A biologist’s answers to common questions about skunks

Everywhere in the world, you’ll find a few backyard wildlife “usual suspects”. These are species that turn up frequently in gardens, backyards or other outdoor spaces and attract attention—both good and bad. This weeks Wildlife Spotlight focuses a major example of such a usual suspect in the Americas: skunks!

Given their stinky reputation and widespread presence in suburbs and even urban areas, skunks are a great topic for getting to know your natural world for two reasons: First, it’s important to know fact from fiction, and there are certainly a lot of myths and falsehoods being spread around about skunks. Second, any wildlife that you’re likely to encounter in everyday life is a convenient chance to better understand nature observe cool animal behavior (at a safe distance!).

In this post, I’ll give you a comprehensive background on skunks, including how to tell fact from fiction when it comes to these fascinating animals. You’ll learn that there’s a lot more to skunks than just their smell, and hopefully pick up some neat nature facts in the process. I organize this intro around some of the questions I most commonly get from friends, readers, and clients about skunks.

What kind of animal are skunks?

An important place to start when learning about any animal is knowing a bit about its taxonomy; that is, what species is it related to? Closely related species often share characteristics and aspects of their life history, or way of living in the natural world. This can make it easier to understand their quirks and behaviors.

Read more: Taxonomy for beginner naturalists

Skunks belong to a superfamily of tough, long-bodied mammals called the musteloidea which includes weasels, badges, stoats, and quite a few other species. Members of this larger group are often aggressive, somewhat carnivorous, and a little stinky. Importantly, nearly all of them have well-developed scent glands located in their butts (I mean literally—mammalogists call them anal scent glands). You guessed it: skunks are champions of stink among this superfamily, and have taken the development of these glands to the extreme.

If you squint hard enough at a skunk, you might notice their distant cousins, the wolverine (Gulo gulo), which is also the namesake of this blog. Although they are very different animals, wolverines have had the nickname “skunk bear” because of their own formidable smell. One thing these critters have in common is that, for very different reasons, larger predators tend to leave them alone.

Skunks belong to their own smaller family, the Mephitidae. This family contains a rather modest twelve species mostly occurring in North America, with two weird, distant cousins, the stink badgers (genus Mydaus, but why would you call them anything else??) found in Indomalaysia.

What is the most common skunk?

Readers in North America will be most likely to encounter the striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis), which is widespread throughout Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Striped skunks readily adapt to human-made environments like urban and suburban areas, capable of feeding on trash and successfully breeding and denning in parks and yards. This is key to their success in developed landscapes, making them what scientists call an “urban adapter” species.

The four species of spotted skunks (Spilogale sp.) come in a close second, with a combined range that is shifted a bit Southward, extending down through Central America but not getting much further North than the middle of the United States. Spotted skunks are less adapted for urban environments and spend more time in lowland habitats with a variety of vegetation conditions like riverine forest, shrubland thickets, and some types of grassland. Unlike striped skunks, spotted skunks are not common backyard animals, and some species are declining in number, making them increasingly rare to see in the wild.

How do you identify skunks in the wild?

Striped skunks are about the size of a small housecat, with long, mostly black fur contrasted by two thick, white stripes running from the top of the head down either side of their back. They have puffy tails with a mixture of white and black fur, and often a little stripe of white down their forehead to their snout. That striking black and white coloration, as you may have guessed, is a form of aposematic or warning coloration.

Read more: What is aposematic coloration?

Striped skunks have relatively small eyes, short ears, and stout bodies with stumpy legs. Since they are nocturnal, some of their best identifying characteristics are their poofy tail and slow, waddling walk; other details might be harder to make out in the night. Unless they’re chasing young or a mate, skunks are very rarely in a hurry. They don’t climb trees, and will generally be seen ambling casually in search of food or mates (depending on the time of year!).

Spotted skunks are much smaller (maybe half the size!), with shorter tails, more slender bodies, and a messier, more zig-zag or spotted pattern on their coat. They typically have some white spots along their flanks (sides). Spotted skunks are agile, walking with a bit more spring in their step and can readily climb trees, unlike their bulkier, lumbering cousin.

Where does their name come from?

The name Mephitidae comes from Mefitis, a goddess in Roman mythology who presided over stinky things like volcanic and swamp gases, and as you might imagine the skunks are so named for their most memorable feature. Also related to the goddess is the word “mephitic”, which refers to things that are noxious or have a poisonous smell. The genus of the North American striped skunk, Mephitis, stems from these same words.

On the other hand, the word “skunk” seems to have come from Indigenous languages in the Northeastern U.S. Most of the research I can find traces it to words in several Algonquin languages, which would put the origins of the term in modern day New England. The skunk shares that cool linguistic heritage with two other North American backyard critters, the opossum and raccoon.

Read more: Opossum facts and common questions

How many kinds of skunks are there in the world?

