Any one of several species of American musteline carnivores of the genus Mephitis and allied genera. They have two glands near the anus, secreting an extremely fetid liquid, which the animal ejects at pleasure as a means of defense.

American musteline mammal typically ejecting an intensely malodorous fluid when startled; in some classifications put in a separate subfamily Mephitinae

a North American mamal in the weasel family

a rabies vector species, which means it has the potential to carry and transmit rabies, so do not attempt to trap or capture it

Any of several boldly patterned, nocturnal omnivores, noted for their pungent defense mechanism. Represented in the North Country by the common Striped Skunk ( Mephitis mephitis). From the Abnaki (Eastern Algonkin) segankw/ segongw. Jikaag in the Ojibwe.

Skunks are moderately small mammals, usually with black-and-white fur, belonging to the family Mephitidae and to the order Carnivora. There are 11 species of skunks, which are divided into four genera: Mephitis (hooded and striped skunks, two species), Spilogale (spotted skunks, two species), Mydaus (stink badgers, two species), and Conepatus (hog-nosed skunks, five species). The two skunk species in the Mydaus genus inhabit Indonesia and the Philippines; all other skunks inhabit the Americas from Canada to central South America.