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What is the strong odour that permeates the boreal forest (next to the footpath near the Ghislain Gagnon Pavilion) ?

23 April 2026

What is the strong odour that permeates the boreal forest (next to the footpath near the Ghislain Gagnon Pavilion) ?

Many animals in this habitat give off strong scents. Indeed, several members of the Mustelid family produce musk with their anal glands (wolverine, river otter, fisher). The red fox and porcupine also give off a scent that humans consider unpleasant. Odours are an important means of communication for animals. Through their urine and feces as well as the product of other glands, animals mark their territory, delineate their trails and indicate their sex and responsiveness during the mating season. Those odours are therefore very normal.

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