It is characterized by a black body with a narrow white stripe on the forehead and wider stripes that extend from the neck along each side of the back. Some white may also be present on the top of the black bushy tail. The body size is comparable to a house cat, with most adult skunks measuring about 24 inches long and weighing about 4 to 8 pounds. Skunks have sharp claws on the front feet used for digging insects and worms. There footprint and moving pattern distinguishes them from other similar-sized animals.
Skunks are members of the weasel family, all of which possess scent glands near the anus.
However, the skunk has the most advanced scent gland development. The glands contain approximately 15 cc of a yellowish, oily liquid. This fluid is a sulfur compound, n-butyl mercaptan . A skunk can discharge a spray of this fluid as far as 15 feet and spray up to six times in succession. It takes up to 10 days to replenish the supply of liquid after full discharge.