What Is a Group of Skunks Called? Here's Why You've Never Asked Before

Adult skunks don't typically gather in groups, which may be why you've never thought to ask what a group of them is called. Sanit Fuangnakhon / Shutterstock

Skunks wander through yards, forests and fields across North and South America, usually alone and minding their own business. Since they're largely loners, we wouldn't be surprised if you've never thought to ask, "What is a group of skunks called?"

Skunks are solitary animals for most of their lives, but English still has a specific collective noun for those rare moments when they gather.

Contents

A Group of Skunks Is Called a Surfeit
Why Skunks Rarely Form Groups
When You Might See a Group of Skunks
Striped Skunks and Other Species
The Famous Skunk Spray
Living Near Skunks
Skunks in the Wild

A Group of Skunks Is Called a Surfeit

A group of skunks is called a surfeit. This is one of the more unusual collective nouns and it fits the animal’s reputation.

The word "surfeit" suggests excess, which makes sense given the powerful smell skunks can produce. A surfeit of skunks is not something most people want lingering in the back yard.

Why Skunks Rarely Form Groups

Adult skunks spend most of the year searching for food, defending territory and avoiding predators on their own. They eat insects, grubs, small rodents and other prey they can overpower.

Solitary living reduces competition and helps skunks avoid unnecessary trouble, so it makes sense that skunks prefer to live alone.

When You Might See a Group of Skunks

Skunks commonly appear together only during the mating season or when females are raising young, although in colder regions multiple females may share communal dens for warmth. (Female skunks raise babies in a nest or sheltered den.)

A mother and her litter may look like a group, but this family unit is temporary. Once the young mature, they leave to live alone.

Striped Skunks and Other Species

Striped skunks are the species most people recognize, but several skunk species exist across different habitats.

All skunks share similar warning signs, including raised tails, stamping feet and turning their backs toward a threat. These signals tell predators to back off.

The Famous Skunk Spray

Skunks are best known for spraying a foul-smelling liquid from their anal glands.

This spray creates a powerful smell that can travel up to a mile (1.6 km) away. The stench is strong enough to deter predators like foxes, birds and even larger animals such as deer.

Humans, dogs and cats learn this lesson quickly.

Living Near Skunks

Skunks often create shelter under decks, sheds or abandoned burrows on a property. They search yards for insects, trash and pet food.

If a skunk sprays near a home, people sometimes reach for baking soda, rubber gloves and plenty of patience to manage the odor. Truth be told, prevention works better than any cleanup strategy.

Skunks in the Wild

In the wild, skunks help control insect and rodent populations. Despite their reputation, they play an important role in local ecosystems.

Seeing a surfeit of skunks is rare, but knowing the term adds a bit of language history to an already memorable animal.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.