Family: Mephitidae, Skunks view all from this family
Description Top of head, back, and tail white; lower portions black. Long snout, naked on top, with broad nose pad. Foreclaws enlarged. Male larger than female. L 20–36" (513–900 mm); T 6 7/8 –16 1/8" (174–410 mm); HF 2 1/2 –3 1/2" (65–90 mm); Wt 5–10 lb (2.3–4.5 kg).
Warning All skunks are highly developed for defense and can spray their foul-smelling musk distances of up to 15 feet. Besides its overpowering odor, the musk can burn the eyes and cause momentary loss of vision.
Similar Species Striped Skunks and most Hooded Skunks have black tails. Hooded Skunk phase with white tail and back has scattered black hairs.
Breeding Mates in March; litter of 2–4 young born April–May in den in rocky crevice. Young are weaned in August.
Habitat Foothills and brushy areas.
Range Southern Arizona, much of New Mexico, se Colorado, w Oklahoma, and nw and s Texas.
Discussion Although primarily nocturnal like other skunks, the Common Hog-nosed Skunk may forage by day in winter. Its broad nose pad is an adaptation for rooting for the insects that are its chief food, which explains its alternate name, “Rooter Skunk.” This species also eats reptiles, arachnids, mollusks, small mammals, and vegetation. It makes its dens in rocky crevices. The Eastern Hog-nosed Skunk (C. leuconotus), found north of Mexico only in extreme southern Texas, is considered a separate species, although it may prove to be a subspecies. The two skunks do not occur together, although some mammalogists believe that they probably have the potential to intergrade (merge gradually with one another by interbreeding).
