Book 4, Question 65
Why Do Skunks Spray?
Spray is a last warning that became a superpower! The smell is so strong that most hunters decide this snack is not worth it. But a skunk would rather not use it.
From the book
Page from A Million Whys Book 4
More fun facts
- Skunks spray to scare off predators.
- Before spraying, some skunks do a handstand to show off their warning stripes.
- Skunk spray is made of chemicals called thiols, which contain smelly sulfur.
- The spray can be smelled up to half a mile away.
- Skunks aim well and can hit a target about 10 feet away.
- One spray can use up almost all of a skunk's supply, so skunks save it for real danger.
- The spray does not cause real harm, but it is very uncomfortable.
Sources: Smithsonian Magazine, National Geographic Kids, National Geographic
Questions kids ask
Why don't skunks spray all the time?
A single spray can almost empty their supply, so they save it for real danger.