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Home/Species/ Alleghanian Spotted Skunk

Spilogale putorius

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Alleghanian Spotted Skunk

G4Apparently Secure Found in 2 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Medium - lowThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.1293683
Element CodeAMAJF05050
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassMammalia
OrderCarnivora
FamilyMephitidae
GenusSpilogale
Concept Reference
McDonough, M. M., A. W. Ferguson, R. C. Dowler, M. E. Gompper, and J. E. Maldonado. 2022 [2021]. Phylogenomic systematics of the spotted skunks (Carnivora, Mephitidae, Spilogale): additional species diversity and Pleistocene climate change as a major driver of diversification. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 167:107266.
Taxonomic Comments
Following McDonough et al. (2022), the eastern spotted skunk S. putorius is split into two distinct species, the plains spotted skunk, S. interrupta and the Alleghanian spotted skunk, S. putorius, encompassing the range of two currently recognized subspecies S. p. putorius and S. p. ambarvalis.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-10-09
Change Date2024-10-09
Edition Date2024-10-09
Edition AuthorsGundy, R. L. (2024)
Threat ImpactMedium - low
Range Extent20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 - 300
Rank Reasons
This species is widespread in the eastern United States. There were precipitous historical declines starting in the 1940s due to habitat loss and overhunting. The population continues to be threatened by habitat loss due to agriculture and development, road mortality, persecution by humans, hunting, pesticide and herbicide use, mortality from domestic dogs, and parasites.
Range Extent Comments
This species is found in the eastern United States east of the Mississippi River (Perry et al. 2021). The range extends from the Florida peninsula northward to at least Pennsylvania, the eastern limit bounded by the Piedmont region (Perry et al. 2021). Using Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF 2024) records from 2000-2024, range extent is estimated to be 935,017 km².
Occurrences Comments
Applying a 10 km separation distance to GBIF (2024) records from 2000-2024, there are 136 occurrences estimated.
Threat Impact Comments
Habitat destruction in the form of agriculture and urban/suburban development are considered major causes of this species' historical declines (Gompper and Hackett 2005, Eastern Spotted Skunk Cooperative Study Group 2020, Sasse 2021). Habitat succession also reduces available suitable habitat (Eastern Spotted Skunk Cooperative Study Group 2020). Prescribed fires returning natural conditions (low herbaceous groundcover instead of dense woody groundcover) to pine forests in the Southeast may be reducing habitat suitability for this species in those areas (Eastern Spotted Skunk Cooperative Study Group 2020). Vehicle strikes along roadways are a significant source of mortality (Eastern Spotted Skunk Cooperative Study Group 2020). Hunting remains a threat where hunting for this species is permitted in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia (Eastern Spotted Skunk Cooperative Study Group 2020). Persecution by humans, mortality from domestic dogs, and parasites remain threats of unknown severity (Eastern Spotted Skunk Cooperative Study Group 2020, Perry et al. 2021, Sasse 2021). Pesticides and herbicides have indirectly negatively impacted this species by reducing food items (Sasse 2021).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Prefers forested areas or habitats with significant cover (Dragoo and Honeycutt, in Wilson and Ruff 1999). In the Appalachian Mountains, it is found in young, dense forest stands (< 50 years old) and mature forest stands with extensive shrub cover (Eastern Spotted Skunk Cooperative Study Group 2020). In Florida, eastern spotted skunks occupy dense xeric shrub habitats dominated by saw palmetto (Serenoa repens), wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera), and other shrubs (Eastern Spotted Skunk Cooperative Study Group 2020). When inactive or bearing young, occupies dens in burrows abandoned by other mammals, under brushpiles, in hollow logs or trees, in rock crevices, under buildings, or in similar protected sites. Prescribed fire management in longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) and shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata) forests of the Southeast may be reducing habitat suitability for skunks (Eastern Spotted Skunk Cooperative Study Group 2020).

Ecology

Average home range is around 1/4 sq mi (Schwartz and Schwartz 1981). Not as abundant as striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) in most of range. In dense coastal shrub habitat of Florida, population density of eastern spotted skunks was estimated at 40 individuals/km² (Kinlaw et al. 1995).

Reproduction

Mates in winter (or early spring?). Gestation lasts 50-65 days. Litter size is 2-9 (average 5); 1 litter per year. Young are born in April-July (mainly May-June), weaned in about 8 weeks, sexually mature in 9-10 months (Mead 1968).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - HardwoodWoodland - HardwoodWoodland - MixedShrubland/chaparralGrassland/herbaceousCropland/hedgerowSuburban/orchard
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesNNR
ProvinceRankNative
MississippiS1Yes
North CarolinaS3Yes
LouisianaS1Yes
South CarolinaS2Yes
PennsylvaniaS2Yes
FloridaS3Yes
KentuckyS2Yes
TennesseeS3Yes
TexasS2Yes
AlabamaS2Yes
IndianaSXYes
GeorgiaS2Yes
MarylandS1Yes
VirginiaS3Yes
West VirginiaS2Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
1 - Residential & commercial developmentRestricted (11-30%)Moderate - slightHigh (continuing)
1.1 - Housing & urban areasRestricted (11-30%)Moderate - slightHigh (continuing)
1.2 - Commercial & industrial areasRestricted (11-30%)Moderate - slightHigh (continuing)
2 - Agriculture & aquacultureLarge - restrictedModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
2.1 - Annual & perennial non-timber cropsLarge - restrictedModerate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
5 - Biological resource useLarge (31-70%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
5.1 - Hunting & collecting terrestrial animalsLarge (31-70%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
5.1.1 - Intentional use (species being assessed is the target)Large (31-70%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
5.1.3 - Persecution/controlLarge (31-70%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesPervasive (71-100%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseasesPervasive (71-100%)UnknownHigh (continuing)
9 - PollutionLarge - restrictedModerate - slightHigh (continuing)
9.3 - Agricultural & forestry effluentsLarge - restrictedModerate - slightHigh (continuing)
9.3.3 - Herbicides and pesticidesLarge - restrictedModerate - slightHigh (continuing)

