Why skunk sprays

More Like This. HH - Articles - Email Signup. Woodstream Family of Brands. All Rights Reserved. King Street, Lancaster, PA Please enter your email address below to create account. Skunks can aim their spray — Most meat-eating mammals have anal glands for the purpose of secreting a potent, oily substance, not just skunks! These scent glands have evolved to fulfil different purposes in different mammals. For example, wolverines use theirs to mark territory, and minks use theirs as a repellant.

Skunks are the only animal who use theirs as a defense mechanism. The skunk can manipulate its sphincter muscles in order control the direction these nipples spray, and it can adjust the consistency of the spray by making the opening of the nipples larger or smaller. Skunk spray is so potent that it can induce vomiting and cause temporary blindness.

Skunks use spray as a last resort — It is a common misconception that skunks spray all the time. They actually only use their spray as a last resort when they feel they have exhausted all of their other defense mechanisms. The omnivorous cat-sized mammals roam a large swath of North America, foraging for insects—their favorite food—and scarfing up mice and all kinds of plants.

Their distinctive black and white coloring is theoretically the first warning that they should not be trifled with, says Kerns. The skunk may stamp its feet. To spray, skunks turn around, form their backs into a horseshoe shape, lift their tail, and release. If you ever see a skunk in this position…run! Skunk spray consists of a chemical called N-butly mercaptan, which is a pungent mix of sulfur-based compounds.

The skunk stores the spray in glands positioned alongside its anus, which is why it needs to lift its tail to spray. Keeping skunks from coming near your yard to begin with is very important.

Luckily, there are a variety of options for protecting your yard. This unique product is an electric device that uses a built-in sensor to detect motion before releasing the repellent. If you, your home, or your pet were unable to dodge a spray, here are some helpful tips for removing the odor:. Ever been affected by skunk spray? Share your stories and pictures on our Facebook page.