Crossword Genius

Strange place to encounter a stinker (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

polecat

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'stinker' is the definition.
(polecats are smelly animals)

'strange place to' is the wordplay.
'strange' is an anagram indicator.
'place'+'to'='placeto'
'placeto' is an anagram of 'POLECAT'.

'encounter a' acts as a link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may belong to another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for polecat that I've seen before include "Weasel-like mammal" , "weaselly creature" , "Weasel-like creature" , "American skunk" , "Unpleasant-smelling woodland animal" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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