Familiarity breeds contempt: effects of striped skunk color, shape, and abundance on wild carnivore behavior

Multicomponent aposematic warning signals are generally accepted to function as a deterrent to predatory attacks; however, the relative importance of specific visual cues used by wild predators to recognize defended animals is poorly understood. Here, I use naturally and reciprocally colored taxidermy models of striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) and gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) to explore the impact of aposematic coloration and body shape on the behavior of wild mammalian predators. Models were baited, and all visiting species were recorded with remote video cameras at 10 wilderness sites in California, USA. I found that mammalian predators not only approached black-and-white models more hesitantly than gray-colored models but also reacted negatively to skunk-shaped models, suggesting that predators may generalize noxious qualities to both skunk coloration and skunk shape. This study also found an effect of skunk abundance on animal behavior with predators less likely to visit black-and-white models and more hesitant in their approach to skunk-shaped models at sites with greater skunk abundance. These findings suggest that prior experience and the frequency with which aposematic prey are encountered in a landscape are important predictors of predator avoidance of defended prey.