Skunk

Skunk facts at a glance

How big is a skunk?

An adult skunk measures 80 cm long — about 46% of the height of an average adult person (1.73 m) — and weighs around 6.0 kg, about 9% of an average adult’s body weight (70 kg).

What is a group of skunks called?

Explore more animal collective nouns and baby animal names .

The famous spray

A skunk's defence is a pair of glands beside the anus that can fire a fine, oily, sulphur-based spray up to about 3 m (10 ft) with good aim. The smell is overpowering and can cause stinging and temporary blindness if it hits the eyes. Skunks would rather warn than waste it: a threatened skunk stamps its feet, hisses, raises its tail, and — in spotted skunks — may even do a handstand before spraying as a last resort.

Diet and behaviour

Striped skunks are opportunistic omnivores that eat insects, grubs, worms, small rodents, eggs, fruit, and human refuse, using their strong claws to dig for grubs and raid wasp nests. They are mainly nocturnal and largely solitary, though several may share a den in cold weather. Their bold coloration means they have few predators apart from the great horned owl, which has a poor sense of smell.

Range and dens

The striped skunk ranges across most of North America from southern Canada to northern Mexico, living in woodland, grassland, farmland, and increasingly in towns and suburbs. It shelters in burrows — often abandoned ones dug by other animals — as well as under buildings, woodpiles, and decks, which sometimes brings it into conflict with people.

Conservation and disease

Skunks are listed as Least Concern and remain common across their range. Many are killed on roads, and skunks are one of the main wild carriers of rabies in North America, so a skunk acting tame or active in daylight should be treated with caution. Despite this, they provide a valuable service by eating large numbers of insect and rodent pests.

Did you know? Skunk facts

• The striped skunk is a cat-sized North American mammal best known for the foul-smelling spray it fires from glands under its tail to deter predators.
• A group of skunks is called a surfeit. Skunks are mostly solitary, though several may share a den in winter, and a baby skunk is called a kit.
• A striped skunk can accurately spray its foul, oily musk up to about 3 m (10 ft), and the smell can carry much further on the wind. It usually gives several warnings before spraying.
• No. Spraying is a last resort because the supply takes time to refill. A skunk first warns by stamping its feet, hissing, and raising its tail, and only sprays if these threats are ignored.
• Skunks are omnivores that eat insects, grubs, worms, small rodents, eggs, fruit, and human food waste. They dig in soil for grubs and are useful natural controllers of insect and rodent pests.
• Conservation: Least Concern (IUCN).

Diet & feeding

Skunk feeds primarily as a omnivore (insects, small animals, fruit). A skunk's defence is a pair of glands beside the anus that can fire a fine, oily, sulphur-based spray up to about 3 m (10 ft) with good aim. The smell is overpowering and can cause stinging and temporary blindness if it hits the eyes. Skunks would rat

Adaptations

• A skunk's defence is a pair of glands beside the anus that can fire a fine, oily, sulphur-based spray up to about 3 m (10 ft) with good aim. The smell is overpowering and can cause stinging and temporary blindness if it hits the eyes. Skunks would rather warn than waste it: a threatened skunk stamps its feet, hisses, raises its tail, and — in spotted skunks — may even do a handstand before spraying as a last resort.
• Striped skunks are opportunistic omnivores that eat insects, grubs, worms, small rodents, eggs, fruit, and human refuse, using their strong claws to dig for grubs and raid wasp nests. They are mainly nocturnal and largely solitary, though several may share a den in cold weather. Their bold coloration means they have few predators apart from the great horned owl, which has a poor sense of smell.

Behaviour & ecology

• A skunk's defence is a pair of glands beside the anus that can fire a fine, oily, sulphur-based spray up to about 3 m (10 ft) with good aim. The smell is overpowering and can cause stinging and temporary blindness if it hits the eyes. Skunks would rather warn than waste it: a threatened skunk stamps its feet, hisses, raises its tail, and — in spotted skunks — may even do a handstand before spraying as a last resort.
• Striped skunks are opportunistic omnivores that eat insects, grubs, worms, small rodents, eggs, fruit, and human refuse, using their strong claws to dig for grubs and raid wasp nests. They are mainly nocturnal and largely solitary, though several may share a den in cold weather. Their bold coloration means they have few predators apart from the great horned owl, which has a poor sense of smell.
• The striped skunk ranges across most of North America from southern Canada to northern Mexico, living in woodland, grassland, farmland, and increasingly in towns and suburbs. It shelters in burrows — often abandoned ones dug by other animals — as well as under buildings, woodpiles, and decks, which sometimes brings it into conflict with people.

Communication

• Skunk uses scent, posture, and vocal signals to mark territory and coordinate social behaviour.
• Communication intensity often peaks during breeding seasons and territorial disputes.

Habitat & range

Woodland, grassland, farmland, suburbs

Ecological role

Skunk plays a recognised ecological role in woodland, grassland, farmland, suburbs.

Conservation status of the Skunk

Sources & references

This guide is compiled and reviewed against established zoological and conservation references. Key sources for the Skunk:

• IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

  Conservation status (Least Concern) reflects the IUCN Red List category for Mephitis mephitis.

• iNaturalist — observations & photos

  Search citizen-science observations and community IDs for Mephitis mephitis. Useful for range checks and recent sightings — not a substitute for formal Red List status.

• GBIF — occurrence data

  Global Biodiversity Information Facility species search for Mephitis mephitis. Explore published occurrence records used in range research.

• IUCN Red List — Mephitis mephitis.

  Conservation status (Least Concern) and population trends.

• Animal Diversity Web — Mephitis mephitis. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.

  Life history, morphology, and range.

• Wikipedia — Skunk.

  General taxonomy and overview (cross-check primary sources).

• Global Animal Guide editorial standards

  How we research, source, review, and update every guide for accuracy.