Inhabits a wide variety of habitats within its range, including woodlands, grasslands, deserts, brushy areas, and rocky canyons in mountainous regions (Meaney et al. 2006). Elevation range is variable and can reach up to higher elevations in mountainous areas. In Arizona, Hog-nosed Skunk is known up to 9,000 ft. In pine-fir forests in the Graham Mountains (Hoffmeister 1986), and in Mexico they range up to 10,000 ft (Cahalane 1961).

The species is nocturnal and feeds primarily on insects, usually digging in the ground to get larvae, or using its nose to take out beetles; it is also able to find and eat fruits and small vertebrates (Dragoo and Honeycutt 1999). Dens are in rock crevices, hollow logs, underground burrows, caves, mine shafts, woodrat houses, or under buildings. Feeds mainly on insects, especially larval forms. Also eats other invertebrates, reptiles, small mammals, and some vegetation (fruits, etc.). Digs with long claws, roots in soil with snout, overturns rocks and logs.

The species is found in from northern Nicaragua north through central Guatemala and Honduras, Mexico, into the southern United States (occurring in southeastern Texas, southern Arizona and southern New Mexico). The species is notably absent from hot deserts and tropical moist evergreen forests - as well as the Baja Peninsula.

It is considered necessary to include species of Conepatus in CITES Appendix II in order to obtain data on the trade in the different species, to estimate the exploitation levels, and to enforce better control of the exports, and to avoid that one of the species is exported under the name of any of the other species (IUCN/SSC Mustelid, Viverrid and Procyonid Specialist Group 1992).