What is the real "stink" about skunks? M Huster

OK, it has been a really long time since I have posted anything on this blog. Unfortunately, my health has been terrible because I seem to catch every new bug out there that my kids bring home from their germ infested schools!

However, this post is not about that. We have noticed something very strange around here lately and it seems that no one is really talking about it. Most every night, we start to smell that aroma that is not pleasing to the nose. It is that distinct smell of a skunk. At first we thought it was the San Diego river that is just a few blocks away but our security guard finally solved this puzzle for us. He came running over one night trying to avoid being sprayed by a skunk. Just the other evening this also happened to Jim.

So, my question is, why do we never see skunks as "road kill" on our streets? Back east you couldn't drive down a street without coming across a skunk in the road. I mean the east coast skunk has so much more wide open spaces and places to hide. There is more land than road...But here in the city we are all crammed up against each other in our houses, busy streets, big city, buses, trains, cars, you name it, it is really congested here. So why don't we see dead skunks in the road?

I guess our Darwin theorists would say that the west coast skunk has evolved and made adaptations to its' environment. Maybe it has a new sensory system that has evolved to let it know when oncoming traffic is approaching. Could it be that this system has improved the skunks eye site to see and understand the colors of traffic signals? These skunks are not afraid of man. No timidity here. They actual approach humans. Maybe they have developed a sense of humor too, like, "Let's see how fast this guy can run." and laugh about it over a couple of drinks at the bar down the street. Could it be they have a neighborhood watch program? Since everything in California is so regulated to the point where we have to pay to park in our driveway, the skunks may have also bought into this regulation system as well. The west coast skunk has become an environmental conservationist. They keep our roads free and clear of debris. However,work still needs to be done about our air quality.

As for the east coast skunk, well, it is still just a shy, small brained animal with a bushy tail that can't seem to stay out of traffic even when the odds are all in his favor.