Here’s an animal that needs no introduction. As well-known as skunks are by sight, it’s probably their notorious predator protection that makes them famous. Skunk spray is an oily liquid produced by glands under its large tail. When threatened, a skunk turns away from the threat and blasts it with a hard-to-remove, horrible-smelling spray, which can travel as far as ten feet. Skunk spray is a marvel of chemistry, made up of seven different major volatile components. If you can look past that one, obvious, negative feature, skunks do us a lot of favors: they eat stinging insects, for example. And they are naturally immune to snake venom, so they eat venomous snakes, too. And then there’s the cuteness. The undeniable cuteness. Photo by Michael Schramm, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

americasgreatoutdoors:

This skunk family at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge is so stinkin’ cute!

Nestled in central Wisconsin, Necedah hosts habitats including wetlands, prairies, savannas and forests. The usfws refuge is home to whooping cranes, trumpeter swans, skunks and red-headed woodpeckers. Visitors to Necedah can enjoy great hiking trails and wildlife viewing. Video by Ariel Lepito.

We’re ending the year with our most popular post on Tumblr: This stink’n cute video of a skunk family at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge. 

Thanks to all of you for making 2015 a great year, and from the entire Interior family, have a safe and happy new year!

Ghost? 👻 No, it’s a spotted skunk doing a handstand at Saguaro National Park in Arizona. 

You never know what you are going to see at America’s public lands. This strange interaction was captured by Saguaro’s wildlife camera in Happy Valley. Like the other three groups of skunks, spotted skunks are capable of spraying a strong unpleasant scent as a form of defense. But before spraying, spotted skunks will sometimes go into a handstand and attempt to intimidate any would be aggressors like this skunk is doing with the wildlife camera. Video by National Park Service.

Happy Halloweeen! 🎃

DID YOU KNOW? Skunks are known for their scent but usually only attack when cornered or defending their young. However, this iconic smell is not their first method of defense. A skunk will growl, spit, fluff its fur, shake its tail, and stamp the ground. If you miss those telltale signs then get ready to have a bad day. This pic was captured at Cokeville Meadows National Wildlife Refuge in Wyoming. Photo by K. Theule, usfws.