The North American skunks are often called polecats because their habits are similar to those of the European polecat. Polecats prey mainly on mice, rats, and other rodents. They also feed on birds, eggs, rabbits, fish, reptiles, insects, amphibians, and fruit.
Polecats are active mostly at night and rely on their sense of smell to locate food.
They usually live in an underground burrow, which has a special section to store extra food. Polecats live alone, except during the mating season or when the female is raising her young. Five to eight young are born about 40 days after mating. They leave their mother after three months. When frightened, polecats discharge a strong-smelling fluid from scent glands under the tail.