STRIPED SKUNK
Mephitis mephitis

 

 

 

 

DESCRIPTION:
Famous for their scent-spraying mechanism, skunks usually do not release the foul smelling fluid from their scent glands unless mortally threatened.

Famous for their powerful scent-spraying mechanism, skunks do not have any natural predators due to the fact that they can release a fowl smelling liquid from their scent glands when in mortal danger, but only as a last resort. When faced with danger a skunk arches its back, rump to the enemy, takes aim, and emits two streams of fluid from the scent glands.

Their spray can cause nausea and temporary blindness, but in captivity they do not have the scent glands to be able to do this.