Striped Skunks Mating
A very high percentage (96%) of female Striped Skunks become pregnant each breeding season. Both males and females are covering a lot of ground this time of year (up to 2 ½ miles per night), visiting each other’s dens in search of a mate. While male skunks are promiscuous, mating with as many females in their territory as they can, females mate once and fight off any further attempts from other males.
Unlike primates, who experience “spontaneous ovulation” and ovulate midway through their menstrual cycle, female Striped Skunks, along with cats, ferrets, and rabbits, are what is known as “induced ovulators” – the act of copulation stimulates ovulation, which doesn’t occur until copulation has taken place.
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I have never heard of induced ovulation before. That is fascinating.
March 2, 2020 at 8:18 am
Interesting info about the Skunks. I hope those promiscuous males are very careful crossing streets, in search of yet another female.
March 2, 2020 at 8:40 am
Skunk Sex…
On Mon, Mar 2, 2020 at 8:14 AM Naturally Curious with Mary Holland wrote:
> Mary Holland posted: “A very high percentage (96%) of female Striped > Skunks become pregnant each breeding season. Both males and females are > covering a lot of ground this time of year (up to 2 ½ miles per night), > visiting each other’s dens in search of a mate. While male sku” >
March 2, 2020 at 9:21 am