Desert Spotted Skunk

About the Desert Spotted Skunk

Spotted skunks are species of skunk belonging to the genus Spilogale. Species of Spilogale are relatively small, black skunks variously patterned with white stripes and blotches. Males in the genus are much larger than the females and have considerably longer tails.

Spotted skunk species occur in most of the United States, except for the northeastern region, the eastern coastal area, and Montana along with parts of neighboring states. They may enter Canada just north of Minnesota and British Columbia. Toward the south, species occur in most of Mexico, mostly avoiding coastal areas along the western Gulf and the Pacific, though a species is found in Baja California. South of Mexico a species extends south into El Salvador, though avoiding the Caribbean coast.

Habitat preferences depend on the species. The Eastern spotted skunk may be found at forest edges and upland prairie grasslands, especially where rock outcrops and shrub clumps are present, sometimes even in abandoned farm buildings. The Desert spotted skunk occurs in deserts and semideserts. The Yucatan spotted skunk lives in tropical scrub forest, and other species have their own preferences... Wikipedia →