A Striped Skunk Population in Virginia, 1963-69

Abstract

Striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) were live trapped on a 337-acre area near Richmond, 1.5 miles south of Montpelier, Virginia, from September 1963 until October 1969. Thirty-one skunks were recaptured on 92 occassions. Skunk numbers declined during the study from an average of two per 100 acres in 1963–65 to one per 100 acres in 1966–69. Numbers tended to increase in fall and winter and decrease from spring to summer. The trappable population was predominately adult and few (3) immatures were captured. More males than females were captured. Average time between first and last captures was 2.7±0.7 months. One female was recaptured over a 48 month period. Body weights at first capture were not significantly different (P=0.05) between the sexes. Skunk captures were concentrated in old fields and young second growth forest, and diversity (H) and equitability (E) measures supported this finding.