population monitoring. As fox populations recovered in the 2000s and 2010s, skunk captures became rare once again. Recent genetic testing Recent genetic research was done on Channel Island skunks to determine genetic variation in skunks between islands. Morphologically skunks on both islands do not seem to vary whatsoever, except that the skunks on Santa Rosa Island are slightly longer than those on Santa Cruz Island. The study found that genetic variation between the two island species was not consistent with the morphological variation and was much greater than that of the mainland species. This conclusion has led researchers to hypothesize that spotted skunks were brought to the islands either by rafting or intentionally by Native Americans. The genetic variation between mainland skunks and those on the islands is enough to cause researchers to propose that the taxonomic classification of the skunks as S. g. amphiala be reconsidered, and that each island population be considered a separate subspecies or even a new species separate from the mainland one. References Skunks Endemic fauna of California Fauna of the Channel Islands of California Fauna of the California chaparral and woodlands Skunk, Channel Islands Spotted Natural history of Santa Barbara County, California Natural history of Ventura County, California Fauna without expected TNC conservation status