The skunk, a member of the weasel family, is represented by four species in North America. The skunk has short, stocky legs and large feet equipped with claws that enable it to be very adept at digging.
Striped skunks are the most abundant of the four species.
They are characterized by jet black fur with prominent lateral white stripes that run down their backs. The body of the striped skunk is about the size of an ordinary house cat. Skunks should not be needlessly destroyed. They are highly beneficial to farmers, gardeners, and landowners because they feed on large numbers of agricultural and garden pests. Skunks occasionally feed on ground-nesting birds, but their impact is usually minimal due to the large abundance of alternative foods.