The Ecology and Natural History of Striped Skunks in the Cades Cove campground, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee
Goldsmith DM. 1981. The Ecology and Natural History of Striped Skunks in the Cades Cove campground, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee. University of Tennessee
The purpose of the study was to collect data on skunk history and ecology in campground at Cades Cove in 1980. Over 31 skunks were mark-captured. 33 natural dens were found -- some were summer dens, on steep slopes above ground, and winter dens, below ground on gentle slopes. Culverts were often used in the summer. In early spring there were few skunks in the campground, but as human activity and refuse increased, so did the skunk population. Activity peaked at 2300 hours and at 0130 hours. By October the number of skunks had decreased. Variance in activity could be traced to cloud cover, temperature, precipitation, date, and time.
- Type
- Academic
- Authors
- Goldsmith, Deborah
- Date of Issue
- 1981
- Publisher
- University of Tennessee
- Units
- GRSM
- Keywords
- Activity Level, Animal Studies, APHN, Appalachian Highlands Network, Cades Cove, Ecology, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, GRSM, Mammals, Mephitis mephitis, SER, Southeast Region, Striped Skunk, Thesis