Skunks unmasked: The stinky truth behind these fascinating creatures

I am often asked how I decide what to write about in this column. The answer is that I take my clues from nature; I live on the edge of a large wooded area and frequently see nature in action. I’ll see an animal, a bird, or a wildflower, and off I go. This month’s hint from nature was less than subtle. When I walked out of my door this morning, my nostrils were assaulted with the powerful scent of skunks. Apparently one of the animals that spent the night in my yard made the mistake of accosting a skunk and was on the receiving end of his/her chemical defense system.