Critters of North Idaho: Spotted Skunk

Chances are that if you know anything about skunks, it’s that they stink! That’s about all people know about these little critters. This is unfortunate, because there’s a lot more to skunks than what meets the nose. For starters, you’ve probably noticed something seems off about the skunk pictured at the beginning of this article. That’s because this skunk is a bit different from the ones we’re used to hearing about. It’s a western spotted skunk (Spilogale gracilis). See? You’ve already learned something new about skunks and we’re only in the first paragraph.

If you’re dumbfounded to discover that there’s another type of skunk, then grab your nose’s favorite clothespin, because I’ve got news for you: there’s actually 10 species of skunk. All of them are found in North, Central and South America. They are closely related to stink badgers (despite their name, they’re not true badgers, which are members of the weasel family).

All skunk species are very similar to each other, but their appearance and habitat preferences vary in interesting ways. The striped skunk is the one most people are familiar with. The appropriately named hog-nosed skunk has a special pig-like nose pad for scrounging around in the dirt for food, like their namesake suggests. The hooded skunk is similar to its striped cousin, except it prefers to live in deserts and has a longer tail and a softer pelt.

Now for the spotted skunk. These little guys come in two species: the western spotted skunk and the eastern spotted skunk. Western spotted skunks, as you might have guessed, live throughout the open grasslands, mixed woodlands and farmlands of the western United States, especially in areas with nearby streams. They are smaller than striped skunks, typically measuring 14-18 inches long and weighing between 8 and 26 ounces, with males coming out larger than the females.

Like other members of its family, the spotted skunk can’t see very well. This likely has to do with the fact that they are nocturnal, sleeping in their den by day and foraging for food by night. Sight is not as important to these animals as an acute sense of smell and hearing. Skunks would look like a tempting target for predators if not for their famous weapon: scent glands on the rear end that expel their repulsive spray! But skunks only have a limited amount of spray at any one time, so they need to use it wisely. This is why they use special warning signals to keep would-be predators (and nosy humans) at bay.

The spotted skunk accomplishes this by lifting its back legs and tail up in the air, performing a handstand display. Cute as this little show may be, now is not the time to break out the camera. The skunk will only keep this up for so long before shooting its secret weapon in your direction, sometimes up to 10 feet away! The skunk aims for the eyes, as its spray causes nausea and temporary blindness.

We all know about skunks and their stinky spray, but what you might not know is that these animals are also helpful to humans in a number of ways.

Did you know skunks are one of nature’s pest controllers? Like other skunks, spotted skunks are omnivores. In addition to small reptiles, grain, roots, and fruit, they also keep down the number of pesty insects and rodents.

You may also be surprised to learn that descented skunks are becoming popular companions among pet owners. According to thesprucepets.com, “When born and raised in captivity, skunks can make for friendly, intelligent, and unique pets. They can learn to be comfortable when handled by people, and they can be quite playful and cuddly.”

Skunks can be a handful and require time to take care of. So if you’re thinking about getting a skunk, be sure to do your homework and make sure these white-and-black mammals are a suitable companion for you.*

Otherwise, you may just be content to know that these little guys are doing a fine job keeping control of pests in their natural habitat.

*Visit https://www.thesprucepets.com/skunks-as-pets-1237314 to learn more about pet skunks!

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