Not counting the two species of stink badgers, there are ten living species of skunks in the world, all of which live throughout the Americas. These are two species in genus Mephitis, including our friend the striped skunk and their Mexican cousin the hooded skunk (M. macroura), four adorable species of the aptly named hognosed skunks (genus Conepatus), and the four species of spotted skunks mentioned earlier.

What do skunks eat?

Part of why striped skunks are so common in suburbs throughout North America is because of their versatile diet. These animals are highly omnivorous, eating a wide variety of plants and plant parts like roots, tubers, fruits, and seeds. When the opportunity arises, they also savor worms, insects and their larvae, as well as smaller vertebrates like amphibians and the young of small mammals like mice or voles. With this “anything goes” attitude, they are just as liable to root up a lawn looking for grubs (which, in the end, could actually be a huge favor) as they are to rummage through unsecured trash or munch on leftover cat food.

In contrast to the striped skunk, spotted skunks are more carnivorous, hunting animal prey like insects, frogs and toads, and mice with their faster movement. In some rural areas they are thought to reduce mouse populations enough to protect crops from damage.

Where do skunks live?

Both striped and spotted skunks are big fans of hiding in burrows during the day. Burly and slow, striped skunks will build their own burrows to hang out in, often under porches or along fencelines. The slighter spotted skunk typically uses a burrow constructed by another animal (for example a fox, striped skunk, or badger). Since they can climb trees, spotted skunks might also hang out in tree cavities to get aboveground shelter.

At night, skunks will rove around in a territory they’ve worked out with other skunks in the “neighborhood”, moving between habitat types in search of food or mates. As mentioned above, the striped skunk will unhesitatingly visit backyards and gardens, while the spotted skunk keeps more to wild areas like meadows, shrublands, and prairies.

Do skunks hibernate?

Although many other mammals their size engage in some form of hibernation, skunks do not. Instead, like humans, they may just sit out periods of rough or especially cold weather in a burrow or den and wait for conditions to improve. This means you might catch them looking for food on warmer winter nights, especially where feeding opportunities are limited to a few choice areas (like a cat’s food dish!).

Read more: How do plants and animals survive the Winter?

Skunk spray: What you need to know

Alright, so let’s talk about the elephant in the room. We can nerd out all we want about what cool animals skunks are, but eventually we also need to acknowledge their potent defensive spray. Animals in the skunk family Mephitidae have taken the well-developed anal scent glands of their cousins to the next level. When they feel threatened, they can aim their rear-end at a predator or perceived threat and let loose a squirt of oily secretion from their two glands.

This oily spray contains a nasty and complex mixture of smelly chemicals, including many from a chemical family called the thiols which contain a lot of sulfur atoms. Skunk spray can cause temporary blindness, irritation and vomiting if “administered” to the face. I can remember my childhood dog getting sprayed right in the face when he was a dumb puppy, and he seemed unable to see for a few minutes.

A skunk’s discharge can reach up to 10-15 feet (3-4.5m or so), and the accompanying fine mist of oil particles is capable of drifting further (30+ feet or 10+ meters). Skunks can aim this spray within that initial spray radius, and will shoot for the nose, eyes, and mouth of a predator if being attacked, to inflict maximum effect.

How do you know when a skunk is going to spray?

While being sprayed by a skunk is a horrible experience, it’s kind of a difficult thing to do. While young dogs, typically very ignorant of the “laws of nature” tend to get skunked often, this is because they ignore warning signs that would be very obvious to a reasonable observer. Spraying is a last line of defense for skunks, and they will avoid it to the best of their ability. To do so, they provide a set of warnings that should give you plenty of time to know what’s coming. If a nosy dog (or human!) sees those signs and still gets skunked, that’s on them!

Here are some of the major signs a skunk feels threatened and is likely to spray:

• Freezing. A skunk will stop its normal behaviors (wadding around, snuffling for insects, digging), freeze, and lift its head if it is becoming alert to a nearby presence.
• Vocalizations. If they are confronted with a threat and starting to feel threatened, skunks will start to make some noise. This can involve chattering their teeth or a sort of “pfffiitt” sound. These are a clear sign that you’re getting on a skunks nerves.
• Stomping. Skunks that are starting to escalate in their defensive response will stomp their feet. This is sometimes already a last warning.
• Charging. In an attempt to intimidate, skunks may also bluff-charge or lunge at a threat. Again, if you see this behavior, it’s absolutely time to bail.
• Raising the tail and turning. When a skunk lines up on a target or shakes its big, poofy tail, the spray is likely imminent with any further disturbance.

In contrast to striped skunks, spotted skunks will do a handstand when they’re feeling threatened. Why? Because these incredible acrobats can do a forward backbend, pointing their butt forward to spray a target head on! What might look like some goofy antics is actually a sharpshooter lining up to fire. Better to back off and not test their aim!

Can a skunk only spray once?

