Peculiar Creature #1: The Skunk

That's right, the first peculiar creature I've chosen to discuss is the skunk, commonly known as a black animal with a notorious white stripe across the back that sprays foul odors at predators when disturbed. Wikipedia describes this odor as a combination of "rotten eggs, garlic, and burnt rubber." Ew. Most of us have been driving a car through winding forest roads or enjoying a peaceful walk through the wilderness when we stumble upon the unmistakable foul odor of the skunk.  We might also think of tomato juice, the home remedy often associated with getting the "stink" out of those sprayed.  To me, however, the skunk possesses a uniqueness that encompasses more than its white stripe and foul odor.  When I was four years old, I was a skunk for halloween.  My mom handcrafted the costume, and I loved it.  I proudly flaunted it door to door while trick or treating, only to be mistaken for a common black cat.  This devastating misconception helped me to fully appreciate the uniqueness of peculiar animals and recognize that they deserve distinction.  A skunk is nothing like a black cat.  Black cats are ordinary, commonplace, and often superstitiously associated with bad luck and, of course, halloween.  Skunks may have the notorious reputation of possessing foul odor, but they are creatures of poise and beauty as well- they are kind of cute, actually.  Plus, what better defense mechanism is there than having built-in sulfuric gas to deter enemies and predators?  Nature obviously favored the skunk during evolution- it has always been a special animal with extraordinary privileges. Even though humans may classify it as strangely smelly, we must recognize the uniqueness of the skunk as well as all peculiar animals that classifies them as inherently special rather than strangely abnormal.