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Description
The Hooded Skunk (Mephitis macroura) is a species of skunk in the family Mephitidae. They can be distinguished from the similar striped skunk by their longer tail and longer, much softer coat of fur. A ruff of white fur around their neck gives Hooded skunks their common name. There are three color phases and in all three, a thin white medial stripe is present between the eyes: black-backed with two lateral white stripes, white-backed with one dorsal white stripe, or entirely black with a few white hairs in the tail. Hooded skunks can be found from the Southwestern United States to Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and northwest Costa Rica. They live in forests, grasslands, shrublands, deserts, and in the foothills of mountains, avoiding high elevations. These animals are often found near a water source, such as a river. They shelter in a burrow or a nest of thick plant cover during the day and are active at night. Like other skunks, for self-defense, they spray bad-smelling oily musk from two glands located near the base of their tail.

Diet and Nutrition: Their diet consists mostly of vegetation, especially prickly pear, but they also eat insects, small vertebrates, and bird eggs.

Social: Hooded skunks are solitary creatures; however, they may gather in small groups at a feeding ground without showing any signs of aggression.

Size: 11 to 13 inches long; tail is 14.5 inches and weigh 0.9 to 2 pounds.

Description
The Hooded Skunk (Mephitis macroura) is a species of skunk in the family Mephitidae. They can be distinguished from the similar striped skunk by their longer tail and longer, much softer coat of fur. A ruff of white fur around their neck gives Hooded skunks their common name. There are three color phases and in all three, a thin white medial stripe is present between the eyes: black-backed with two lateral white stripes, white-backed with one dorsal white stripe, or entirely black with a few white hairs in the tail. Hooded skunks can be found from the Southwestern United States to Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and northwest Costa Rica. They live in forests, grasslands, shrublands, deserts, and in the foothills of mountains, avoiding high elevations. These animals are often found near a water source, such as a river. They shelter in a burrow or a nest of thick plant cover during the day and are active at night. Like other skunks, for self-defense, they spray bad-smelling oily musk from two glands located near the base of their tail.

Diet and Nutrition: Their diet consists mostly of vegetation, especially prickly pear, but they also eat insects, small vertebrates, and bird eggs.

Social: Hooded skunks are solitary creatures; however, they may gather in small groups at a feeding ground without showing any signs of aggression.

Size: 11 to 13 inches long; tail is 14.5 inches and weigh 0.9 to 2 pounds.