Eastern Spotted Skunk

EASTERN SPOTTED SKUNK
Spilogale putorius
(Linnaeus, 1758)

spI-lO-gAle pU-tor-E-es

Kansas State Threatened Species

Description:

The Eastern Spotted Skunk is smaller than a domestic cat with fine, dense fur and an elongated, weasel-like body. The black pelage is marked with a white triangular nose patch and 4 to 6 broken white body stripes in a seemingly infinitely variable pattern The stripes are broken into a pattern of spots. The dental formula is incisors 3/3, canine 1/1, premolars 3/3, molars 1/2. Adults may attain the following dimensions: total length 459-539 mm; length of tail 190-228 mm; length of hind foot 44-51 mm; length of ear 25-30 mm. Males weigh about 600g, females about 425g.

Although both the eastern spotted skunk and the striped skunk have striking black and white warning coloration, the eastern spotted skunk can be readily distinguished by its smaller size, more slender body, shorter legs, smaller claws on the front feet, shorter and softer black body fur, the white triangular patch on its forehead, its 4 to 6 broken white stripes which extend from the neck along the back and sides, and its solid black tail (the tails of some individuals are bordered with white-tipped hairs). The western spotted skunk closely resembles the eastern spotted skunk, differing primarily in details of reproduction and number of chromosomes. The nearest to Kansas that the western spotted skunk has been found is the area around Black Mesa at the western end of the Oklahoma Panhandle.

Distribution:
Historical records suggest that the eastern spotted skunk occurred primarily to the east and south of Kansas and barely reached the easternmost counties when the state was first settled. At about the beginning of the Twentieth Century, possibly because of agricultural development, the eastern spotted skunk began expanding its distribution northward and westward. It eventually spread across Kansas and much of the northern Great Plains, and in many areas it became as abundant as the ubiquitous striped skunk. However, in just a few decades the species began to decrease in both distribution and abundance. It disappeared totally from many areas, and its distribution in Kansas and several other states including Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma) became highly localized. In 1982, the Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks listed the species as threatened. Since that time, critical habitat for the species has been designated in Trego, Ellis, Barton, Finney, Gray, Ford, Sedgwick, Butler, Chautauqua, Anderson, Woodson, Wilson, Montgomery, and Labette counties.
The genus Spilogale appeared in the fossil record in the late Pliocene in Kansas and Texas. The species Spilogale putorius is represented in several Pleistocene deposits.

(, Museum Voucher) (, Observation) (, Literature Record)
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Occurrence Summary:
352 Total Records
349 Museum Vouchers
3 Other Observations

Some county occurrences indicated below may be too imprecise to map above.
County Breakdown: County Name (# occurrences):
Anderson (1); Barton (1); Brown (1); Butler (3); Cherokee (1); Coffey (1); Cowley (2); Dickinson (1); Douglas (150); Ellis (5); Finney (4); Ford (2); Gray (5); Greenwood (33); Harper (2); Harvey (1); Jackson (1); Kiowa (1); Lane (1); Leavenworth (3); Linn (1); Lyon (1); Meade (6); Miami (1); Montgomery (1); Nemaha (9); Phillips (4); Pottawatomie (9); Pratt (3); Rawlins (4); Reno (1); Riley (4); Rush (1); Thomas (1); Trego (9); Unknown (68); Wabaunsee (1); Wallace (2); Wilson (2); Woodson (1); Wyandotte (1);

Natural History:

Eastern spotted skunks are even more nocturnal than striped skunks. Preferred habitats include brushy, rocky, and wooded areas. They seem to avoid open areas that provide little cover, dense forest, and wetland areas. While foraging, they tend to remain near shelter, such as trees, bushes, rocks, buildings, or fence rows. In natural landscapes, they den in cavities or openings in rock ledges, hollow logs, or stumps. In agricultural landscapes, they frequently den in haystacks, woodpiles, outbuildings, and grain storage buildings. The eastern spotted skunk is much more agile than the striped skunk. It readily climbs trees or climbs to the loft of barns. They often do a handstand when threatened, and while in this position they direct their toxic spray toward the intruder. Foot stamping is another characteristic behavior when an intruder approaches. The species does not hibernate, but it becomes inactive within its dens during especially cold winter weather. Summer dens may be constructed almost anywhere that is sheltered from light, wind and rain, such as underground burrows, hollow logs, abandoned buildings or rock and brush piles. Leaves and grass are sometimes gathered for nesting material. Within its home range an eastern spotted skunk usually has more than one den site. They use of a particular den seems to be based on the local abundance of food. The same den is frequently used by more than one skunk during the year. Winter dens are usually built or modified from existing burrows so that they extend below frost line. Skunks vary their daily movements depending upon the weather and their reproductive condition. During cold weather they reduce their activity above ground and may range over an area of only 0.4 square kilometers.

The eastern spotted skunk breeds in March or April. Females are spontaneous ovulators, thus increasing the likelihood of fertilization. After the eggs are fertilized, they may not implant in the uterus for 14 to 16 days. The kittens are born in May or June following a 50 to 65 day gestation period. Litters range from 2 to 9 (usually 5) kittens. Kittens are born with their eyes and ears closed and have sparse fur with black and white markings already apparent. Their claws are well-developed, and they begin to crawl around the nest by the fourth day after birth. Their eyes and ears open about 1 month after birth, and their teeth begin to erupt after 5 weeks. Shortly after this time the kittens begin to explore near the den with the female. They start to eat solid food at about 6 weeks, and by 8 weeks they are usually weaned. They disperse from their natal burrow 14 to 16 weeks after they are born, and reach adult size by mid-October of their first year. The kittens are capable of breeding the spring after their birth when they are 9 tor 10 months old.During the breeding season males may range over five to 10 square kilometers while searching for mates. in good habitat, populations may reach densities of five per square kilometer. The aggressive nature of adult males during rut indicates they may compete with each other for mates.

It has been reported that captive animals live as long as 6 years in captivity, but probably few live longer than 2 to 3 years in the wild.

Occurrence Activity:

Remarks:
Like the striped skunk, the eastern spotted skunk stores musk in a pair of anal glands for use in defense. They usually give a series of warnings before they spray: they lift their tail and fan out their fur; they stamp their front feet; and they do a handstand on their forelegs with the tail bending forward over their back, and in this position walk toward the source of the threat. They may expel their musk in this position, or they may return to all four feet, assuming a U-shaped stance with back arched, and contracting the muscles surrounding the scent glands. Eastern spotted skunk musk is reported to be stronger and more pungent than striped skunk musk.

The subspecific name that applies to populations of the eastern spotted skunk on the Great Plains is Spilogale putorius interrupta.

Bibliography:

1921	Johnson, C. E. The "hand-stand" habit of the spotted-skunk. J. Mamm., 2:87-89. ():
1973	Choate, J. R., E. D. Fleharty, and R. J. Little Status of the spotted skunk, Spilogale putorius, in Kansas. Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 76:226-233. ():
1995	Kinlaw, A Spilogale putorius Mammalian Species 511():1-7
2008	Nilz, S. K. Unpublished thesis, Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas. 1-48pp.

Account Last Updated:
12/15/2019 9:48:23 AM

Kansas Mammal Atlas