By Carla Zanoni
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
UPPER MANHATTAN — On 215th Street the crocuses have already begun to open. But dog owners in Inwood and Washington Heights say it isn't the smell of flowers that's telling them spring is nearly here.
It's the smell of skunks.
This past weekend, several dog owners reported their pooches were sprayed in Inwood Hill and Fort Tryon parks while others have artfully evaded the stinky critters.
"We dodged a big fat skunk that came waddling out of Fort Tryon on Sunday," said Washington Heights resident Mary Conners, 33, who owns a bichon frise named Ivy. "Who would have thought they'd be out in February?"
The presence of skunks has become an increasingly common occurrence in Upper Manhattan.
Last summer, City Councilman Robert Jackson’s office reported an increased number of complaints about the animals and although the Parks Department could not confirm any growth in the population, a spokeswoman said trash on the street can contribute to skunks seeking out food outside of parkland.
An article about the skunks in Upper Manhattan started a spirited debate on DNAinfo last summer as well.
With such encounters comes not just concern about getting skunked, but fear of rabies as well.
On the local dog owner online group Inwoof, concerned dog owners speculated about the meaning of daytime skunk sightings.
One user wrote that seeing the furry fiends in the daylight might mean they're ill, and warned of keeping dogs leashed to prevent being sprayed.
Another wrote it signaled they are just hungry.
"I know my sentiment isn't very popular but I feel badly for the skunks," one member posted. "It's like their turf gets smaller and smaller and they are forced to forage in dangerous places. Poor things."
