The Essence of Skunk

Skunks are notorious for their anal scent glands, which they can use as a defensive weapon. But did you know that they can “spray” up to 10 ft with a high degree of accuracy? That’s right the muscles located next to the scent glands allowthem to aim their spray with a high degree of accuracy. Skunks have two glands, one on each side of the anus. These glands produce a mixture of sulfur-containing chemicals, which have a highly offensive smell. The odor of the fluid is strong enough to ward off bears and other potential attackers, and can be difficult to remove from clothing. It has been confirmed by numerous studies that the smell from their anal scent glands travel less than 1 kilometer. The smell aside, the spray can cause irritation and even temporary blindness, and is sufficiently powerful to be detected by a human nose up to a mile down wind. Skunks are reluctant to use this weapon, as they carry just enough of the chemical for five or six uses – about 15 cc – and require some ten days to produce another supply. Their bold black and white coloration make their appearance memorable. It is to a skunk's advantage to warn possible predators off without expending scent. Threatened skunks will go through an elaborate routine of hisses, foot-stamping, and tail-high threat postures before resorting to spraying. Skunks usually do not spray other skunks, except among males in the mating season. If they fight over den space in autumn, they do so with teeth and claws.Skunks are common in suburban areas. Frequent encounters with dogs and other domestic animals, and the release of the odor when a skunk is run over, have led to many myths about the removal of skunk odor. Due to the chemical composition of the spray, most of these household remedies are ineffective, except for remedies able to break down the oils.Skunk spray is composed mainly of three low-molecular-weight thiol compounds, (E)-2-butene-1-thiol, 3-methyl-1-butanethiol, and 2-quinolinemethanethiol, as well as acetate thioesters of these. These compounds are detectable by the human nose at concentrations of only 10 parts per billion.

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