If you guessed 11, you’d be right! But we only have5 species within the US.1&2
These animals are nocturnal and are burrow-dwellers. They may dig their own burrows, but often they’ll take over burrows from other animals like foxes.2
You’re probably most familiar with the smell that skunks tend to leave behind. This is a defense they have against predators. However, they don’t often use it first.They’ll try to ward off a predator by growling or stamping their feet.3It’s when the other methods don’t work that they’ll spray at the predator – which can go as far as six feet.1&3
Predators that may come after skunks include:1
Foxes
Coyotes
Badgers
Great Horned Owls
Eagles
Mountain Lions
Meanwhile, skunks are omnivores and will eat:2
Fruit
Eggs
Turtles
Rodents
Insects
Did you catch our blog on raccoons? There are 7 species within North America!Read here.
