Britannica Sources used in this answer

How far can a skunk accurately aim its spray?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) — skunk Striped skunk (*Mephitis mephitis*).

Skunks are highly effective at defending themselves using a potent, noxious spray produced by specialized anal glands. When a skunk has a specific target, it uses coordinated muscle control to aim the spray as a stream directly at the face of a predator. This stream is accurate to about two metres, or more than six feet. While this distance represents the skunk's range of precision, the total distance the spray can travel is considerably farther.12