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Estimated Read Time: 5 minutes

Beyond the Smell 

World-renowned for its world-class defence mechanism, the striped skunk is more than just a bad smell. 

You know their iconic smell. But how well do you really know skunks?

Sure, skunks are ubiquitous across the country, but they’re more than a smellier, stockier urban neighbour of the raccoon.

If you’ve ever seen a skunk, most likely it’s the striped skunk – the most commonly found species in Canada and the only species found in this Rocky Mountain ecosystem. But there are numerous skunk species and all but two live in the Americas.

The two globe-trotting skunks are two versions of the Stink badger found in the Philippines and Indonesia respectively: We tell you this so you can now beat your family at useless animal geography trivia – congratulations! – and so we can start debating whether Pepé Le Pew was actually an invasive species. For shame Warner Bros!

via GIPHY

Sorry, moving on…

And yet skunks didn’t evolve here. 

Long believed to be members of the mustelid or weasel family – because of their claws, teeth and general out-sized brute strength – skunks did likely evolve from a member of the weasel family: the Polecat. Yet once they found their way to our shores millions of years ago, a new environment – and new predators – meant they needed to evolve new skills to survive and contribute to their new homes. 

You know, Darwin’s survival of the fittest and all of that. 

How? 

 

They evolved their distinct ‘musk’ that can be shot from their anal glands.  

Scientists always make these things sound so elegant, don’t they? 

Obviously, we all know what a skunk smells like, but what you might not know is that it’s more than a bad smell. A direct hit from one of their two smell-cannons can cause painful nausea and temporary blindness. Or worse.  

In fact, being skunked by a skunk can be so dangerous to predators, they evolved their distinctive markings. Why? In order for skunks to be less camouflaged in their environment.  

Let me

explain.

It’s called aposematic colouration and its purpose is to help certain species, like skunks, stand-out and warn possible predators not to mess with them. Which seems counterintuitive until you understand these two evolutionary reasonings:

For one, biodiversity values its predators. They’re the regulators of the food chain. And because skunks have the power to suspend or destroy a predators’ skillset – eyes, smell – skunks can potentially prevent predators from doing their jobs, thus creating a negative ripple effect across the ecosystem. Think of it as an evolutionary fail-safe that offers fair warning to attackers and, amazingly, predators seem to understand. Very cool. 

But here’s the bigger reason: With fewer predators, skunks are free to inhabit areas of the landscape where they might otherwise be unable to carve out their niche.

What are skunks niche you ask? Well, they’re essentially biodiversity’s soldier of fortune. They are one the best pest and insect controllers in any ecosystem – over 70% of their diet takes care of species that hurt our economies, especially agricultural. And they also help manage disease – killing insects that spread it and, at times, helping incubate diseases that can be spread to control populations of other species.

via GIPHY

Like I said, they’re soldiers of fortune. Skunks are just trying to survive, but biodiversity has repurposed skunks – and given them a leg up – so that they can keep our ecosystems in balance.  

Which means sometimes they’re on team human; sometimes they’re not. But they’re always doing nature’s important dirty work. 

So, who keeps the skunk soldiers in check?

Well, the diseases they carry can also kill them. And most skunks don’t even make it to adulthood. If they do, skunks do have one predator – you know, just in case they get cocky. Birds of prey (owls and eagles, mainly) are the only predator largely immune to the skunks stinky strategy. 

I should note here that skunks are aware that, um, they don’t always smell like roses.  

They’re very patient critters that give fair notice even to those who ignore their black and white warning markings. Skunks don’t release their bomb if they’re, say, downwind of their own rear. They won’t smell up the joint if it’s in closed quarters, lest they have to smell what they dealt.

One exception? If a lady skunk isn’t feeling the moves being put on by a male skunk, they’ll let them know the smelly way.

That’s one way to take care of unwanted suitors.

via GIPHY

But interestingly, these solitary, nocturnal animals that loathe to spend time even with each other (unless it’s very cold and then they will relent and invite a fellow skunk into their den) don’t seem to mind mixing with us humans. 

Partly it’s because skunks have so much faith in their evolutionary superpower of smell, they think we won’t mess with them (and that’s why so many die on highways). And partly it’s because they’ve learned to adapt and thrive in our presence. 

At a time when it seems we’re unable to coexist with many species, skunks offer people a counterpoint. Is it positive or negative? It’s unclear. But there is a lesson to be learned from why one species – killer of pests and regulator of disease – is willing to live alongside people and it probably would be smart for us to understand it. 

After all, skunks are more than just a bad smell – they’re on a mission for nature, whether we like it or not.  

What do you think?

  • How much did you know about skunks before this story? How did you know so much, or why did you know so little?
  • What was the most surprising thing you learned while reading this story? Why did you find it surprising? How would you share what you’ve learned from this story with your friends and family?
  • Do you think skunks matter? Why or why not?
  • How have your opinions on skunks been influenced by media and pop culture?
  • Do you think your perspectives on skunks have been shaped because of the media you’ve consumed in the past? How could you learn more about skunks - and different perspectives - about skunks going forward without it becoming a chore?
  • How do skunks impact your world? If skunks disappeared from a region, how might it affect your life? Would it?
  • Do you know if skunks live in your area? If they do, are they doing well? Are any threatened? If not, where is the closest area they are?
  • What local decisions impact skunks? Are there any citizen science projects to help others learn about skunks in your area? Are there community research programs? Any stories about skunks? How might different careers influence the future of skunks?
  • Do you think our society is making well informed decisions when it comes to skunks? Why do you think that? What would you do better?
  • How might you be a better steward of skunks through your passions and hobbies?
  • What do we not know when it comes to the skunk in Mount Robson, or your community? Do we know enough, or do we need to know more about their role in the ecosystem and their value to biodiversity to make important decisions for people and nature? If so, what?

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