The Department of Wildlife Resources is welcoming artists to create and submit an original piece of art (not photography) for the 2024 Restore the Wild Artwork Competition. Artwork for Restore the Wild should reflect Restore the Wild’s mission to restore and create natural habitats vital to the survival of Virginia’s wildlife.
The subject focus of 2024’s artwork is the Eastern spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius putorius) and young forest habitat. The Eastern spotted skunk is a relative of the very commonly seen striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis), but a different creature altogether. While the striped skunk has continuous white stripes extending down its body, the Eastern spotted skunk’s white shows up as broken stripes, or distinct blotches, along its body. Spotted skunks are also smaller than the striped, reaching a maximum weight of one to two pounds.
In Virginia, Eastern spotted skunks are resident in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and west of that area. The species prefers young forest habitat—hardwood forests with dense understory growth, probably to provide protection from predators. They’ve been known to den in tree cavities and in underground burrows. Eastern spotted skunks are listed as a Tier 4 Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Virginia’s Wildlife Action Plan.
A panel of the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR), and other conservation organizations or artists deemed appropriate by the DWR, will judge all submitted art.
Judges will evaluate entries according to the criteria outlined in these rules and guidelines including, but not limited to:
- accuracy of the subject species and its habitat
- composition and esthetic merit
- inclusion of any mandatory elements or theme
- overall impression
For more information, please visit: Rules and Guidelines.
