The concern of Rabies in striped skunks is very real. Despite their name, spotted skunks are not actually speckled. Spotted skunks are mostly known for the pungent and foul-smelling odor they produce to repel predators. Biome. Identifying Features. Gracilis means slender. Skunks are members of the weasel family of animals, with short, stocky legs and large, clawed feet for digging. In southern Oregon we have another, less commonly seen skunk;Spilogale putorius, the spotted skunk, civet, or polecat. In Oregon, this skunk occurs throughout most of the state but it is believed not to occur in most of the Willamette Valley.

Description: Spotted skunks are largely nocturnal, medium-sized omnivores in the weasel family (Mustelidae). Instead, their black fur displays swirls of white stripes. They feed on large numbers of other pests, so can be a benefit to farmers or landowners. Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub. In contrast, Western spotted skunks that live in areas such as eastern Oregon or northern Mexico can often be found near cliffs and canyons. The spotted skunk is also called a civet cat, but this name is misleading and incorrect because this mammal is not closely related to the true civets of the Old World or to cats.

Skunk adoption is a wonderful way to provide a Skunk a second chance and caring environment. Rocky areas . See page 5 of the Oregon Furbearer Trapping and Hunting Regulations for special river otter regulations.

Shrubland.

The spotted skunk is about half the size of a striped skunk with a combination of vertical stripes and spots as well as a bushy white-tipped tail. Temperate grasslands. The spotted skunk occurs throughout west and southeast Washington. We are all familiar with the striped skunk. Population status: Recent genetic work by Dr. Robert Dowler and his students at Angelo State University (Shaffer et al. Spilogale is the Greek word for spotted polecat: putorius is Latin for stench. Most pets arrive at shelters because the owner had to move, could no longer afford the pet, had a death in the family, or simply gave up the responsibly of being a care taker for a Skunk.

Skunks are about the size of house cats, and have distinctive black and white fur patterns.

After breeding in the late winter or early spring months, females give birth to litters of four to seven young called kits in early May.

Entire state except for all the areas closed to beaver trapping. Geography. Its fur is a black or grayish black, with white stripes on its shoulders and sides, and white spots on its forehead, cheeks, and rump.

The Eastern spotted skunk also has black and white bands around its body. Spotted skunks mate in late winter, and the young are born from April to July; possibly a second litter is produced in late summer. Bambi’s friend Flower and Pepe Le Pew were striped skunks. Biology. They keep a diet of field animals, insects, wild plants, and farm crops.

Mexico, United States. Spotted Skunks are most often encountered in the Eastern U.S. where they live in woodlands and prairies. In southern Oregon we have another, less commonly seen skunk;Spilogale putorius, the spotted skunk, civet, or polecat. Spotted Skunks. Size: Total length: 14–24 inches; tail length: 4½–11 inches; weight: ¾–2¾ pounds (males are heavier than females).