Diet of the Florida spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius ambarvalis) in a dry prairie ecosystem

• DOI: 10.1007/s42991-025-00481-3
• Publication Date: 2025-02-14T11:47:41Z
• Authors: Stephen N. Harris; Elizabeth A. Flah...; Terry J. Doonan; Erin L. Hewett Ra...; David S. Jachowski
• Keywords: Animal ecology

Abstract The Florida spotted skunk ( Spilogale putorius ambarvalis ) is disjunct from other eastern S. subspecies and has rarely been studied. Declines in populations elsewhere underscore the importance of better understanding subspecies’ ecology resource use, including its potential impacts as a nest predator imperiled ground-nesting birds. objective our study was to gather baseline information on diet dry prairie ecosystem Central Florida. We conducted stable isotope analysis using hair samples 39 skunks compared these with 106 food items 2016 2017 at Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area Osceola County, Our resultant Bayesian mixing model indicated that most prevalent were millipedes (Diplopoda; ~ 42% diet) group consisting amphibians reptiles (~ 16%). Less groups birds—one containing granivorous or herbivorous species 15%) another insectivorous 13%). provides evidence likely have generalist diet, like outside Florida, no item composed majority (> 50%) their diet. This first insights into free-ranging fills key knowledge gap this important ecosystem.