Dr. Ted Stankowich

So now what we do is we put out static prey models with our trail cameras, our wildlife cameras, and just see how opportunistically we get coyotes in that come and interact with the models or if they contact or if they stay away and varying the coloration or the pattern types or the poses or the type of animal it is.

You can do a lot in that respect.

Very rarely.

Really?

I did not even realize it until I was well into working with skunks.

In fact, I remember when you actually called me out on your aptonym episode, I think you mentioned me not working with skunks.

I had never even realized it up until very late.

And so there was no preconceived idea of it.

And it's just a coincidence that I don't tend to draw attention to it.

But it's so good.

But, you know, it happens.

It's important to note that I don't, I'm not a stinky person.

No.

Just what we work on is stinky.

Yes.

Okay.

So I often get this question of why do some species evolve spikes, others evolve smells, others evolve armor.

I don't think we can really assign a rhyme or a reason to it.

I think it's just what you have available as your building blocks.

So you think of the carnivores that all use stinky sprays or old odors, your skunks, your polecats, mustelids, weasels, civets, you know, those types of things.