Something Is Smelly in the Seashore

By Jimi Sadle

Biologist, Canaveral National Seashore

Trail cam photo by Kendyl Hassler of Fish and Wildlife Research Institute of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

I have spent a great deal of time in the woods around Brevard County and many other parts of the state over the past 40 or so years. Until arriving at Canaveral National Seashore, I had not seen a skunk in the wild in Florida and I am not even sure I knew that a Florida spotted skunk was an animal that might be encountered in the state. I suspect I am not alone.

This small, admittedly cute, spotted cousin of the striped skunk can be locally common, but has been in decline in Florida throughout the past several decades. Due to the decrease in numbers, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) now considers the Florida spotted skunk to be a “Species of Greatest Conservation Need.”

Florida spotted skunk are omnivorous and can occupy a variety of habitats provided there is dense vegetation for cover. In coastal scrub, they may use gopher tortoise burrows as den sites and are primarily active at night. As with the striped skunk, alarmed or distressed animals may discharge a foul smelling and difficult-to-remove musk at anything that may pose a threat.

Florida spotted skunk have been found in both the Playalinda and Apollo Districts of the Canaveral National Seashore. While we don’t have an accurate picture of the exact range or population size of this species in the park, ongoing study by FWC biologists and regular observations by park staff suggest that they are doing OK.

Perhaps the seashore has just the right recipe for success: lots of dense vegetation, protection from habitat destruction and a seemingly never-ending supply of gopher tortoise burrows!