By Gretchen Messersmith

Removing skunk odor is at the top of anyone's list of priorities if one of the black and white creatures has just sprayed the family pet. Yet an understanding into the species of the skunk itself can often help one to remove the smell with greater ease, if not prevent a skunk spray incident before it occurs.

Skunks are not the most popular creatures on the earth, but they are rather fascinating animals whose diverse diet makes them better neighbors than most humans realize. The facts about the skunk species show just how unique these creatures are.

The Skunk Species Explored

In North America, there are generally four different kinds of skunks spotted in human inhabited areas - striped, spotted, rare hognosed and the hooded. The striped variety is the most commonly seen throughout almost all of North America's expanse.

Skunks are considered part of the weasel family, which also includes badgers and other small burrowing creatures. Striped skunks are known grow up to about 10 pounds in weight and can measure about 30 inches in length, roughly the size of a common house cat.

Breeding

Skunks tend to breed late in the winter and have a gestation period of about nine weeks. Litters of up to six babies stay with their mothers until fall, when they venture out on their own. The average skunk does not make it past the age of three in the wild, but they are known to live up to a decade under the right circumstances.

Natural Habitats

In North America, skunks are found just about anywhere. They tend to prefer movement at night, but are not strictly nocturnal.

Skunks are known to claim territories as large a 40 acres, but do not like to wander too far from water sources. They are generally found anywhere they can find food, which means woods, grasslands and even in people's back yards. They are burrowing creatures and will sometimes create their dens under the homes of people.

Natural Menu

Skunks are not particularly picky eaters. Their diet is considered omnivorous, consisting of berries, plants, bugs, small mammals and even a stray bird, egg or even trash. They are noted for eating the insect larvae and pests that hamper crop production, making them fairly valuable neighbors in some cases.

Their Defenses

When it comes to natural abilities to defend themselves from predators, skunks do not have much to help them. This is, of course, minus the odor. That weapon is a rather effective one.

Skunks are not particularly keen on using their chemical spray unless they have to. In most cases, they will scratch at the ground, spit and stamp to try and scare off creatures they deem as dangerous. When all else fails, they will let off their biggest weapon – the scent glands.

Skunks have anal glands that can spray out in a fanning pattern a chemical that is sulfuric acid based. This is where the smell comes from. Although it is believed they can spray over their backs, the notion is untrue. They must turn and raise their tails to properly spray. The spotted variety can, however, spray while doing what looks like a handstand.

The Power Of The Spray

They're small, relatively unassuming and not very well endowed with attack devices, yet skunks have very few natural predators. Only a few animals are known to go after them due to the powerful chemical spray they carry. The list of predators that might go out of their way for skunks include horned owls, domestic dogs, coyotes and people on occasion. Most other animals stay away and typically even the natural predators try to isolate babies rather than engage fully loaded adults.

The skunk species is small, but it packs a rather large punch. This often misunderstood creature actually does a service in most areas where it lives. Helping keep vermin and insect populations in check, this smelly neighbor to humans tends to earn its keep even if people do not like to admit it.

Still, when skunks spray, it is only natural to want to find the steps to removing skunk odor as quickly as possible.

Gretchen Messersmith is the owner of SkunkOdorGone, the website that shows you step-by-step how to quickly and easily get rid of skunk odor for good. Because of her own personal experience in this area, she is passionate about helping people remove skunk smell safely, quickly and easily.

Dog sprayed by skunk? Read the report on her site to find out how to get the smell out of your dog for good.

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