The Striped Skunk’s Spotted Relative
By Adelaide Keller
By Adelaide Keller
The striped skunk isn’t the only type of skunk, there is also its dotted relative - the Eastern spotted skunk (sometimes called the civet cat although the skunk isn’t closely related to civets or cats). This skunk lives in central and south eastern United States, along with north eastern Mexico, but is becoming less and less common. Unlike the striped skunk, these skunks will often climb trees, and have a few more unique habits.
Appearance
The Eastern spotted skunk is black with white spots and broken up white stripes, with a distinctive triangular-shaped spot on its forehead. It is smaller than its relative, the striped skunk, and is about the size of a squirrel, with males being slightly larger than females. The tails of these skunks are black with a white-tip on the end. The average length of the body of a spotted skunk is 9-11 inches - much smaller than the striped skunk.
Habitat & Diet
Spotted skunks prefer to live in areas that have provided cover, such as shrubs, heavily vegetated gullies, and fence rows. They eat a variety of foods which include: insects, small mammals, small reptiles, salamanders, berries, nuts, roots, grain, garbage, and bees/wasps along with their hives, honey, and larvae. Spotted skunks are also scavengers, and will eat carrion.
Predators & Human Threats
Eastern spotted skunks have to face normal threats, such as predators (foxes, owls, coyotes, eagles, dogs, bobcats, and cats), along with ones caused by humans. Spotted skunks are threatened by the loss of their habitat to build human settlements, and their fur being used to make jackets and coat trimmings. Hunting these skunks is not necessary, so because they are endangered it should stop.
Defense
Like the striped skunk, the spotted skunk can spray a stinky chemical from special glands when it feels threatened. (To learn how to deskunk your dog, use this link: https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/de-skunking-your-dog. When it comes to the case of deskunking your clothes, wash them with regular detergent along with a ½ cup of baking soda.) The spotted skunk can also do a “handstand”. It will stand on its front legs with its back legs in the air spread apart, and its tail sticking straight up. While in this position, the spotted skunk can walk towards its enemy. The skunk will also stomp its front feet in a defensive gesture.
Benefits to the Environment
Skunks eat insects and small mammals (including mice), helping keep down those populations, which can be beneficial to farms. They also are scavengers, so they help clean up their habitats by eating dead animals.
Eastern spotted skunks are a species we need to protect; they may be smelly but they are also an important part of the ecosystem. These little skunks are currently endangered, but if we do what we can to protect them it won’t stay that way for long.
Sources Used
Missouri Department of Conservation - Eastern Spotted Skunk: https://nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/eastern-spotted-skunk
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commision - Eastern Spotted Skunk Species Profile: https://www.ncwildlife.org/Portals/0/Learning/documents/Profiles/Mammals/Spotted_Skunk_Wildlife%20Profile_2018_FINAL.pdf
Appearance
The Eastern spotted skunk is black with white spots and broken up white stripes, with a distinctive triangular-shaped spot on its forehead. It is smaller than its relative, the striped skunk, and is about the size of a squirrel, with males being slightly larger than females. The tails of these skunks are black with a white-tip on the end. The average length of the body of a spotted skunk is 9-11 inches - much smaller than the striped skunk.
Habitat & Diet
Spotted skunks prefer to live in areas that have provided cover, such as shrubs, heavily vegetated gullies, and fence rows. They eat a variety of foods which include: insects, small mammals, small reptiles, salamanders, berries, nuts, roots, grain, garbage, and bees/wasps along with their hives, honey, and larvae. Spotted skunks are also scavengers, and will eat carrion.
Predators & Human Threats
Eastern spotted skunks have to face normal threats, such as predators (foxes, owls, coyotes, eagles, dogs, bobcats, and cats), along with ones caused by humans. Spotted skunks are threatened by the loss of their habitat to build human settlements, and their fur being used to make jackets and coat trimmings. Hunting these skunks is not necessary, so because they are endangered it should stop.
Defense
Like the striped skunk, the spotted skunk can spray a stinky chemical from special glands when it feels threatened. (To learn how to deskunk your dog, use this link: https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/de-skunking-your-dog. When it comes to the case of deskunking your clothes, wash them with regular detergent along with a ½ cup of baking soda.) The spotted skunk can also do a “handstand”. It will stand on its front legs with its back legs in the air spread apart, and its tail sticking straight up. While in this position, the spotted skunk can walk towards its enemy. The skunk will also stomp its front feet in a defensive gesture.
Benefits to the Environment
Skunks eat insects and small mammals (including mice), helping keep down those populations, which can be beneficial to farms. They also are scavengers, so they help clean up their habitats by eating dead animals.
Eastern spotted skunks are a species we need to protect; they may be smelly but they are also an important part of the ecosystem. These little skunks are currently endangered, but if we do what we can to protect them it won’t stay that way for long.
Sources Used
Missouri Department of Conservation - Eastern Spotted Skunk: https://nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/eastern-spotted-skunk
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commision - Eastern Spotted Skunk Species Profile: https://www.ncwildlife.org/Portals/0/Learning/documents/Profiles/Mammals/Spotted_Skunk_Wildlife%20Profile_2018_FINAL.pdf