Western spotted skunk (Spilogale gracilis)

An overhead view of a western spotted skunk walking on a dirt path
Photo by National Park Service - Wikimedia Commons

The western spotted skunk's fur has a unique black and white pattern.

Category: Mammals
Vulnerability to climate change (More details)

Low

If you see this species, please share your observation using the WDFW wildlife reporting form. Providing detailed information such as a photo and exact coordinates will improve the confidence and value of this observation to WDFW species conservation and management.

The population of western spotted skunk in Washington is unknown. There is inadequate information on the current status and distribution of this species in much of its range in western and southeastern Washington. The increased occurrence of opossums and loss and fragmentation of forest habitats due to urban and agricultural development may explain the apparent substantial decline of verified occurrences in the Puget Trough since the 1970s.

Description and Range

Physical description

The western spotted skunk is a small to mid-sized member of the skunk family (Mephitidae) and the smallest of the four North American skunks (1 to 4 pounds). 

Ecology and life history

Western spotted skunks are associated with habitats that have dense ground cover, dense understory vegetation, burrows of other species, rocky outcrops, and woody structures, such as logs, snags, stumps, log and brush piles. These features are important as resting, denning and foraging sites and are found in a variety of land cover types including conifer forests, riparian areas, thickets and brushy habitats, and farmlands.

Inside close up of a western spotted skunk resting inside a hollow log.
Photo by Bryant Olsen - Creative Commons
Western spotted skunk resting inside a hollow log. ​

Western spotted skunks generally occur from sea level to 1,970 feet in elevation in the Olympic Mountains and occasionally up to 2,950 feet in the Cascade Mountains. In southeastern Washington, this species uses rocky outcrops, brushy habitats, and riparian areas, up to 1,970 feet in elevation.

The bulk of the diet is made up of small mammals and insects, but this omnivore will also eat carrion, berries, fruit, birds, bird eggs, reptiles, and amphibians.

This species is nocturnally active.

Great horned owls, bobcats, and domestic dogs and cats are documented predators of western spotted skunks. Human-created causes, such as vehicle collisions, trapping, and pest control, may be the prevalent sources of mortality in many populations.

Geographic range

The range of western spotted skunks includes much of western Washington from the western Cascade Mountain foothills to the coast; they also occur in the Blue Mountains in southeastern Washington. Population size in the Puget Trough is unknown, but the few recent reports suggest a substantial population decline has occurred there. Data from numerous recent carnivore surveys on the Olympic Peninsula indicate that western spotted skunks continue to be widespread and common there. The current status and trend in southeastern Washington are also poorly known.

For maps of world-wide distribution and other species’ information, check out NatureServe Explorerand the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.

Climate vulnerability

Sensitivity to climate change

Low

There is little to no information on the sensitivity of the western spotted skunk to climate change. Overall, it appears that this species exhibits low sensitivity due to its generalist diet and ability to occupy different habitats (e.g., forested areas, riparian areas, brushy habitats, farmlands).

Confidence: Low

Exposure to climate change

  • None known

Conservation
This species is identified as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) under the State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP). SGCN-classified species include both those with and without legal protection status under the Federal or State Endangered Species programs, as well as game species with low populations. The WDFW SWAP is part of a nationwide effort by all 50 states and five U.S. territories to develop conservation action plans for fish, wildlife and their natural habitats—identifying opportunities for species' recovery before they are imperiled and more limited.

Conservation Threats and Actions Needed

  • Resource information collection needs
    • Threat: Information on abundance, distribution, movements, and reproduction is lacking for the central and southern Cascade Mountains, and northeastern Washington.
    • Action Needed: Initiate or extend current monitoring activities into the central Cascades (especially north and south of the Interstate 90 corridor) and the southern Cascades. Surveys in northeastern Washington would also be valuable.

See the Climate vulnerability section above for information about the threats posed by climate change to this species.

Living with wildlife

Skunks are mild-tempered, mostly nocturnal, and will defend themselves only when cornered or attacked. Even when other animals or people are in close proximity, skunks will ignore the intruders unless they are disturbed.

Skunks are beneficial to farmers, gardeners, and landowners because they feed on large numbers of agricultural and garden pests. While young skunks are cute and kitten-like, they are wild animals and it is illegal to keep them as pets.

Learn more about skunks and how to avoid conflicts.

Resources

References

Carey, A. B., and J. E. Kershner. 1996. Spilogale gracilis in upland forests of western Washington and Oregon. Northwestern Naturalist 77:29–34.

Rosatte, R. and S. Lariviere. 2003. Skunks. Pages 692-707 in G. A. Feldhamer, B. C. Thompson, and J. A. Chapman, editors. Wild mammals of North America: biology, management and conservation, 2nd edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland.

Verts, B. J., L. N. Carraway, and A. Kinlaw. 2001. Spilogale gracilis. Mammalian Species 674: 1-10.

WDFW publications

Other resources