Here's why:
* Different scent glands: Skunks have specialized anal glands that produce a foul-smelling spray. Raccoons have scent glands, but they're not as potent or foul-smelling.
* Different purposes: Skunks use their spray as a defense mechanism, while raccoons use their scent for marking territory and communicating with other raccoons.
If you encounter a strong, foul odor, it's more likely a skunk, not a raccoon.