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

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

John Downer Productions / Spotted skunk does handstand as initial warning then sprays out stench if warning not heeded (Resolution restriction - image digitised from film, 'Weird Nature' tv series)

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

Suzi Eszterhas / Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) one-month-old orphaned baby (orphaned when mother was hit by car)held in hand, Sarvey Wildlife Care Center, Arlington, Washington, USA. June.

Sylvain Cordier / Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) captive, USA, September.

Sylvain Cordier / Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) in garbage can, captive, USA, September.

Suzi Eszterhas / Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) orphaned babies age two weeks, separated from mother by pest removal service, WildCare, San Rafael, California, May.

Suzi Eszterhas / Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) two-week-old orphaned baby on scale, separated from mother by pest removal service, WildCare, San Rafael, California, March.

Suzi Eszterhas / Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) Lyanne Schuster giving subcutaneous fluids to orphaned baby age 4-5 weeks old,, WildCare, San Rafael, California, June. Model released.

Claudio Contreras / Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) Laredo Borderlands, Texas, USA. April

MYN / Clay Bolt / Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) orphan in rehabilitation, Southern Appalachians, South Carolina, United States, April. Meetyourneighbours.net project

John Cancalosi / Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) in tree hollow, Ithaca, New York, May

John Cancalosi / Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) in tree hollow, Ithaca, New York, May

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

Shattil & Rozinski / Three young Striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) defensive behaviour with their tails up, Montana, USA, Summer

Hanne & Jens Eriksen / Hog nosed skunk {Conepates humboldtii} Seno Otway, Chile

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

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

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.

Hermann Brehm / Hog nosed / Patagonian skunk {Conepates humboldtii} Torres del Paine NP, Chile

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

Gabriel Rojo / Hog nosed skunk {Conepates humboldtii} Patagonia, Argentina

Thomas Lazar / Spotted skunk following trail {Spilogale putorius} Minnesota, USA - captive

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

Suzi Eszterhas / Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) orphaned juvenile skunks and veterinary technician, Nat Smith, WildCare, San Rafael, 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

Joel Sartore / Photo Ark / Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis hudsonica), aged 1 year, portrait, Zoo Idaho. Captive, occurs in North America.

Joel Sartore / Photo Ark / Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis hudsonica), aged 1 year, head and shoulders portrait, Zoo Idaho. Captive, occurs in North America.

Joel Sartore / Photo Ark / Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis hudsonica), aged 1 year, portrait, Zoo Idaho. Captive, occurs in North America.

Joel Sartore / Photo Ark / Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis hudsonica), aged 1 year, portrait, Zoo Idaho. Captive, occurs in North America.

Joel Sartore / Photo Ark / Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis hudsonicas) profile, Zoo Idaho. Captive.

Suzi Eszterhas / Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) kit aged one month in hand of carer, orphaned in road collision. Sarvey Wildlife Care Center, Arlington, Washington, USA. June 2015.

Suzi Eszterhas / Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) kit aged one month in hand of carer, orphaned in road collision. Sarvey Wildlife Care Center, Arlington, Washington, USA. June 2015.

Mark Taylor / Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis), captive, occurs in North America.