Skunk Caught on Camera Giving Its Best Olympic Gymnastics Team Tryout

What most people know about skunks is that they give off a pungent scent whenever they feel scared or threatened. But here’s something else to know about these black-and-white animals: They have seriously awesome acrobatic moves.

Well, this one does anyway. A wildlife camera in Happy Valley at Saguaro National Park in Arizona caught this sprightly spotted skunk walking on his hands, and for an impressive amount of time. It’s clear he’s going for the gold medal here, right? Such impeccable balance, such skill!

Turns out, this strange handstand dance is, like the unpleasant odor, a form of defense: Before spraying, spotted skunks will sometimes go into a handstand as an attempt to intimidate any would-be aggressors. That’s according to the U.S. Department of Interior’s Instagram account, which first posted this crazy clip. Check it out!

You never know what you are going to see at America’s #publiclands. Case in point: A spotted skunk doing a handstand at #Saguaro National Park in #Arizona. This strange interaction was captured by Saguaro’s wildlife camera in Happy Valley. Like the other three groups of skunks, spotted #skunks are capable of spraying a strong unpleasant scent as a form of defense. But before spraying, spotted skunks will sometimes go into a handstand and attempt to intimidate any would be aggressors like this skunk is doing with the #wildlife camera. Video by #NationalPark Service.

A video posted by U.S. Department of the Interior (@usinterior) on Nov 4, 2015 at 11:28am PST

via Mirror.co.uk