Skunks are not promiscuous sprayers; they spray only in self-defense. The glands on either side of the anus that concentrate the skunk spray only contain enough spray for about five shots; it takes them as long as 10 days to refill the glands. Before letting loose, a threatened skunk will hiss and stamp and raise its tail, pointing its hind parts at the threat in an attempt to intimidate. Most animals, including humans, are familiar enough with the smell of the spray to be warned off by these displays. The only animal that seems unconcerned with it is the great horned owl, which eats skunks and has an extremely poor sense of smell.
Skunks spray when they are threatened. They possess keen senses of smell and hearing, but their eyesight is poor. So they depend on smell to identify what a threat might be and hearing to identify where the threat is located. If defensive threat displays are unsuccessful at warding off predators or threats, they will eject a stream of spray in the direction of the threat. Even bears are successfully routed by skunk spray.
Male skunks are competitive during breeding season and frequently fight for access to receptive females. There are reports of combatants spraying each other, but this is generally a last resort. The males generally fight by clawing and biting. Skunks are fastidious about getting spray on themselves, and spraying during a fight almost always contaminates both combatants. Nonetheless, there have been witnessed accounts of occasional spraying during breeding combat.
Humans most often get into trouble with skunks by cornering them. Skunks are omnivores, and they will eat human trash and pet food if they are given the opportunity. This becomes problematic is in garages and barns. The skunk will typically be surprised by a human or a pet who is standing between the skunk and the only obvious way out of the structure. Humans would be well-advised to leave immediately and allow the skunk to seek an escape. Dogs, if they are inexperienced with skunks, will often bark and lunge, which only ends in grief for the dog.