Because they are active at night, many people never see the animals, even in areas with a large skunk population. Skunks will use any sheltered place as a den including wood piles, animal burrows, under homes, decks, and sheds. Breeding may begin as early as January. Litters are born 9 weeks after conception with an average of 4 - 8 young. The young skunks stay with the female for several months, but usually begin to disperse by mid to late summer.
Skunks become a problem when their activities conflict with human interests.
When skunks take shelter under homes, decks, or in garages, their presence is not usually tolerated by occupants of the building. All skunks have the ability to discharge a nauseating musk from their anal glands. They are capable of spraying their musk several times with accuracy to about 10 feet. Confrontation with pets often results in the pet being sprayed or bitten. Skunks can also cause severe damage to gardens and lawns by their digging activities.