Eastern spotted skunks (Spilogale putorius) have been in decline across their historical range since the late 1940's. The goal of this collaborative study is to locate remnant populations of eastern spotted skunks in Nebraska and measure habitat characteristics (e.g., grassland, woodland, row-crop agriculture, riparian, etc.) that may be associated with this species. The most recent confirmed detection of an eastern spotted skunk in Nebraska was a roadkill discovered in northern Nebraska in 2017. While this project is focused on finding eastern spotted skunks, we are also interested in documenting other species that are utilizing these habitats, and interactions between spotted skunks and non-target species.
The objectives of this study are:
- Locate populations of eastern spotted skunks in Nebraska using non-invasive sampling techniques such as camera traps and track plates.
- Determine which habitat types spotted skunks are using in Nebraska.
- Record bycatch data from other species (small mammals, mesocarnivores, and other elusive species) caught on trail cameras and at track plates.
