Rolf Nussbaumer / Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) drinking from wetland lake at night, Fennessey Ranch, Refugio, Coastal Bend, Texas, USA

Tim Fitzharris / Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) kit, North America

Konrad Wothe / Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) kit on log with raised tail to spray, North America

Konrad Wothe / Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) kit pair in a log, North America

LYNN M. STONE / Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) USA captive

LYNN M. STONE / Striped skunk, Minnesota, USA.

Ingo Arndt / Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) in early spring, North America

Ingo Arndt / Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis), North America

Rolf Nussbaumer / Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis), adult at night walking on log. Laredo, Webb County, South Texas, USA, April.

Rolf Nussbaumer / Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) drinking from wetland lake at night, Fennessey Ranch, Refugio, Coastal Bend, Texas, USA

Sebastian Kennerknecht / Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) walking through backyard at night, Santa Cruz, Monterey Bay, California

Sebastian Kennerknecht / Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) walking through backyard at night, Santa Cruz, Monterey Bay, California

Dave Watts / Striped Skunk {Mephitis mephitis} in snow, USA

Dave Watts / Striped Skunk {Mephitis mephitis} in snow, USA

Rolf Nussbaumer / Striped Skunk {Mephitis mephitis} drinking at night, Hill Country, Texas, USA

Michael Durham / Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) emerges from a burrow under a chicken coop on Sauvie Island, Oregon. Photographed at night with a remote camera

Tim Fitzharris / Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) kit eating wildflowers, North America

Tim Fitzharris / Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) kit smelling a wildflower, North America

Larry Michael / Striped skunk head portrait (Mephitis mephitis) Wisconsin, USA

Michael Durham / Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) foraging amid leaf litter at night, Coronado National Forest, Arizona

Tom Vezo / Back view of Striped skunk {Mephitis mephitis} on top of rock, Montana, USA, captive

JEFF FOOTT / Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) Montana, USA

Larry Michael / Striped skunk, taxidermy mount {Mephitis mephitis} Wisconsin, USA

Tom Vezo / Striped skunk {Mephitis mephitis} on top of rock, Montana, USA captive

Tom Vezo / Striped skunk {Mephitis mephitis} on top of rock with tail raised in defence, Montana, USA captive

Rolf Nussbaumer / Striped skunk {Mephitis mephitis} in defensive pose, Welder Wildlife Refuge, Sinton, Texas, USA.

Rolf Nussbaumer / Striped skunk {Mephitis mephitis} adult, Welder Wildlife Refuge, Sinton, Texas, USA.

Michael Quinton / Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) on snow-covered river bank, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Michael Quinton / Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) two babies in the spring, Idaho

LYNN M. STONE / Striped skunks in defensive posture (Mephitis mephitis) USA captive

Tom Vezo / Striped skunk {Mephitis mephitis} on top of rock, Montana, USA C

Sebastian Kennerknecht / Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) drinking at waterhole at night, Aptos, Monterey Bay, California

Matthias Breiter / Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) juvenile on road, Kenora, Ontario, Canada

Matthias Breiter / Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) juvenile on road, Kenora, Ontario, Canada

Sebastian Kennerknecht / Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) at night, Aptos, Monterey Bay, California

Tom Vezo / Side profile of Striped skunk, tail raised {Mephitis mephitis} captive, USA

Thomas Lazar / Striped skunk male with tail raised in alarm {Mephitis mephitis} captive Minnesota USA