Skunks are found in brushy, rocky, or wooded habitat. They dig their own burrows with their long front claws when necessary, but will make use of existing dens made by other animals. They will also make dens in hollow trees or fallen logs, rocky crevices, and in or around farm buildings. Striped skunks are sometimes found along beaches, where they hole up in piles of driftwood or scratch shallow dens in the sand. They also frequently live in underground dens in fencerows near pasture or hay crops.
Skunks are nocturnal, active from dusk to dawn, sleeping during the day in their dens.
They will move from one den to another, reacting to availability of food and perceived level of safety. Spotted skunks are quite playful with each other, even as adults. They often live communally, with six to eight individuals to a den. Skunks have many small pads on the soles of their feet. It is thought that these pads may explain the spotted skunks' tree-climbing ability.