what smell is it? and who dunnit?

[pilotlight]

Often when I am out walking I will come across a strong scent, very musky and earthy in nature. Very similar to the otter smell at the local sea life centre. I have assmued it's otter scent from marking their territory, but I get so much of it recently I wonder if it's fox instead.

Any ideas?

 

[udamiano]

could also be badger, I have some sets on site and there is quite a strong scent around the set entrance

 

[21st century pict]

If its a strong musty smell it could be Fox castings but if you can’t find any Fox poo around ,and its normally fairly obvious for fox poo to be out in the open, if it’s a bit more of a pungent or p##s smell it could just as easily be a rabbit latrine and territorial marking failing that you’re just going to have to have a look around for some other tracks or sign’s. Any fish or eel remains in the area could also suggest Otter.

Brown, Lawrence and Pope.Mammal droppings Page 225. OTTER "spraints" are black, mucilaginous and very musty when fresh.

 

[ged]

Never noticed a very strong smell from the latrines that the badgers dig in my garden, fox is a lot stronger but it's, well, rank as a fox. TBH I mostly just notice plant smells, the rest is me and my dogs.

 

[pilotlight]

Probably fox, we have a few down in the dene and woods. I always thought otter....bang goes my theory.

I need to poke around a bit more.

 

[Stanleythecat]

Fox smells very similar to broom. When I used to strim footpaths on Dartmoor I often found that foxy smell only to find I had just given a broom bush a gentle trim!

Don't rule out fungi. I have often wondered what a musky, earthy smell was and at it turned out to be a stink horn or similar.

Leo

 

[JonathanD]

I'd say fox, it is very pungent.