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Description
The Eastern Spotted Skunk (Spilogale putorius) is a small, relatively slender skunk with a body shape like a weasel. Its black-and-white color is a warning against harming this small creature, as its defense mechanism is the emission of noxious odors from its well-developed scent glands. This mammal is also known as the civet cat, but this is incorrect and misleading because it is neither closely related to Old World true civets nor to cats. In addition to performing a handstand before spraying a potential predator, the skunk also performs foot stamping, which involves the skunk stamping its feet on the ground in order to warn an approaching predator. The stamping can be heard for several meters away and is usually followed by the skunk spraying its odorous solution. Eastern spotted skunks inhabit much of the eastern part of the United States and small parts of Canada and Mexico, and also occur to the north in Minnesota and south in Central America and El Salvador, and in the west as far as eastern Wyoming and Colorado. Throughout the midwestern states they are found in the Appalachian Mountains, and they occur in the north as far as Pennsylvania, throughout Florida, and eastern Texas. The animals mostly occupy tall-grass prairies and wooded areas and often prefer rocky habitats.

Diet and Nutrition: In winter they eat corn and cottontails; in spring, insects and native field mice; in summer, insects and small amounts of fruit, birds, and birds' eggs; in fall, mostly insects.

Social: Eastern spotted skunks are social, non-territorial animal.

Size: Males are 18.2 to 27.1 inches in length and weigh 1.5 pounds./ Females are 13.8 to 21.4 inches in length and weigh 0.99 pounds.

Description
The Eastern Spotted Skunk (Spilogale putorius) is a small, relatively slender skunk with a body shape like a weasel. Its black-and-white color is a warning against harming this small creature, as its defense mechanism is the emission of noxious odors from its well-developed scent glands. This mammal is also known as the civet cat, but this is incorrect and misleading because it is neither closely related to Old World true civets nor to cats. In addition to performing a handstand before spraying a potential predator, the skunk also performs foot stamping, which involves the skunk stamping its feet on the ground in order to warn an approaching predator. The stamping can be heard for several meters away and is usually followed by the skunk spraying its odorous solution. Eastern spotted skunks inhabit much of the eastern part of the United States and small parts of Canada and Mexico, and also occur to the north in Minnesota and south in Central America and El Salvador, and in the west as far as eastern Wyoming and Colorado. Throughout the midwestern states they are found in the Appalachian Mountains, and they occur in the north as far as Pennsylvania, throughout Florida, and eastern Texas. The animals mostly occupy tall-grass prairies and wooded areas and often prefer rocky habitats.

Diet and Nutrition: In winter they eat corn and cottontails; in spring, insects and native field mice; in summer, insects and small amounts of fruit, birds, and birds' eggs; in fall, mostly insects.

Social: Eastern spotted skunks are social, non-territorial animal.

Size: Males are 18.2 to 27.1 inches in length and weigh 1.5 pounds./ Females are 13.8 to 21.4 inches in length and weigh 0.99 pounds.