Bold, beautiful and carrying the most effective defence mechanism in the woodland - our printable skunk mask is a brilliant North American classic! With that striking black and white warning colouring and that magnificent striped tail held high, the skunk is one of the most instantly recognisable animals in the Americas. Perfect for North American animals school plays, woodland habitat projects, World Book Day, birthday parties, and confidently self-assured imaginative play.

The skunk is a fantastic subject for animal defence mechanisms and warning colouration topics - its spray is one of nature's most effective deterrents and the chemistry behind it is genuinely fascinating. A mask that opens up brilliant science discussions. Every mask comes with a full colour version AND a black and white line art version for colouring in.

5 Interesting Facts About Skunks!

A skunk's spray can reach up to 3 metres accurately and create a detectable smell up to 1.5km downwind - the sulphurous compound (thiol) is so potent that the human nose can detect it at concentrations of 10 parts per billion.
Skunks always warn before spraying - they stamp their front feet, raise their tail, and sometimes do a handstand before firing. This elaborate warning display means most predators learn to avoid them without ever getting sprayed.
They have enough spray for about five or six shots - after that it takes up to 10 days to replenish, so they use it sparingly and only as a last resort.
Great horned owls are one of the skunk's only natural predators - they have a very poorly developed sense of smell and are completely unbothered by the spray, which makes them unique among mammals and birds.
Skunk spray can be neutralised with hydrogen peroxide and baking soda - the popular belief that tomato juice removes the smell is a myth; it only masks it temporarily while the thiol compounds remain active.

Printable Skunk Mask

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