One of the 2 skunks on WAnimals
Mammals · Carnivora · Mephitidae
Eastern Spotted Skunk
Spilogale putorius
The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary
Before spraying, it gives a striking acrobatic warning: it stands on its front paws in an inverted V to intimidate the predator.
Weight
200 g – 1.8 kg
Size
11.5 cm – 34.5 cm
Lifespan
5 years
Diet
Omnivore
Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.
Activity
Nocturnal
Active mainly at night.
Social structure
Solitary
Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.
Sighting difficulty
Easy
Fun facts
- Before spraying, it stands on its front paws in an inverted V as a warning.
- Its gestation can stretch to 234 days through delayed implantation.
- It is one of the smallest skunks in North America.
Life cycle & biology
- Skeleton type
- Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
- Habitat & environment
- Woodland, tall-grass prairie and rocky ground of the eastern United States, south-eastern Canada and north-eastern Mexico
- Birth weight
- 9 - 9.5 grams
- Size at birth
- Blind and helpless at birth, already with the characteristic black and white markings
- Sexual maturity
- 5 months
- Gestation / incubation
- 50-65 days (possible delayed implantation can stretch the process to 234 days in all)
- Litter / clutch size
- 2 to 9 young per litter (most commonly 4-5)
- Lifespan in captivity
- Documented record of up to 10-10.5 years in captivity
Sources consulted: AnAge; Animal Diversity Web; Animalia.bio; Wikipedia; Texas Tech Mammals of Texas; Florida Wildlife Trappers
Where to find it
See its range on the interactive mapBest time: All year round in the eastern United States, at night; if it feels threatened it does a handstand on its front legs before spraying.
Where to watch it
Parks and dive sites where this species has been documented.
Related species
Other species in the catalogue with the most in common with Eastern Spotted Skunk — same habitat, park, country, tags or family.
Striped Skunk
Mephitis mephitis
Virginia Opossum
Didelphis virginiana
Eastern Mole
Scalopus aquaticus
Big Brown Bat
Eptesicus fuscus
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis
Eastern Chipmunk
Tamias striatus
Keep exploring
Based on what we already know about eastern spotted skunk.
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