Where Does a Skunks Spray Come From?
The black, white-striped skunk is best known for its stinky spray, and if skunk raises its tail in defense, you should flee immediately. The funky smell that skunks spray actually come from their anal scent glands, which they use to defend themselves against predators and mischievous humans. Skunks have two anal glands on each side of their anus that produce a mix of chemicals that contain sulfur. The unbearable smell that it creates is often compared to rotten eggs and rotten garbage. Its smell is so strong that when sprayed, it can even deter large animals like bears. The aspect of the skunk’s spray that makes it so powerful, aside from the stench, is its spray distance. Skunks have muscles that are located beside the anal glands that give skunks the ability to spray up to fifteen feet! Skunk Spray Myths Despite common beliefs, skunks can’t go around spraying every attacker and human as they feel threatened. That’s because they only have enough of the chemical in their glands to spra
