Den Site Selection by the Florida Spotted Skunk

Abstract

The eastern spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius) is a species of conservation concern in much of its range and has experienced a decline since the early to mid‐1990s. But the subspecies that inhabits peninsular Florida, the Florida spotted skunk (S. p. ambarvalis), might still be abundant and is an important nest predator of the endangered Florida grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum floridanus). To gain insight on this little‐studied subspecies and inform potential management strategies, we conducted a resource selection study on the Florida spotted skunk. We examined 5 hypotheses for den site selection related to den type, vegetation, and landscape characteristics in a dry prairie ecosystem in central Florida. We tracked 36 individual skunks to 757 den sites. Using discrete choice analysis, we found that male and nonbreeding female skunks at our study site were 5 times more likely to select a mammal burrow over a gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) burrow, that selection of a den site increased 34% for each 1‐burrow increase in the number of nearby burrows, and that selection of a den site increased 3% for every 10‐cm increase in a visual obstruction index. Similarly, breeding female skunks were more likely to select mammal burrows and shallow depressions over gopher tortoise burrows by 16‐fold and 13‐fold, respectively, and selection of a den site increased by 75% for every 1‐burrow increase in the number of nearby burrows. In contrast to previous studies that occurred in forested, mountainous environments elsewhere in the species' range, our findings suggest that den characteristics might be more important than landscape or vegetation characteristics to Florida spotted skunk den site selection in dry prairie. Additionally, the frequency of prescribed fires on the landscape did not appear to affect Florida spotted skunk den site selection. Thus, Florida spotted skunks in this ecosystem might be landscape generalists, thereby potentially limiting the ability of managers to control nest predation by this subspecies through habitat management. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.

Interpreting Smoke Signals: Fire Ecology and Land Management for Four Federally Listed Birds

“…Second, little to no research has been conducted to understand how mechanical removal of woody vegetation, exotic plant treatments, or alterations to hydrology impact sparrow demography. Third, Florida grasshopper sparrow nest predation rates are very high (Hewett Ragheb et al, 2019b), but only a few studies have addressed how current habitat management practices influence nest predators (Tucker et al, 2010;Harris et al, 2019). Finally, small populations are vulnerable to stochastic events (Caughley, 1994) beyond the control of land managers, which may reduce the effectiveness of new management actions and hinder the ability to monitor management changes.…”

Redundancy analysis reveals complex den use patterns by eastern spotted skunks, a conditional specialist

“…Although few studies have assessed survivorship and reproduction of the three subspecies of eastern spotted skunks (Appalachian spotted skunk, Florida spotted skunk [Spilogale putorius ambarvalis], and plains spotted skunk [Spilogale putorius interrupta]), Butler et al (2021) found that Appalachian spotted skunk survival did not vary by sex, canopy cover, terrain ruggedness, or annual minimum temperature. Furthermore, studies have found a diverse use of landscape and dietary resources both across and within subspecies throughout the eastern spotted skunk range (Crabb, 1948;Eng & Jachowski, 2019b;Harris et al, 2020;Lesmeister et al, 2008;Sasse, 2018;Sprayberry & Edelman, 2018;. This diverse use of resources may suggest spotted skunks display generalist and opportunistic characteristics, though a fine-scale assessment of resource selection, survival, and fecundity would provide further clarity.…”

Mating behavior of Eastern Spotted Skunk Spilogale putorius Linnaeus, 1758 (Mammalia: Carnivora: Mephitidae) revealed by camera trap in Texas, USA

“…Sprayberry & Edelman (2018) found that in forests, Eastern Spotted Skunks preferred to den in dense vegetation with ample understory, likely for protection from predators. Contrarily, Harris et al (2020) found that in dry prairies, den site characteristics were more important than habitat characteristics and breeding females preferred small mammal burrows. To our knowledge, no studies have been published on Eastern Spotted Skunk mating or communication behaviors.…”