Skunks physical appearance varies between each species and subspecies. For the most part however, all skunks have short, stocky legs. Their feet are much larger in proportion to their legs and have long claws.

With fur as black as night, and white lateral stripes running the length of its back, striped skunks have perhaps the most famous coloring of all of the species. These skunks are often likened to the size of a domestic house cats. They are on average 29 inches long and weigh about eight (8) to ten (10) pounds.

Spotted skunks are noticeably smaller than the striped skunks. They average 21 inches long and weigh only two (2) to 2 ½ pounds. As their name indicates they are more spotted than stripped. Spotted skunks will have white spots and some white striping on top of a base of jet black fur.

Hooded skunks have a distinctive fur “hood” on their necks which is essentially longer fur that appears denser and looks similar to a hood on a jacket. In size they are nearly identical to the striped skunk, but have a very long tail that is nearly the same length as their body. Their back fur color can range from practically all white to all black with two (2) white side stripes.

The Hog-nosed skunk is normally identified by a long snout that is conspicuously missing hair for the last inch or so before the eyes. This is a medium sized skunk weighing in at four (4) pounds and reaching up to 26 inches in length. This species is much different in coloring than the others with a white back and tale and black belly.