Why can great horned owls prey on skunks despite their spray defense?

While skunks utilize a highly effective defense mechanism involving potent sulfur compounds to deter threats, they are still preyed upon by several animals, most notably the great horned owl.123

The primary reason great horned owls can successfully hunt skunks is their poor sense of smell. Unlike many other mammalian predators that are highly sensitive to the noxious odor of the spray, owls have a very limited olfactory sense, rendering the skunk's chemical deterrent largely ineffective against them.2

Additionally, as birds of prey, great horned owls often strike from above with stealth and speed, potentially neutralizing the skunk's ability to perform its characteristic warning behaviors—such as stamping paws or handstands—before the attack occurs. While the spray is a formidable defense against many threats, it does not provide total immunity against specialized predators that lack the sensory vulnerability to the skunk's chemical arsenal.132