striped skunk

The striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is a black-and-white mammal native to North America, known for its potent defensive spray. This spray, produced by specialized anal scent glands, contains sulfur compounds called thiols and thioacetates, which create a strong, offensive odor. Before spraying, skunks exhibit warning behaviors like stamping their paws or hissing. Skunks inhabit diverse environments such as deserts, forests, and mountains, and are primarily nocturnal carnivores that also consume vegetable matter. They are roughly the size of a house cat.1234