Western Spotted Skunk

The western spotted skunk is a small skunk species found across western North America, including the western United States, northern Mexico, and southwestern British Columbia in Canada. It is smaller than the striped skunk, measuring 35 to 45 centimeters in total length, with males weighing 336 to 734 grams and females 227 to 482 grams. It carries three longitudinal stripes on each side of the front of its body and three vertical stripes on its hindquarters, a white spot between its eyes, white patches below each ear, and a large tail that is mostly black with a white tip. A nocturnal omnivore, it inhabits mixed woodlands, open areas, and farmlands, eating insects, scorpions, small vertebrates such as mice and small birds, roots, grains, fruit, berries, eggs, and carrion.