POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS, SURVIVAL RATES, AND CAUSES OF MORTALITY OF STRIPED SKUNKS (MEPHITIS MEPHITIS) ON THE SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS, TEXAS

Leslie A. Hansen; Nancy E. Mathews; Bruce A. Vander Lee; R. Scott Lutz

doi:10.1894/0038-4909(2004)049<0054:PCSRAC>2.0.CO;2

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1 March 2004 POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS, SURVIVAL RATES, AND CAUSES OF MORTALITY OF STRIPED SKUNKS (MEPHITIS MEPHITIS) ON THE SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS, TEXAS

Leslie A. Hansen, Nancy E. Mathews, Bruce A. Vander Lee, R. Scott Lutz

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The Southwestern Naturalist, 49(1):54-60 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1894/0038-4909(2004)049<0054:PCSRAC>2.0.CO;2

Abstract

We examined morphological characteristics, abundance, survival rates, and causes of mortality for striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in the Southern High Plains region of Texas during 1994 and 1995. We captured 69 male skunks 133 times and 35 female skunks 57 times on 4 12.8-km² plots. Estimates of abundance on plots ranged from 0.10 to 0.71 skunks/km². Annual survival rates were 0.40 in 1994 and 0.48 in 1995. Survival curves did not differ significantly between years. From the 26 recovered carcasses, 50% of skunks died from human-caused trauma. Shooting of skunks around occupied houses was the largest single cause of mortality.

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Leslie A. Hansen, Nancy E. Mathews, Bruce A. Vander Lee, and R. Scott Lutz "POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS, SURVIVAL RATES, AND CAUSES OF MORTALITY OF STRIPED SKUNKS (MEPHITIS MEPHITIS) ON THE SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS, TEXAS," The Southwestern Naturalist 49(1), 54-60, (1 March 2004). https://doi.org/10.1894/0038-4909(2004)049<0054:PCSRAC>2.0.CO;2

Accepted: 27 January 2003; Published: 1 March 2004

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