The three subspecies of Eastern Spotted Skunk occur in separate physiographic regions and their habitat preferences vary accordingly, with a consistent theme being the need for dense cover.  The most well studied subspecies is Midwestern Spilogale p. interrupta, for which a radio-tracking study revealed that it selected forested areas with dense understorey (Lesmeister et al. 2009).  Survivorship analyses further revealed that a majority of moralities occurred when the subspecies entered or occupied more open forest habitats (Lesmeister et al. 2010).

Based on historical records and ongoing research, the subspecies known as the Appalachian Eastern Spotted Skunk (S. p. putorius) is primarily found in higher elevation forested habitats in the Appalachian region. Historical records of S. p. putorius extend down into the piedmont and coastal plain of Virginia and the Carolinas. However, no detections have been made in those regions for at least the past 30 years. Because of a general lack of structured monitoring, it is still unclear if S. p. putorius is rare or just cryptic within the mountains of Appalachia. However, limited evidences suggest that, similar to S. p. interrupta, it prefers forested habitats with dense understorey (Reed and Kennedy 2000) with many of the most dense and frequent sightings occurring at high elevation (Diggins et al. 2015). 

The Florida race (S. p. abarvalis) is the least studied, but most frequently encountered, subspecies.  Multiple anecdotal reports suggest that in contrast to the other subspecies, S. p. abarvalis is often encountered in and near human habitation, making dens in backyards and human structures.  Observations in more rural areas suggest a strong association with Gopher Tortoise Gopherus polyphemus burrows (Frank and Lips 1989).

All three subspecies are known to be fairly opportunistic omnivores. Although the only intensive studies of feeding habits are from decades ago and from agricultural settings (Selko 1936, Crabb 1941), it is generally reported that the species is primarily insectivorous, and when insects are unavailable, it preys on small mammals or birds (Boppel and Long 1994, Kinlaw 1995). However, no detailed diet studies have been conducted in forested habitats. The species is primarily nocturnal and produces one litter per year, typically in the late spring or early summer (Kinlaw 1995).

The Eastern Spotted Skunk Spilogale putorius is found from as far north as Minnesota, USA (and marginally into southeastern Manitoba and southwestern Ontario, Canada) to as far south as Tamaulipas, Mexico. In the eastern portion of its range it occurs in south-central Pennsylvania, USA, and south in the Appalachian Mountain chain to Florida, USA, and its western historical range extends to eastern Colorado and Wyoming, USA (Hall 1981, Kinlaw 1995). The geographic limits of its range are poorly described. Range expansion is reported to have occurred in the western USA during the late 1800s and early 1900s, and has been attributed to anthropogenic landscape change which facilitated population expansion in states such as Iowa, South Dakota, and Colorado (van Gelder 1959, Choate et al. 1974).

Based on historical trapping records, a range-wide decline of at least >90%  is likely to have occurred since the 1950s (Gompper and Hackett 2005). The plains subspecies (S. p. interrupta) is likely to be the race most in need of conservation action, and is included in a current Federal petition for listing as 'endangered' under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Most states throughout the range of the species now list it as either 'endangered', 'threatened', or a species of 'conservation concern'.

Overall, given the lack of knowledge regarding primary threats (see Threats) and causes of decline, research is urgently needed to guide conservation action. Fortunately, researchers from multiple states and universities currently have ongoing research projects on the species, and in 2015 the Eastern Spotted Skunk Cooperative Study Group was formed to help inform managers of research priorities and potential conservation actions.