| Description
In South Dakota spotted skunks are often called civet cats. This common
name is misleading since these animals are neither civets (members of the
Viverridae family along with mongooses), nor cats. Spotted skunks, and
their relatives the striped skunks, spray an offensive liquid to defend
themselves. The scientific name, Spilogale, is taken from Greek and means
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Distribution
Eastern spotted skunks now are scarce over most of their range, although at one time they were thought to be common in South Dakota. Today the species is uncommon in the south-central counties and rare in most of the rest of the state. A similar species, the western spotted skunk (S. gracilis) may occur in western South Dakota, but its presence in the state has never been verified. |
Natural History
Spotted skunks are good climbers and are faster and more agile than
striped skunks. They are more nocturnal than striped
skunks and are seldom seen in daylight. When hunting they stay close
to cover. These secretive animals are omnivores, but
are more carnivorous than striped skunks. They will eat corn and wild
fruits but they feed primarily on carrion of mammals
such as rabbits and rodents. Because of their agility they are able
to prey on birds nesting and roosting in trees. In the spring
and fall many mice and frogs are eaten. During the summer, insects
such as grasshoppers and crickets will comprise more
than half of their diet. During the fall they must accumulate enough
fat to get them through the winter. Although they don't
hibernate they may sleep for a month or more at a time living off their
accumulated fat, which can be up to 20 percent of their
body weight.
Eastern spotted skunks are solitary except briefly during breeding in
late March or early April. During this time the males
increase their home range to 2 to 4 square miles as they breed with
many females. Once the season is over, they return to
their solitary ways and do not participate in raising the young. By
May and June, 4 to 5 mouse-sized kits are born. They are
pinkish with a fine coat of hair and the alternating black and white
colors are evident. After a month, their eyes and ears
open. By 5 or 6 weeks of age they begin eating solid foods. They are
adult-sized by 10 to 12 weeks and at 14 to 16 weeks,
the young may disperse.
Spotted skunks live 6 years in captivity, but probably only 1 to 2 years
in the wild. They defend themselves by stamping their
feet, and, if the intruder does not leave, will stand on forefeet,
raise their hind legs, and spray a jet of scent up to l1 feet.
Spotted skunks have few predators except the great horned owl.
Management Considerations
Most people's interactions with skunks are the result of an encounter
with their spray. A bath with tomato juice will
eventually take the odor out. The spray is not permanently blinding,
but will cause temporary blindness when directly
sprayed in one's eyes. When sprayed, the best action is to rinse the
eyes thoroughly.
Skunks are susceptible to rabies. A rabid skunk is a dangerous animal.
Its behavior is different from that of a healthy skunk;
it is aggressive, out during the day, and unlikely to spray.
Skunks are furbearing animals that may be hunted and trapped by South
Dakota residents who purchase a license and a
furbearer stamp. Non-residents may hunt but not trap skunks in the
state. Occasionally skunks may move in under a porch, in
a garage or near garbage. These animals can be live-trapped and transported
to another location.
It is not known why spotted skunk populations are decreasing in South
Dakota. It has been suggested that they moved out onto
the plains with the settlers and their farms. These small family farms
provided habitat and food for the spotted skunk and
their numbers increased. As land use patterns have changed from small
farms to larger farms, the population of spotted
skunks has decreased. This might be due to such changes as removal
of fences, fall plowing, less crop rotation to hay, and
the use of herbicides and pesticides with a reduction in available
food. Certainly more research is needed to fully
understand the causes for this population decline.
Glossary
Carnivorous - meat-eating.
Carrion - dead or decaying flesh.
Home range - the area an animal uses to provide its needs of food, water and shelter.
Omnivore - animal that eats both plant and animal matter.
Nocturnal - active at night.
Clark, Tim W. and Mark R. Stromberg, 1987. Mammals in Wyoming. Lawrence:
University of Kansas, Museum of Natural
History.
Jones, Jr., J. Knox, and others, 1983. Mammals of the Northern Great
Plains. Lincoln: University of Nebraska.
Whitaker, Jr., John O., 1980. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North
American Mammals. New York: Alfred Knopf.
Shedd, Warner. The Kid's Wildlife Book: Exploring Animal Worlds through
Indoor/Outdoor Experiences. Charlotte,
Vermont: Williamson Publishers, 1994. A thematic unit could be based
on the section on the weasel family, which includes
skunks.
Written by:
Donna Graham, Rapid City, SD 57701. 1997.
Illustrated by:
Kathy Colavitti, independent artist, Green Bay, WI.
Reviewed by:
Doug Backlund, Resource Biologist, S.D. Dept. of Game, Fish, and Parks,
Pierre, SD.
Publication of the Eastern Spotted Skunk fact sheet was funded
by the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks,
Division of Wildlife, Pierre, SD.