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Foods and Foraging of Prairie Striped Skunks
During the Avian Nesting Season

Raymond J. Greenwood, Alan B. Sargeant, James L. Piehl,
Deborah A. Buhl, and Bruce A. Hanson

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Abstract: Food habits of prairie skunks are not well understood, yet such knowledge might provide insight into factors influencing nest depredation. We studied food habits of radiocollared adult striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) during 1976-78 in North Dakota, where skunks are regarded as important predators of ground-nesting birds. Plant foods, primarily grain and sunflower seeds, occurred in a larger percentage of scats in spring (15 Apr–31 May) than summer (1 Jun–15 July, P=0.04), but overall, plant foods were a minor part of skunk diets. Animal foods, primarily birds (including eggs), small rodents, and insects occurred annually in a large percentage of scats of all skunks. These foods were acquired nearly exclusively in grasslands. Percentage of scats containing animal foods was similar, irrespective of sex, season, or year (P>0.45). In spring, vertebrates occurred in a smaller percentage of scats of females than males (P<0.01). Among females, vertebrates also occurred in a smaller percentage of scats in spring than summer (P<0.01). Among all skunks, birds occurred in a smaller percentage of scats in spring than in summer (P<0.01). Both birds (P<0.02) and mammals (P<0.01) occurred in a smaller proportion of scats when wetland conditions were poor. Percentage of scats containing insects, the primary invertebrate food of skunks, did not vary by sex, season, or year (P>0.15). Insects were mostly adult and larval Coleoptera, larval Lepidoptera, and adult and nymph Orthoptera.

Key words: avian nesting season, diet, food habits, Mephitis mephitis, nest depredation, North Dakota, prairie pothole region, striped skunk

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This resource is based on the following source (Northern Prairie Publication 1070):

Greenwood, Raymond J., Alan B. Sargeant, James L. Piehl, Deborah A. Buhl, and 
     Bruce A. Hanson.  1999.  Foods and Foraging of Prairie Striped Skunks 
     During the Avian Nesting Season.  Wildlife Society Bulletin 27(3):823-832.

This resource should be cited as:

Greenwood, Raymond J., Alan B. Sargeant, James L. Piehl, Deborah A. Buhl, and 
     Bruce A. Hanson.  1999.  Foods and Foraging of Prairie Striped Skunks 
     During the Avian Nesting Season.  Wildlife Society Bulletin 27(3):823-832. 
     Jamestown, ND: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Online.  
     http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/mammals/stskunk/index.htm 
     (Version 16MAR2000).

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Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Study Areas
• Methods
• Results
• Discussion
• Management Implications
• Acknowledgments
• Literature Cited

Tables and Figures

• Table 1 – Percentage occurrence by year, season, and overall food remains identified to lowest taxon in scats.
• Table 2 – Percentage occurrence of remains of vertebrate foods in scats.
• Table 3 – Number of sites, frequency, and mean number and range of insects foraged by striped skunks.

• Figure 1 – Number of occurrences and proportions of specific food items or taxa in 1,248 scats.

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Authors' address: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Biological Resources Division, United States Geological Survey, Jamestown, ND 58401, USA.

Present address for James L. Piehl: United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Route 1, Fergus Falls, MN 56537, USA.

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