Hooded skunk

Hooded skunk 

At least four species of skunks are found in Arizona. All of the species have scent glands on either side of their anal sphincter which secrete a secretion of musk that gives them their malodorous reputation. This defensive reaction and their striking white on black color patterns are usually enough to deter all but the most determined predator. Omnivorous, mostly nocturnal foragers, skunks are highly susceptible to the rabies virus. Indeed, early Arizonans so associated rabies with skunks that some species were termed "hydrophobia cats."

The most common of the species by far is the cat-sized striped skunk that occurs throughout Arizona and constitutes the vast majority of the road-killed mammals seen on the state's highways. The striped skunk is not only Arizona's most frequently seen skunk, it is also the largest. Weights range from about 2 ½ pounds for an adult female to an occasional 10 pounds or more for an obese male. The species always displays a thin white stripe on its face, even though the striping pattern may vary between individuals and populations. The usual markings, however, are two lateral stripes that form a chevron, merging toward the back of the head. The tail, which usually shows some white, is always shorter in length than the approximately foot-long body. Although "stripees" live almost everywhere but in the most extreme deserts, they are most often found near water. These skunks are active throughout the year and do not hibernate even in northern Arizona; the males instead form communal dens with several females.

(source:googe/http://www.azgfd.gov)