What is this mysterious cat-like creature roaming Alabama woods? Experts have an idea

A grainy photo of a black cat-like creature in north Alabama has wildlife experts talking, and they say it hasn’t been seen before in the state’s wildlife areas.

It’s believed to be a skunk, but one that does not have the distinctive white stripe the world uses as a warning sign to run quickly in the other direction.

“Several pictures reveal an almost solid black coloration with small white patches on the heads of the skunks in the area,” the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division said on Facebook. “This has not been seen on any of our other study areas!”

While that might not seem like a big deal, the white stripe on skunks is essentially how the world identifies them as the most noxious animal.

Skunks are infamous for spraying a scent “up to 10 feet” when threatened.

“Skunk spray has been compared to tear gas, and with good reason,” Healthline.com reports. “Skunk spray and tear gas are both lachrymators — chemical substances designed to irritate the eyes and nose, causing redness, mucus production.”

The scent, which lingers on people for days, can cause temporary blindness if it comes in contact with the eyes, according to pest-control company Terminix.

Alabama wildlife officials say the all-black skunk was photographed around 2 a.m. on Dec. 6. It was in the state’s Lauderdale Wildlife Management Area, located in the northwest corner of the state along the Tennessee state line.

State wildlife officials released the photo as part of a survey that is seeking evidence of spotted skunks in the state. So far, no spotted skunks have been seen on camera this year, officials said.

All-black skunks are uncommon but have been seen in other parts of the country, along with an extremely rare solid white skunk, according to Sciencing.com.

This story was originally published December 16, 2019 at 7:16 AM with the headline "What is this mysterious cat-like creature roaming Alabama woods? Experts have an idea."