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1 March 2010 Activity Patterns of Two Sympatric Species of Skunks (Mephitis mephitis and Spilogale gracilis) in Texas
Sean A. Neiswenter, Robert C. Dowler, John H. Young
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Abstract

We used radiotelemetry to document and compare activity and movement between the western spotted skunk Spilogale gracilis, and the striped skunk Mephitis mephitis in Texas. Mephitis mephitis had a higher rate of movement than S. gracilis. Both species had highest rates of movement during autumn, coinciding with dispersal of young. With the exception of summer, M. mephitis was significantly more active than S. gracilis and generally took shorter breaks during nightly activity. We documented statistical differences in activity between species for all seasons. Highest activity of one species occurred during lowest activity of the other species, which may indicate avoidance of the larger more-dominant species, M. mephitis, by S. gracilis.

Sean A. Neiswenter, Robert C. Dowler, and John H. Young "Activity Patterns of Two Sympatric Species of Skunks (Mephitis mephitis and Spilogale gracilis) in Texas," The Southwestern Naturalist 55(1), 16-21, (1 March 2010). https://doi.org/10.1894/PS-51.1
Received: 15 August 2007; Accepted: 1 May 2009; Published: 1 March 2010
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