Skunks are famous for his or her capability to provide foul smelling odor to defend a prey. These mammals belong to the Mephitidae family. Eleven species of skunks are known. The varieties of species might be divided into four in general: Spilogale or noticed skunks, Mydaus or stink badgers, Conepatus or hog-nosed skunks, and Mephitis or stripped and hooded skunks. Skunks are found in North America, South America, Canada, Philippines and Indonesia.

Lengthwise they fluctuate from forty centimeters to seventy centimeters and in weight they range from one pound to 10 pounds. They've front claws which help them to dig simply and have brief muscular legs, which go together with their reasonably long striped body. Generally, their fur is of white and black colors, but there are skunks with grey, brown and cream coloured fur. Skunks are stripped from birth. A thick stripe runs from their tail to the top of their head. Some many have two thin strips, damaged strips or white spots. Some Skunks legs are additionally stripped.

Some nations have laws about preserving skunks as pets. It's authorized to have a skunk as a pet in United States. Often mephitis species are most well-liked pets as they are very social. Earlier than selling a skunk, the pet retailers take away the scent glands of skunks. They're imagined to stay longer in captivity when in comparison with living in wild. Their lifespan is from ten to twenty years. It's common with Pilgrims and European settlers, in United States, to maintain skunks as pets.  

Skunks feed on both vegetation and animal and hence are omnivorous. Coming to animals they eat insects, earthworms, lizards, frogs, rodents, salamanders, snakes, moles, birds and eggs. When they cannot discover meat, they feed on wild fruits and seeds. Some skunks even feed on garbage, in urban areas.   

Skunks are crepuscular animals. Skunks stay aloof when not breeding, however stay in communal dens within the winters. They don't hibernate in the winters, but turn out to be inactive and don't eat much. They stay in burrows dug by them or man made pits or natural pits, relying on their requirements and situation. In winter, a huddle with one male and practically twelve feminine dwell a den. They use the identical den, yearly within the winter.

Skunks have very good listening to and smelling sense. However their imaginative and prescient will not be good. They can not see clearly more than three meters and that's why most skunks are killed in road accidents. In keeping with a research, nearly fifty % skunks die resulting from highway visitors and less than ten p.c cross three years of life.     

Skunks have the flexibility to hold rabies. Almost thirty one p.c of them are infected with it, however all of the human rabies cases outcome from dog and bat bites. Earlier than retaining them as pets, they should be vaccinated to avoid any mishaps. And incase, a skunk bites sure measures ought to be taken. Clean the wound completely with antibacterial resolution and water. If the wound is bleeding, apply ice pack or pressure to cease it. Emergency service must be known as immediately. After getting to the physician, insists on taking a tetanus shot. Try to catch the skunk, both dead or alive, so that it received't spread rabies to others within the neighborhood. Also test can be performed to find out whether or not the skunk had rabies or not.