# Do skunks stink only after they spray?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-skunks-stink-only-after-they-spray/551964
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [August 30, 2010, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-skunks-stink-only-after-they-spray/551964 "2010-08-30T03:48:52Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2010, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-skunks-stink-only-after-they-spray/551964/21 "2010-08-30T22:43:33Z")
When I was younger I lived in an area with lots of skunks.
I have several times been within 1 foot or less of wild skunks. I never noticed an odor.
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### Author:  [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2010, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-skunks-stink-only-after-they-spray/551964/22 "2010-08-30T23:12:35Z")
UC Santa Barbara is rural enough that they have skunks roaming around the campus all the time. The ones I saw didn’t smell, but then I was only just close enough to see how cute they are (very!)
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### Author:  [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)
#### Post date: [August 30, 2010, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-skunks-stink-only-after-they-spray/551964/23 "2010-08-30T23:17:04Z")
> [@Silver Tyger Girl](#):
>
> UC Santa Barbara is rural enough that they have skunks roaming around the campus all the time. The ones I saw didn’t smell, but then I was only just close enough to see how cute they are (very!)
Cute, yeah, but take it from me, they don’t make good pets. Try ferrets instead. 🙂
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### Author:  [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)
#### Post date: [August 31, 2010, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-skunks-stink-only-after-they-spray/551964/24 "2010-08-31T04:22:43Z")
> [@TriPolar](#):
>
> > [@Tranquilis](#):
> >
> > You’ll understand if I don’t go seeking him (it?) out… 😛
>
> Where do you live? Because I don’t want to go there. The skunks around here are no bigger than a house cat.
Delaware, USA. 😛
But there’s a reason I referred to Pappy as a mutant-monster. As in “seriously out-sized, and _far_ more stanky than any skunk oughtta be.” Most of our skunks run about house-cat sized, also. Pappy is just a freak. A very scary, stanky freak.
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### Author:  [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)
#### Post date: [August 31, 2010, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-skunks-stink-only-after-they-spray/551964/25 "2010-08-31T04:24:56Z")
> [@J-P\_L](#):
>
> I do not know for sure but I always assumed that a skunk would release at least a small amount of the stinky stuff when it peed. Is that so or am I mistaken? Anyone knows?
I’m curious as to why you came to that conclusion considering that their spay comes from anal scent glands. Were you under the impression it was like male cats spraying urine?
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### Author:  [@Neptunian\_Slug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neptunian_Slug)
#### Post date: [August 31, 2010, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-skunks-stink-only-after-they-spray/551964/26 "2010-08-31T04:49:03Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#):
>
> I can assure you that skunks also stink after they’re run over by your car.
I think my car stunk more than the animal after one of those run-ins.
But I have the odd skunk pass through my yard and I don’t turn green and pass out feom the stink like in the Pepe Le Pew cartoons.
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