Skunk Wikipedia

The wordskunkis dated from the 1630s, adapted from a southern New England Algonquian language (probably Abenaki) seganku, from Proto-Algonquian šeka:kwa, from šek- 'to urinate' + *-a:kw 'fox'. [3]Skunkhas historic use as an insult, attested from 1841. [4] In 1634, askunkwas described in The Jesuit Relations: The other is a low animal, about the size of a little dog or cat. I mention ... The stripedskunk(Mephitis mephitis) is askunkof the genus Mephitis that occurs across much of North America, including southern Canada, the United States, and northern Mexico. [3] It is currently listed as least concern by the IUCN on account of its wide range and ability to adapt to human-modified environments. [1] Stripedskunksare polygamous omnivores with few natural predators, save ... Mephitidae is a family of mammals comprising theskunksand stink badgers. They are noted for the great development of their anal scent glands, which they use to deter predators.Skunkswere formerly classified as a subfamily of the Mustelidae (the weasel family); however, in the 1990s, genetic evidence causedskunksto be treated as a separate family. [1] Similarly, the stink badgers had been ... Because theskunk'sspray would ruin furniture (the bad smell is almost impossible to remove) and the smell would affect other people, theskunk'sglands (the organs that produce the spray) are removed. However, professionals think that this harms theskunk, so in many places this is illegal. Skunk, black-and-white mammal, found primarily in the Western Hemisphere, that uses extremely well-developed scent glands to release a noxious odor in defense. Primarily nocturnal,skunksare a diverse group of carnivores that live in a wide variety of habitats, including deserts, forests, and mountains. Skunk- Defense, Habitat, Odor:Skunksremain solitary except during the breeding season.Skunksare valuable because mostskunksprey primarily on insects, especially those harmful to agriculture.Skunksare now classified as the family Mephitidae; this classification includes four genera: Conepatus, Spilogale, Mephitis, and Mydaus. Skunksare well known to be able to spray a yellow liquid with a strong and unpleasant smell from their scent glands. They commonly have black fur with white stripes on top, which acts as a warning to potential predators. There are many kinds ofskunkspecies, generally organized into four main categories. Rescue, Rehabilitate, Release wild animals. Learn aboutskunks, habitat, diet & more. Discover how Critter Care Wildlife Society helps orphaned animals & projects. Give today to sponsor an orphaned animal or project. You may not have seen askunkin your neighborhood, but you've probably smelled one. Their smelly spray, called musk, is not easy to ignore!Skunkslive all over North and South America, in rural areas, suburbs, and the city. But if you see one, watch out! The spray, which comes from two glands near the base of theskunk'stail, can hit a target 12 feet (3.7 meters) away. If you are lucky ... Skunksare mammals in the family Mephitidae. They are known for their ability to spray a liquid with a strong, unpleasant scent from their anal glands. Different species ofskunkvary in appearance from black-and-white to brown, cream or ginger colored, but all have warning coloration.