Some animals are equipped with potent defenses that only work once, for example a honeybee’s stinger. Skunks do not have that problem. An adult skunk’s anal scent glands contain something like a teaspoon of secretion at a time. Most naturalists agree this gives them enough “ammunition” for five or six sprays, and they can probably control how much they dole out in each application. Either way, if a skunk sprays your dog, it can probably still spray you.

What should you do if you or a pet get skunked?

Although there are plenty of elaborate workflows on the internet, there is a simple solution: you need to oxidize the various molecules in the skunk spray into less smelly chemical compounds, and remove the oils from the skin, fabric, or fur they were sprayed on. Hydrogen peroxide—seriously, like lots of it—is a cheap and cost-effective oxidizing agent to help with the smell, and simple dish soap can help with the oily bits.

In all cases, this is very likely to take a lot of repeat applications. This is mainly because these tiny molecules can work their way into lots of micro-surfaces on hair, skin, and other materials, leaving residue even after washing. So: apply hydrogen peroxide and work it into the sprayed area, wash thoroughly with water, apply a bunch of dish soap, wash thoroughly with water, and repeat this until the smell starts to fade.

Do any animals eat skunks?

With their highly effective defenses, you might wonder whether any animals are common predators of skunks. After all, who could put up with that incredible stench? As it turns out, there aren’t many mammalian predators that commonly eat skunks, precisely for that reason. Instead, their biggest predators are large raptors (predator birds), particularly the great-horned owl (Bubo virginianus). These bulky nighttime hunters not only keep a similar activity schedule to skunks, being out when they are moving around, but also don’t have a particularly strong sense of smell. Since a dead skunk can still give off quite a potent odor, that’s pretty important. Owls can also get the drop on skunks, grabbing them from above before they have a chance to sense the threat and prepare to spray.

Read more: 13 wild facts about owls

How do you know if there is a skunk in your yard?

Read more: 10 common wildlife signs in the outdoors

Since skunks are most active when its dark out, figuring out whether you have one as a neighbor is less about seeing them and more about picking up on signs. Even skunks that haven’t sprayed can have a bit of a stink to them, so any areas that smell like skunk, particularly places that make good hiding or burrowing spots, are a tell-tale sign. Since striped skunks (by far the most common skunk especially in backyards) are bigtime burrowers, any hole large enough that a cat might crawl inside could also be evidence of a skunk.

Skunks love rooting in the ground for buried grubs, worms, and other invertebrates. Dug-up areas, especially with signs of former wasp or bumblebee nests, may also be the work of a skunk.

Like any other animal, skunks are liable to leave behind droppings when they are hanging out somewhere. These can be incidental or, more likely, intentional placements meant to mark their territory for other skunks. Skunk scat (read: poop) is a big more tubular or cylindrical than a cats but can be similar in size, dark in color, and segmented. Skunk tracks should show 5 digits (toepads), with a clear difference between the longer (up to 2 inches) hind feet, which have a wide, waddling stride, and the shorter front feet.

Read more: Book review of “What Walks This Way”, a tribute to animal tracks

How do you keep skunks out of your yard?

The best ways to keep any wildlife out of your yard are: (1) prevent them from getting in, using fencing or netting, and (2) to avoid attracting them, by not providing resources that they could want. Since skunks are good diggers, an aboveground fence might not do much to keep them out. However, removing easy food sources like cat food dishes, open trash, or untidy compost (for example, corn cobs or rotten apples) is a good way to make them turn their attention elsewhere. Securing or fencing hiding or burrowing spots like the area under porches, decks, barns, or sheds is also a good way to limit their options.

I have seen several field guides advise that skunks are repelled by strong chemical odors like camphor, but I wouldn’t recommend this method. Not only can it be costly to repeatedly administer and re-treat chemicals, it can put you, your pets, and other backyard wildlife including garden plants in danger. The risk isn’t worth the unlikely success of such methods.

What should you do if you see a skunk?

Encountering a skunk is not much different from encountering other non-dangerous wildlife. My recommendations for the best course of action are as follows:

• Give the skunk space. As a good rule of thumb, keeping wildlife 30 yards (~25m) or more away from you is best to keep both you and the animal safe.
• Keep pets and children away, too. Skunks are likely to find animals much more threatening than people, as they more closely resemble their predators in the wild. Children may be more prone to loud noises or sudden movements, which could make a skunk feel threatened and more likely to spray.
• See if the skunk is aware of your presence. If it does not seem agitated (for example, it keeps foraging or waddling around), then it may not mind.
• If the skunk seems irritated by your presence, look to put more distance between you and the animal.
• If it doesn’t mind, consider watching its behaviors from afar. A good pair of binoculars can be a great way to get some interesting observations.
• If a skunk is in a place where it could be harmed, or could be damaging property or endangering pets or people, or if it is behaving erratically, consider contacting your local town, county, or state wildlife services office. Otherwise, it is best to leave it alone and let it go about its business.

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