Movements, activity patterns and denning habits of striped skunks (mephitis mephitis) and the exposure potential for disease

Winter Activity of Striped Skunks (Mephitismephitis) in East-Central Minnesota

“…had previously used their winter den (Houseknecht 1971). Winter dens selected by study animals were almost exclusively in upland habitats and on sloping terrain, indicating the possible importance of good drainage as suggested by Verts (1967).…”

“…Between April and October no animals, except females with young, were observed to den together (Houseknecht 1969 The following winter eight of 14 animals (57.1%) denned communally.…”

“…A noticeable shift from use of aboveground and hollow log rest sites to underground dens by skunks began in early October (Houseknecht 1969). His study showed that by early November underground dens were used almost exclusively.…”

“…Each skunk scraped large amounts of herbaceous ground cover (leaves, grass) into each den which it used, whether or not the den was later used as the winter den. The first date of observed den preparation in the fall of 1968 was 20 September, in the fall of 1969 it was 30 September (Houseknecht 1971). Allen (1939) frequently observed signs of den refurbishing in early October.…”

“…One radio-tagged adult male skunk and five radio-tagged females denned together, but were disturbed by a red fox (Vulpes fulva) on 18 December 1968 and separated to four different dens (Houseknecht and Huempfner 1970) . One female skunk remained in the den following the.…”