What's With The Stink In The Twin Cities?
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- People across the Twin Cities noticed a strange smell in the air on Monday.
From Elk River to St. Paul to Lakeville to Minnetonka, social media was buzzing about a strange odor in the air. By the afternoon hours, it was gone in most places.
But questions remain.
"I walked outside and I was look- whew! Okay, it smells like dog poop," Desaree Avritt of Elk River said.
Each morning, Avritt likes to wake up and smell the coffee. But this morning she was greeted by something much stronger than coffee.
"The word they are using is 'poo.' Not necessarily dog poo or cow poo, just poo,'" said Avritt.
Avritt wasn't the only one who noticed something in the air. On our WCCO Facebook page, people were noticing the odor in Monticello, Blaine, New Brighton, St. Paul, Lakeville and Minnetonka -- just to name a few.
"Somebody said at 9:30 this morning that it smells like dog poop in Highland Park. I checked my shoes thinking I stepped in some. Somebody said it smelled like that at my place in south Minneapolis," Avritt said.
Then the theories or best guesses started rolling across social media.
"Somebody suggested that it must be the trash company at Target Field and it usually goes away in 24 hours. That's when I popped in and said I'm in Elk River 45 minutes away. I don't think that's it," Avritt said.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency said they aren't exactly sure what it is either. But it's likely farm fertilizer. As farmers finish harvesting, they apply manure to fields. With a warm day and a good breeze, it can be just enough to get your attention. After it rained Monday afternoon, Avritt said her nose caught a break.
"It smells good. I want to be outside. It's nice out. 75 degrees. I like it," Avritt said.
A couple farmers we spoke with said what people are smelling is most likely manure, or more specifically, turkey manure that's being applied to fields. It was a warm day, 19 degrees above average, with a breeze, so that likely helped carry that smell from place to place.
