While primarily an insectivore, the striped skunk is adaptable enough to incorporate other animals and even vegetable matter into its diet. The most frequently consumed insects include grasshoppers, beetles, crickets, caterpillars, other insect larvae and bees.[17] Other invertebrates may include worms, crayfish and other non-insect arthropods.[18] In the winter and spring months, the striped skunk will supplement its diet with vertebrates such as white-footed mice, voles, eggs and the chicks of ground nesting birds.[2] The striped skunk is also known to consume amphibians, reptiles, carrion and fish.[19] Striped skunks inhabiting California's coastal areas will feed on crabs and beached fish.[20] While not adapted for chasing fleet-footed prey, at least one specimen was observed pursuing gray cottontails into their burrows.[11] The skunk will also consume vegetable matter, such as apples, blueberries, black cherries, ground cherries, corn and nightshade when in season.[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. Their practice of digging leaves small-but-noticeable pits in the ground, which can provide evidence of their presence in an area.[15]

Predation

Because of its formidable defensive capability, the striped skunk has few natural enemies. Mammalian predators typically avoid skunks, unless they are starving. Such predators include cougars, coyotes, bobcats, badgers, and red and gray foxes. 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.[2]

Disease

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. Skunks are the primary hosts in the north- and south-central United States as well as in Canada. Cases of rabies in this species are generally epizootic and recurrent. They are also host for the canine parvovirus and may also suffer from leptospirosis.[21]

Relationships with humans

In culture

The striped skunk is commonly featured in the myths and oral traditions of Native Americans. Some stories try to explain its striped pattern or how it got its smell. Skunks fill various roles in legends and may be featured as heroes, villains, tricksters, or monsters. For the Muscogee people, the skunk represented family loyalty and defense of loved ones. The Winnebago people used the skunk to symbolize vanity, being beautiful on the outside but ugly on the inside.[22]

The striped skunk was once called the "emblem of America" by Ernest Thompson Seton. 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". The skunk connection in these genres may be due to the term "funk" being a term for strong odor. The novelty song "Dead Skunk" by Loudon Wainwright III was popular in the early 1970s. Skunks are also popular characters in children's stories, comics and cartoons, most notably the Warner Bros character Pepé Le Pew and the Disney character Flower of the 1942 animated film Bambi, their musky odor making them a source of fear and ostracization.[22]

Trapping and fur use

The striped skunk is one of North America's most sought-after furbearers, and was once the second most harvested after the muskrat. Its fur is intrinsically valuable, being durable and having rich luster, though this trait decreases with wear and exposure to sunlight. Skunk pelts are divided into four grades, with the most prized being the ones with a greater amount of black. 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.[4] Skunks are notable for being easy to trap, even approaching traps they had been previously caught in. 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]

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. 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.[4] Emphasis was placed on selectively breeding the tamest and darkest colored skunks.[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.[4] Despite being easy to breed and manage, skunk farming was not overly profitable, as the relatively low price of the pelts did not compensate for the costs in maintaining them. Nevertheless, raising skunks was considered good practice for amateur fur farmers wishing to later move on to more valuable furbearers like martens, sable, mink and silver foxes.[11]

Taming

The striped skunk is easily tamed and was often kept in barns to kill rats and mice during the 19th century.[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.[5]

Other uses

A tame skunk being cuddled

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.[11] American zoologist Clinton Hart Merriam described skunk meat as white, tender, sweet and more delicate than chicken.[13] The meat was prized by Chinese immigrants, who also bought skunk gall bladders for medicinal purposes.[20]

The fat was once reputed to make an excellent lubricant.[11]

The musk was once used as a folk remedy for asthma, despite its very strong odor.[12]

References

  1. ^ a b Helgen, K. & Reid, F. (2016). "Mephitis mephitis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T41635A45211301. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T41635A45211301.en. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Wade-Smith, J. & Verts, B. J. (1982). "Mephitis mephitis" (PDF). Mammalian Species 173 : 1–7.
  3. ^ a b Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M., eds. (2005). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Lantz, D. E. (1923). Economic value of North American skunks. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.
  5. ^ a b Cipriani, D. (2011) "Skunks are affectionate, intelligent pets for owners who offer the proper care." Critters USA. pp. 2-6
  6. ^ Feinstein, J. (2011). Field Guide to Urban Wildlife. Stackpole Books. p. 67. ISBN 0811705854
  7. ^ Schreber, J. C. D. 1776. Die Saugthiere in Abbildungen nach der Natur, mit Beschreibungen. Wolfgang Walther, Erlangen, 3(Heft 17):290-312.
  8. ^ a b Barton, H. D., and S. M. Wisely. 2012. Phylogeography of striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in North America: Pleistocene dispersal and contemporary population structure. Journal of Mammalogy 93(1):38-51.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Howell, A. H. (1901). Revision of the skunks of the genus Chincha. U. S. Department of Agriculture. Washington, Government Printing Office.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Rosatte, R. & Lawson, S. (2003). Skunks. In G. Feldhamer, B. Thompson, & J. Chapman (Eds., Wild Mammals of North America; biology, management and conservation (2nd ed.) Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 692-707.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Seton, E. T. (1909). Life-histories of northern animals : an account of the mammals of Manitoba. New York City: Scribner. pp. 966-994
  12. ^ a b c d Coues, E. (1877). 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. Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories (U.S.). pp. 195-235.
  13. ^ a b c d Merriam, C. H. (1886). The mammals of the Adirondack region, northeastern New York. New York : Henry Holt and Co. pp. 69-87.
  14. ^ Berenbaum, M. R. (1995-01-03). "The chemistry of defense: theory and practice". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 92 (1): 2–8. Bibcode:1995PNAS...92....2B. doi:10.1073/pnas.92.1.2. ISSN 0027-8424. PMC 42807. PMID 7816816.
  15. ^ a b "Striped Skunk | Adirondack Ecological Center | SUNY ESF | College of Environmental Science and Forestry". www.esf.edu. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
  16. ^ Kurta, A. (1995). Mammals of the Great Lakes Region. University of Michigan Press. p. 246. ISBN 0472064975
  17. ^ "Mephitis mephitis (Striped skunk)". Animal Diversity Web.
  18. ^ "Mephitis mephitis (Striped skunk)". Animal Diversity Web.
  19. ^ "Mephitis mephitis (Striped skunk)". Animal Diversity Web.
  20. ^ a b Ingles, L. G. (1947). Mammals of California. Stanford University Press. pp. 69-76 . ISBN 080471195X
  21. ^ Newman, C.; Byrne, A. W. (2018). "Musteloid diseases: implications for conservation and species management". In Macdonald, D. W.; Newman, C.; Harrington, L. A. (eds.). Biology and Conservation of Musteloids. Oxford University Press. p. 249. ISBN 978-0198759805.
  22. ^ a b Miller, Alyce L. (2015). Skunk. Reaktion Books LDT. pp. 97, 134–146, 117–121. ISBN 9781780234908.
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Striped skunk: Brief Summary

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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. It is currently listed as least concern by the IUCN on account of its wide range and ability to adapt to human-modified environments.

Striped skunks are polygamous omnivores with few natural predators, save for birds of prey. Like all skunks, they possess highly developed musk-filled scent glands to ward off predators. They have a long history of association with humans, having been trapped and captively bred for their fur and kept as pets. 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.

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