The beautiful, though shy Hooded Skunk is a lovely little creature that is known in various parts of southwestern North America. These animals are rather rare, and not much is known about their behavior.

Hooded Skunks are rather shy and secretive in habit. Although they feed primarily on insects, Hooded Skunks have also been known to eat plant materials, particularly prickly pear fruits, and small mammals like rodents. During the day, Hooded Skunks usually shelter in burrows or under vegetation. They are usually active at night. Hooded Skunks inhabit scrubland or arid areas near streams or riverbeds. They have also been found in rocky canyons.

Most male Hooded Skunks weigh between 800 and 900 grams, and the smaller females usually weigh between 400 and 700 grams. By maturity they are often 700 millimeters long, with females about 50 millimeters shorter than males. Their tails make up about half of their body length. Hooded Skunks have been found in two colorations. The first pattern has black hair over its entire body save for the white back. Various white patches may also be present in the under-parts, and a white patch is present on the top of the head. Often two narrow white stripes are located behind the shoulders. The next coloration pattern seen in Hooded Skunks is black with two white stripes running along the sides of the animals. This coloration often includes black coloring over the tail with a white underside. Both color patterns of Hooded Skunks have longer hair over the upper necks than over the rest of their bodies. All Hooded Skunks have relatively soft, long fur.

Hooded Skunks are native to Mexico, and a few range up through the United States into areas of moderate elevation in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. Fortunately, despite the nice tactile qualities of their fur, the Hooded Skunk is not often hunted for its pelt because the fur does not sell for much money. They are not often seen, probably due to their relatively small numbers and their secretive habits.

It is reported that wild caught Hooded Skunks are often less aggressive than many species of skunk.

The Hooded Skunk probably mates in the early spring, around February. After a gestation period of about 63 days, a litter of about three young is born. Two litters may be born each year.