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Stinky 'skunk' plant cleared from river

The invasive plant, which emits a rotting-meat odor to attract flies for pollination, was removed from the river by cleanup crews.

On air: Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield on BBN This Morning
Published 9:52 AM ET, Monday, October 12, 2026

Photo: Sue Sweeney. · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

▶ As it aired · Tech

Watch it as it aired: Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield on this story, from BBN This Morning at 9:52 AM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are BBC's, the jokes are ours.

Photo: Skunk cabbage — Photo: Sue Sweeney. · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

At a glance

First reported by BBC: “Stinky 'skunk' plant cleared from river”.
Covered on BBN on Monday, October 12, 2026, at 9:52 AM ET on BBN This Morning, by Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield.

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

BBCStinky 'skunk' plant cleared from river

What BBN said about it

Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentAn invasive skunk plant has been cleared from a river, and the BBC says it smells like rotting meat. That's quite the defensive strategy for a plant.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentRotting meat? I'd smell it once, purely for science.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThat's the point of the smell, Kenji. It fools flies into pollinating it, and you are not a fly.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentWas anyone saved a cutting?

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