Skunks are found all across the United States with certain species found in certain areas. Here is a short guide as to what species of skunk you might find in your neighborhood.

The hog-nosed skunk is found throughout Texas, Arizona, and parts of Oklahoma. It can be identified by its large snout that looks similar to hogs, hence the name. They prefer to eat insects and vegetation, but will occasionally eat small mammals.

The hooded skunk is mostly found in the dry low-lands of Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. They prefer to live in canyons, grasslands, pastures, deserts, and woodlands. They usually live in abandoned burrows and rock crevices as opposed to digging out their own burrows. They are best identified by being smaller and leaner than other skunks, typically weighing around 5 pounds. Their heads are triangular, and their tails are longer than their bodies.

The eastern spotted skunk is located in the middle of the United States, as far south as Florida, and as far east as the Appalachian Mountains in Virginia. They mostly eat rabbits, smaller rodents, birds, and fruits. They can be identified by their slender, weasel-like bodies, shorter body length, and black and white coloration that’s spotty throughout their body. Their eyes are small and spread wide apart.

The western spotted skunk is located throughout the entirety of the west coast. They feed on insects, lizards, and vegetation. They attempt to reserve fat before the winter. They have a slender, weasel-like body, and ears that are set low on their heads.

The striped skunk is found throughout the entirety of the United States, into southern and central Canada, and Northern Mexico. Striped skunks are able to lose 50% of their body fat during winter months. Males are larger than females. During the spring months striped skunks eat insects and vegetation. During the summer months, their diet changes to mainly carnivorous where they’ll eat small mammals, eggs, and hatchlings.