Since the Plains Spotted Skunk (Spilogale interrupta; hereafter “spotted skunk”) was petitioned for listing under the Endangered Species Act in 2012, increased data collection efforts are needed to assess its presence and distribution in the state of Kansas. In a 2020 pilot season, we deployed baited camera traps to gather preliminary data on the distribution of spotted skunks within southeast Kansas, which yielded no positive detections of the species. However, this species has been recently recorded within Kansas (Gray County), Missouri, and Arkansas, albeit with few detections. Beginning in 2022, we expanded the spatial and temporal scope of the project with the goals of detecting spotted skunks in and outside of critical habitats across Kansas. We are in the process of surveying 18 counties throughout Kansas with baited camera traps with the hopes of detecting this elusive species.

Interested in having a camera deployed on your property? Please contact us at ksspottedskunk(at)gmail.com

Collaborators:

• Pittsburg State University: Jenell de la Peña and Daniel Benson (Graduate Research Assistants) ​
• ​Fort Hays State University: Dr. Lorelei Patrick and Curtis Schmidt

Funding: Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) State Wildlife Grant

Publications:

• We are currently in the data collection phase of this project.​