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Roadless Areas (2)
North Carolina (2)
AreaForestAcres
Chunky Gal (addition)Nantahala National Forest3,336
Jarrett CreekPisgah National Forest7,485
References (23)
  1. American Society of Mammalogists (ASM). 2025. Mammal Diversity Database (Version 1.13) [Data set]. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10595931. Online. Available: https://www.mammaldiversity.org/
  2. Caire, W., J. D. Tyler, B. P. Glass, and M. A. Mares. 1989. Mammals of Oklahoma. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman. Oklahoma. 567 pp.
  3. Crabb, W. D. 1948. The ecology and management of the prairie spotted skunk in Iowa. Ecological Monographs 18:201-232.
  4. Davis, W. B. 1978. The mammals of Texas. Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept., Bull. No. 41. 294 pp.
  5. Eastern Spotted Skunk Cooperative Study Group. 2020. Eastern Spotted Skunk Conservation Plan. easternspottedskunk.weebly.com. Accessed [9 October 2024].
  6. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2024. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2024).
  7. Gompper, M., and H. M. Hackett. 2005. The long-term, range-wide decline of a once common carnivore: the eastern spotted skunk (<i>Spilogale putorius</i>). Animal Conservation 8(2): 195-201. doi:10.1017/S1367943005001964
  8. Hall, E. R. 1981a. The Mammals of North America, second edition. Vols. I &amp; II. John Wiley &amp; Sons, New York, New York. 1181 pp.
  9. Hamilton, W. J., Jr., and J. O. Whitaker, Jr. 1979. Mammals of the eastern United States. Cornell Univ. Press, Ithaca, New York. 346 pp.
  10. Howard, W. E., and R. E. Marsh. 1982. Spotted and hog-nosed skunks. Pages 664-673 in J. A. Chapman and G. A. Feldhamer, editors. Wild mammals of North America: biology, management, and economics. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. xiii + 1147 pp.
  11. Howell, A. H. 1906. Revision of the skunks of the genus <i>Spilogale</i>. North American Fauna 26:1-55.
  12. Jones, J. K., Jr., R. S. Hoffman, D. W. Rice, C. Jones, R. J. Baker, and M. D. Engstrom. 1992a. Revised checklist of North American mammals north of Mexico, 1991. Occasional Papers, The Museum, Texas Tech University, 146:1-23.
  13. Kinlaw, A. 1995. <i>Spilogale putorius</i>. Mammalian Species 511:1-7.
  14. Lowery, G. H., Jr. 1974. The mammals of Louisiana and its adjacent waters. Louisiana State University Press, Baton Rouge. 565 pp.
  15. McDonough, M. M., A. W. Ferguson, R. C. Dowler, M. E. Gompper, and J. E. Maldonado. 2022 [2021]. Phylogenomic systematics of the spotted skunks (Carnivora, Mephitidae, <i>Spilogale</i>): additional species diversity and Pleistocene climate change as a major driver of diversification. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 167:107266.
  16. Mead, R. A. 1968. Reproduction in western forms of the spotted skunk (genus <i>Spilogale</i>). Journal of Mammalogy 49: 373-390.
  17. Perry, R. W., D. B. Sasse, J. C. Perkins, and N. W. Sharp. 2021. Distribution and relative abundance of eastern spotted skunk records across their range. Southeastern Naturalist 20(11): 13-23.
  18. Reed, A. W., and M. L. Kennedy. 2000. Conservation status of the eastern spotted skunk <i>Spilogale putorius</i> in the Appalachian Mountains of Tennessee. American Midland Naturalist 144: 133-138.
  19. Sasse, D. B. 2021. Reexamination of the purported rapid population decline of Plains spotted skunks in the mid-twentieth century. Southeastern Naturalist 20(11): 83–94.
  20. Schwartz, C. W., and E. R. Schwartz. 1981. The wild mammals of Missouri. University of Missouri Press, Columbia. 356 pp.
  21. Van Gelder, R. G. 1959. A taxonomic revision of the spotted skunks (genus <i>Spilogale</i>). Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 117:229-392.
  22. Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder (editors). 1993. Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. Second edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. xviii + 1206 pp. Available online at: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/msw/.
  23. Wilson, D. E., and S. Ruff. 1999. The Smithsonian book of North American mammals. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C. 750 pp.