SKUNK SPECIES VARY IN SIZE FROM ABOUT 15.6 " TO  37 " AND IN WEIGHT FROM 1.1 TO 18 LBS. THEY HAVE MODERATELY ELONGATED BODIES WITH RELATIVELY SHORT BUT WELL-MUSCLED LEGS, AND LONG FRONT CLAWS FOR DIGGING. SKUNKS ARE OMNIVOROUS, EATING BOTH PLANT AND ANIMAL MATERIAL AND CHANGING THEIR DIET AS THE SEASONS CHANGE. THEY EAT INSECTS, LARVAE, EARTHWORMS, GRUBS, RODENTS SMALL LIZARDS, FROGS, SNAKES, BIRDS, MOLES AND EGGS. THEY ALSO COMMONLY EAT BERRIES, FRUIT, LEAVES, ROOTS, FUNGI AND NUTS. IN SETTLED AREAS THEY WILL ALSO EAT HUMAN GARBAGE. PET OWNERS, PARTICULARLY CATS, MAY EXPERIENCE A SKUNK FINDING IT'S WAY INTO A GARAGE OR BASEMENT WHERE PET FOOD IS KEPT. SKUNKS COMMONLY DIG HOLES IN LAWNS IN SEARCH FOR GRUBS AND WORMS. 

​SKUNKS ARE CREPUSCULAR AND SOLITARY ANIMALS, WHEN NOT BREEDING. DURING THE DAY, THEY SHELTER THEMSELVES DURING THE DAY IN BURROWS THAT THEY DIG WITH THEIR POWERFUL FRONT CLAWS. SKUNKS ARE NOT TRUE HIBERNATORS BUT DO HOLD UP IN DENS FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME IN THE WINTER. HOWEVER, THEY REMAIN GENERALLY INACTIVE AND FEED RARELY, GOING THROUGH A DORMANT STAGE. ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE EXCELLENT SENSES OF SMELL AND HEARING, THEY HAVE POOR VISION, BEING UNABLE TO SEE OBJECTS MORE THAN TEN FEET AWAY, MAKING THEM VULNERABLE TO DEATH BY ROAD TRAFFIC. THEY ARE SHORT-LIVED; THEIR LIFESPAN IN THE WILD CAN REACH SEVEN YEARS, WITH MOST ONLY LIVING UP TO A YEAR. SKUNKS MATE IN EARLY SPRING AND LATE WINTER. GESTATION IS AROUND 60 TO 66 DAYS. BEFORE GIVING BIRTH, THE FEMALE EXCAVATES A DEN TO HOUSE HER LITTER OF FOUR TO SEVEN KITS. SKUNKS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR THEIR ANAL SCENT GLANDS, WHICH THEY CAN USE AS A DEFENSIVE WEAPON. SKUNKS ARE RELUCTANT TO USE THIS WEAPON AS THEY CARRY JUST ENOUGH OF THE CHEMICAL FOR FIVE OR SIX USES AND REQUIRE TEN DAYS TO PRODUCE ANOTHER SUPPLY. IT IS RARE FOR A HEALTHY SKUNK TO BITE A HUMAN. THE MOST PREVALENT CAUSE OF SKUNKS BITING HUMAN IS THE RABIES VIRUS. 

SKUNKS ARE TRAPPED IN HUMANE CAGE TYPE TRAPS AS IS USED FOR RACCOONS ETC.  WHEN THEY ARE REMOVED, WE GENTLY PLACE A TARP OVER THE TRAP AND THEN TRANSFER THEM INTO A SPECIALLY DESIGNED BOX WHERE THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SPRAY ANYTHING. ONCE WE HAVE THEM SECURED, WE TAKE THEM TO OUR VEHICLE AND RE-BAIT AND SET THE TRAP.