Hobbies And Interests
Odor
Skunks have a powerful odor that is their main defense against predators. The mist can travel as far as 10 feet and leaves the victim with a coating that is extremely difficult to remove. The stench stays on the victim for days or weeks before it is gone. Because of this, predators avoid skunks by a large distance unless other food sources are limited. Other than its stench, the odor does no damage to its victims. The spray contains sulfuric acid and a complex combination of chemicals. The skunk has two anal glands that can shoot the spray in different directions.
Appearance
The majority of skunks are approximately the size of a house cat. Their fur appears in a variety of patterns, including stripes, spotted and swirled. Every pattern, however, is black and white. This easily identifiable coat makes them easy to spot by predators.
Home
Skunks do not usually make their own homes. Instead, they nest in burrows that are dug by other animals. They also live inside hollow logs and empty buildings. Skunks sometimes stay in their nests for several weeks in the winter. They live mostly in the Americas.
Behavior
Usually non-aggressive animals, skunks try hard not to get in the way of danger, sticking close to their home. They generally roam within an area of a couple hundred acres.
Diet
Skunks mainly eat fruit and plants, as well as insects, worms, eggs, reptiles, small mammals, fish and larvae. Many of the insects that skunks eat are pests to people.
Types
Four types of skunk live in the United States. Most common are the spotted and striped skunks. The spotted variety lives in the country and on farms, while the striped skunk can live in urban environments and is adaptable to many habitats. Hooded and hog-nosed skunks are found mainly in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.
Young
Skunks give birth to between two and 10 young every year. The babies stay with their mother in the nest for approximately two months before they begin foraging.