Trap Success of Striped Skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Bixler A. 2004. Trap Success of Striped Skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Journal of the Tennessee Academy of Science. 79(4):91-93
ABSTRACT: Trap success of striped skunks, Mephitis mephitis, is known to vary according to year, month, weather and sex of the animal. In this study, trap success was measured in a population of striped skunks in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Traps were set along the Cades Cove Loop Road throughout 1993 and 1994 and in the spring of 1995 and 1996. Trap success dropped from 2.25% to 0% over this time, probably due to severe winter weather events. Forty-one percent of captures occurred in February and March, and 85% of skunks captured in February were male, suggesting that males were wandering further in search of food and mates in the spring.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Bixler, Andrea
- Units
- GRSM
- Keywords
- APHN, Appalachian Highlands Network, Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, GRSM, GRSM-00583, mammals, Mephitis mephitis, SER, Southeast Region, striped skunk, trapping, wildlife management