Benjamin Davila and his dog, Honey.

Photo courtesy of the Davila family

A Smelly Tail

Skunks … we know they’re there!

Most people don’t see them, but they can sure smell them. Or in my sister’s case she didn’t see one or smell one until it was too late!

It was around midnight when my sister, Emily, let our dog out to go to the bathroom. She heard some rustling in the grass. My sister screeched and ran toward my dog, Honey. What she saw was nature’s nocturnal fearless animal … a skunk!

Honey ran toward the jet-black skunk with the white tail, one variety of skunks that includes striped, spotted and swirled coats. The skunk might have been rummaging around our yard for one of the many foods it likes to eat such as fruit, plants, insects, larvae, worms, eggs, reptiles, small animals and sometimes fish. Then my sister ran in front of Honey to block her from getting sprayed. The oily liquid produced by the skunk’s glands under its tail was about to be sprayed onto my sister and Honey.

There was no escape since this smelly, oily liquid could reach up to 10 feet in distance.

Emily screamed, “Skunk!” and ran inside.

We could already smell what happened. Honey slept in the garage that night while Emily took numerous baths; and that’s how the tale of the smelly tail ended.

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