Sometimes the Powers that Be give you not only a warning, but a potential kick in the Ouchy Bits just to make sure.

My last risky encounter with a skunk was about half a year ago, late spring. One of my spirit guides warned me not to pass through a weed-ridden construction area (probably due to the no-see-um problem there, or it might have been something else dangerous), and when I got close, a skunk walked OUT of the weeds and aimed her back end at me. I swerved hard and backed off a bit, and the skunk wandered back into the grass. Warning taken, I walked well around the corner, relieved I smelled like me instead of skunk musk, and had avoided whatever other awfulness was ready to ambush the unwary.