What are skunks. Where & how long do they live. What do they eat. Are they dangerous. Do they hibernate. Learn their species & predators with pictures.

Skunks get a bad reputation, but this amazing animal has some of the most interesting chemistry and behavior of any local animal. Here are a few facts about skunks to help us better understand this misunderstood outcast.

Yahoo: Why do I smell skunks? Here's how to keep them away

Skunks help control insects and rodents, scavenge dead animals and spread native plant seeds through digestion. Omnivorous. Have one litter per year, typically consisting of 4-7 young. Mating season occurs late winter to early spring. Live an average of 4 years in the wild. May carry rabies and other diseases and parasites that can be transmitted to humans and domestic animals.

12 Different types of skunks. Discover all the skunk types. There are 12 species of skunks in the world, including hog-nosed skunks, spotted skunks, striped skunks and even stink badgers.

Skunk: Mammals in the family Mephitidae. There are 10 living species of skunks. They may be found in the following three genera: Conepatus, Mephitis, and Spilogale. The size of a skunk varies...

skunk, (family Mephitidae), black-and-white mammal, found primarily in the Western Hemisphere, that uses extremely well-developed scent glands to release a noxious odour in defense. The term skunk, however, refers to more than just the well-known striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis).