Skunks are native the Americas with one exception, the Asian Stink Badger. Scientists have only recently added this mammal to the skunk genus. Skunks, themselves, have previously been considered members of the weasel family and only recently have researchers determined that they should be considered as their own distinct family.

Skunks may live up to three (3) years in the wild but in captivity they have been known to live as long as fifteen (15) years. Life out in the wild is hard and experts estimate that nearly 90% of the skunks born in the wild do not survive the first year.