Open AccessAssessing Methods for Detecting Island Spotted Skunks
Author(s) -
Bolas Ellen C.,
Sollmann Rahel,
Crooks Kevin R.,
Shaskey Laura,
Boser Christina L.,
Bakker Victoria J.,
Dillon Adam,
Van Vuren Dirk H.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
wildlife society bulletin
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.578
H-Index - 82
ISSN - 1938-5463
DOI - 10.1002/wsb.1085
Subject(s) - wildlife , geography , fishery , zoology , ecology , biology
Island spotted skunks ( Spilogale gracilis amphiala ) are endemic to 2 of the California Channel Islands (CA, USA)—Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa. The status of skunks is uncertain, although incidental captures in traps set for island foxes ( Urocyon littoralis ) suggest that skunks have declined to low numbers. We superimposed wildlife cameras at fox traps in 2016 and 2017 to provide a second measure of skunk detectability. On both islands, detection rates of skunks with fox traps (0.92/100 operating nights) and with cameras (0.72/100 operating nights) did not differ during summer, indicating the 2 methods are of similar reliability for detecting skunks. In 2017, skunk detections with cameras increased from summer to early winter, suggesting monitoring in winter may improve survey efforts. Low detection rates of island spotted skunks (<1/100 operating nights) were comparable to those of other spotted skunk populations that are considered rare. © 2020 The Wildlife Society.