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Western Spotted Skunk

Spilogale gracilis

Mammal · family Mephitidae · order Carnivora

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
Native in
11 states[2]
Typical length
177 in[3]

The Western Spotted Skunk is a mammal in the skunk family, Mephitidae[4]. It is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act, and NatureServe records it as native in 11 states[2].

Conservation status

The US Fish and Wildlife Service data shows no Endangered or Threatened listing for this skunk under the Endangered Species Act[1]. The data was checked on 2026-10-30[1]. NatureServe also gives each state its own conservation rank, and the table on this page shows them[5].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed

Where Western Spotted Skunk lives

NatureServe lists this skunk as native in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming[2]. People have also reported it on GBIF, mostly in California, Oregon, Washington, Texas and New Mexico[6]. Those counts follow where people look and report, not how many animals live there[6].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: native, state rank S4WAIdaho: native, state rank S4IDMontana: native, state rank SUMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: not recordedNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: native, state rank S4ORNevada: native, state rank S4NVWyoming: native, state rank S3WYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: not recordedINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: not recordedNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: native, state rank SNRCAUtah: native, state rank S3UTColorado: native, state rank S4CONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: native, state rank SNRAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: not recordedNCSouth Carolina: not recordedSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: native, state rank S1OKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: not recordedALGeorgia: not recordedGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: not recordedTXFlorida: not recordedFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[5].
Show state ranks (11 states)
StateRankMeaning
ArizonaSNRNot Ranked
CaliforniaSNRNot Ranked
ColoradoS4Apparently Secure
IdahoS4Apparently Secure
MontanaSUUnrankable
NevadaS4Apparently Secure
OklahomaS1Critically Imperiled
OregonS4Apparently Secure
UtahS3Vulnerable
WashingtonS4Apparently Secure
WyomingS3Vulnerable

Habitat

NatureServe records many habitat types for this skunk, including woodland, shrubland and chaparral, grassland, desert, rocky slopes, riparian areas, cropland and suburban areas[7]. It favors brushy canyons and rocky outcrops on hillsides[8]. When inactive or bearing young, it uses a den in rocks, a burrow, a hollow log, a brush pile, or space under a building[8].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[7]

Size and diet

This skunk eats both animals and plants[9]. Insects, rodents and small birds make up most of the diet, and it also takes reptiles, amphibians, fruits and berries[10]. One estimate puts the diet at 40% warm-blooded vertebrates, 30% other plant material and 30% invertebrates[11]. A typical adult weighs about 630 g[12]. Females breed in late September and October, and a litter has 4 to 6 young[13]. The young are sexually mature in 4 to 5 months[13].

Trait Value
Typical length[3] 450 cm (177 in)
Typical adult weight[12] 630 g (22.2 oz)
Food habits[9] Carnivore, Invertivore, Frugivore
Active[14] nocturnal
Migration[15] non-migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[11]

  • 40% warm-blooded vertebrates
  • 30% other plant material
  • 30% invertebrates

When to look for it

This skunk is nocturnal, which means it is active at night[16][14]. NatureServe says it is rarely seen in daylight and stays active through the year[17]. It is recorded as a non-migrant, though populations can differ[15]. GBIF records peak in September, October and November, but that mostly reflects when people look and report[18].

January: 189 recordsJanFebruary: 147 recordsFebMarch: 158 recordsMarApril: 80 recordsAprMay: 111 recordsMayJune: 90 recordsJunJuly: 152 recordsJulAugust: 206 recordsAugSeptember: 252 recordsSepOctober: 210 recordsOctNovember: 215 recordsNovDecember: 174 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[18].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January189
February147
March158
April80
May111
June90
July152
August206
September252
October210
November215
December174

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Western Spotted Skunk as present in 40 park units[19]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

And 16 more park units.

States with the most GBIF observation records: California, Oregon, Washington, Texas, New Mexico[6]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Safety around this animal

These tips are quoted in summary from official agencies. We add no advice of our own. Follow local rules and the agency pages linked below.

From Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

  • In the United States, the animals most often found with rabies are bats, skunks, raccoons and foxes.
  • Rabies spreads mainly through bites and scratches. It is fatal once symptoms start but preventable with prompt care.
  • Contact with bats is the leading cause of human rabies deaths in the United States.
  • After a bite or scratch, wash it right away with soap and water and get medical care urgently. Keep wildlife wild by staying away.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[20]

Questions people ask

Is the Western Spotted Skunk endangered?
It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS data[1]. NatureServe also gives each state its own rank, shown in the table on this page[5].
Where does the Western Spotted Skunk live?
NatureServe lists it as native in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming[2].
What does the Western Spotted Skunk eat?
Mostly insects, rodents and small birds, plus reptiles, amphibians, fruits and berries[10].
How much does a Western Spotted Skunk weigh?
NatureServe records a typical adult weight of about 630 g[12].
When can you see a Western Spotted Skunk?
It is nocturnal and rarely seen in daylight[17][16]. GBIF records peak in September, October and November[18].

Facts and sources

  1. Western Spotted Skunk is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe lists Western Spotted Skunk as native in 11 US states and territories: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming. NatureServe Explorer
  3. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 450 cm (177 in). NatureServe Explorer
  4. Western Spotted Skunk (Spilogale gracilis) is a mammal in the family Mephitidae, order Carnivora. NatureServe Explorer
  5. NatureServe state ranks for Western Spotted Skunk (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  6. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Western Spotted Skunk: California, Oregon, Washington, Texas, New Mexico. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  7. Habitat types NatureServe records for Western Spotted Skunk: Woodland - hardwood, Woodland - conifer, Woodland - mixed, Shrubland/chaparral, Grassland/herbaceous, Desert, Bare rock/talus/scree, Cropland/hedgerow, Suburban/orchard, Riparian. NatureServe Explorer
  8. NatureServe notes on habitat for Western Spotted Skunk. NatureServe Explorer
  9. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Carnivore, Invertivore, Frugivore. NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe notes on food for Western Spotted Skunk. NatureServe Explorer
  11. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 40% warm-blooded vertebrates, 30% other plant material, 30% invertebrates. EltonTraits 1.0
  12. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 630 g (22.2 oz). NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Western Spotted Skunk. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Activity time in EltonTraits 1.0: nocturnal. EltonTraits 1.0
  15. NatureServe migration category for Western Spotted Skunk: non-migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  16. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Nocturnal. NatureServe Explorer
  17. NatureServe notes on phenology for Western Spotted Skunk. NatureServe Explorer
  18. GBIF observation records of Western Spotted Skunk in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  19. NPSpecies park lists recording Western Spotted Skunk as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies
  20. Safety guidance from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.