Spotted Skunk

skunks · acrobats · spray defense · North America

Handstand sprayers. Spotted skunks can rear up on their front legs and do a handstand before spraying, which actually helps them aim their stinky spray more accurately at threats.

Spotted coat. Unlike striped skunks, spotted skunks have white spots and broken white lines on their dark fur, making them look like they've been splashed with paint.

Tiny but mighty. Spotted skunks are much smaller than their striped cousins, usually weighing only one to three pounds, about the size of a small cat.

Night hunters. These skunks are mostly nocturnal, hunting at night for insects, small rodents, eggs, and berries to eat.

Adaptable homes. Spotted skunks live across North and Central America in forests, grasslands, and deserts, and they're clever enough to make dens in hollow logs, burrows, or even under buildings.