The skunk, with iconic black-and-white markings on its back, is a small and furry omnivore found primarily in the Western Hemisphere. The nocturnal creature is most active at dusk and dawn, and lives in a wide variety of habitats including forests, woodlands, mountains, and deserts. The mild-mannered mammal is "notorious" for its defense mechanism in the animal kingdom – stench. It uses its extremely well-developed anal glands to release noxious stench to ward off predators.