Public asked to aid in spotted skunk survey

The last recorded sighting of an eastern spotted skunk in Nebraska was in 2017 in Cherry County. 

This species is considered as a Tier one species in the Nebraska Natural Legacy Project, according to Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, meaning it is one of the most at risk species for extinction. 

A graduate student from the University of Nebraska-Omaha, April Sperfslage, has helped to put together a public based survey to try to find remaining populations of the spotted skunk in Nebraska. 

Sperfslage first learned about the species as an undergraduate at Penn State University.

“I first learned of spotted skunks while I was an undergraduate student studying wildlife biology at Penn State University in 2011, but there was very little discussion over spotted skunks at the time, because there was so much unknown about them,” She said. “Fast forward to last year when I learned that I would be moving to Nebraska to study spotted skunks, I dove into the literature and tried to learn as much as possible. Although they are fascinating little creatures, I never dreamed that I’d be studying skunks! I’m definitely okay with it though!”

Eastern spotted skunk populations have fallen across their historical range. In Nebraska the species population has decreased since the 1940s, according to Nebraska Game and Parks. 

“Due to the decline of eastern spotted skunks across their range and increased interest in determining their current range,” Sperfslage said. “Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) saw a need to determine the status of spotted skunks within the state of Nebraska. NGPC proposed the project and provided the funds for a graduate student to carry out the project.”

Sperfslage plans to continue the survey through May, 2023, and hopes that they will be able to locate spotted skunks in the state. 

“Recent research across the eastern spotted skunk’s range highlights the difficulty in finding spotted skunks on the landscape,” Sperfslage said. “Not only are they rare, but they’re also elusive, likely in part due to being a nocturnal species. Our most recent confirmed detection of a spotted skunk was a roadkill from Cherry County in 2017. There has only been four confirmed detections in Nebraska over the past 20 years. Given that there are currently no known populations of spotted skunks in Nebraska, we are expecting to have a very hard time locating them. That is why we hope to get other cooperators, especially members of the public, involved in helping us locate spotted skunks.” 

Spotted skunks are smaller than striped skunks, they have upside down triangles on their foreheads, two diagonal strips across each hip and a few spots on their backs and hindends.

To report a sighting the public can call 402-471-5708 or email photographs to [email protected].

Photo courtesy U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service