• Skunks are found only in North America.
  • A skunk appears to resemble a cat.
  • It has a brown nose and a white stripe down the nose. It will usually have a black and white V-stripe down its back, but skunks can be bred in other colors.
  • Skunks are very nearsighted. They cannot see objects more than 10 feet away.
  • They have long nails.
  • Weigh about 15 pounds.
  • They walk in a slow, dignified stroll, but they can run about 10 miles an hour.
  • They usually go about at night and sleep all day.
  • They can live to age 6 or so.
  • All skunks are curious and nosy.
  • They eat insects and leaves and love garbage. If a skunk gets its head stuck in a garbage can, it will stumble around with the can on its head. If that happens, hold it up by the tail so it cannot spray and shake the can till it falls off.
  • Sounds a skunk makes: Hiss, grumble, mumble, whistle, chatter, growl.
  • When a skunk senses danger, it sprays that stinky skunk smell to protect itself. The spray comes out of two glands in its backside between its back legs and looks like an oily yellow fog or cloud. You can smell the spray more than a mile way. If you are sprayed, the smell stays in your clothes for days.
  • A skunk can spray up to 5 times in a row. Then it takes a few days to recharge.
  • It sprays up to 10 feet. The spray burns eyes and skin.
  • First the skunk stands still and bends its body so the head and tail are facing the target. Then it stomps its front feet and may chatter or hiss or growl before spraying. It gives a warning: It points its rear end at you while its tail stands straight up like a fire pole — then it sprays.
  • A baby skunk can be trained as a pet and housebroken. It will play with its reflection in the mirror.
  • You can buy a descented skunk or have the scent glands removed by a vet. BUT ONCE YOU DO, THE SKUNK CANNOT GO OUT INTO THE WILD BECAUSE IT HAS NO WAY TO PROTECT ITSELF.
  • CAUTION: SMELVIS IS NOT LIKE ANY OTHER SKUNK!
    SMELVIS IS THE ONLY SKUNK WITH WHITE AND PURPLE STRIPES AND THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN SPRAY TWO DIFFERENT SCENTS—THAT STINKY SKUNK SMELL OR THE SCENT OF SWEET PERFUME.