Posted: 6/10/2008 9:53:53 AM EDT
So I am running early in the morning around my neighborhood. It is new construction so there are these short walls of construction plastic lining the streets near the empty lots, I assume to minimize runoff. Anywho, this skunk somehow gets into the road and when it sees me, proceeds to move away from me along the open street. I have but one route and considered a leap over the re-bar/chicken wire reinforced "fence", but that would have required effort. I am gaining ground on the animal and as I near, it proceeds to lift its tail and "present itself" in my general direction.  Now I did not go in for a closer look, nor did I blade at a 45 degree angle while shouting disengage. I did, however, feel a massive adrenaline dump immanently. I smelled no worse than normal after the run and maybe dodged a bullet. My question to those who have had dealings, is what is the effective range of the everyday, run of the mill, according to hoyle, skunk? |
Per National Geographic: A skunk's spray is an oily liquid produced by glands under its large tail. To employ this scent bomb, a skunk turns around and blasts its foe with a foul mist that can travel as far as ten feet (three meters). |
Many thanks. Road width should then provide a safety factor somewhere above 1 but below 2 for those distances. |