Skunks belong to the Mephitidae family, which means “stink” in Greek.

There are technically 10 different species of skunks.

Their closest living relatives are otters, weasels, and badgers.

Dodging a skunk’s spray is extremely difficult, as they can shoot it up to 10 feet. They can do this about six times in a row. However, they don’t spray for fun—only when they feel truly threatened by a predator.

Skunks are more than capable of identifying individual humans and trusting those who are kind to them.

Farmers once used skunks for pest control, as they would eat insects and rodents.

Skunks do not hibernate in winter, but they go through long periods of sleep called winter torpor.

It is possible to keep a skunk as a pet, but its scent glands would have to be removed.

Skunks give plenty of warning signs before spraying, such as hissing and foot stomping.

The reason their spray smells so bad is because it contains oils called thiols, with sulfur as the main ingredient.

Since owls have a poor sense of smell, they are one of the few predators willing to take their chances with a skunk.

If someone doesn’t treat a skunk spray properly, the horrible smell can last for weeks.

A skunk’s striped pattern serves as a visual warning for predators to stay away.

Baby skunks are called kits, and they can actually spray before they are even a month old.

Skunks mate in early spring, and their litters typically contain four to six babies.

Fortunately, skunks are nocturnal, so you will rarely encounter one during the day.

Skunks are immune to snake venom and have been known to eat snakes—including rattlesnakes.

Despite popular belief, tomato juice doesn’t get rid of skunk smell. A mixture of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and dish soap works much better.