Don't let skunks cause a stink around home
This week I’ve received several calls from folks that have problems with skunks. Because of the number of calls (four), I thought it would be a great topic to discuss in this week’s article.
Skunks are a cat-size or smaller animal with long fur and a long bushy tail; skunks are easily identified by their distinctive black and white color. These creatures are near-sighted, omnivores and have a healthy appetite for grubs and insects. They will also consume mice and baby rats.
Skunks are members of the Mustelid family, a species that include weasels, martens, and badgers.
Skunks normally do not engage in long foraging trips, their area normally ranges within a few hundred acres from the den. They can stay active all year but will stay in the den during cold periods.
They will breed in February and March and have their litters in May and June. Generally, skunks are solitary animals, except when raising their young and sharing a den during cold periods. Once the babies are able to travel, the mother will appear with her young traveling single file behind her.
The only real defense a skunk has is to spray a noxious odor which is created by sulfuric acid and body oils from their anal glands. They can and do bite but most often don’t. From firsthand experience, a skunk can spray standing on its head with you holding its tail, please don’t ask how I know that. Generally they won’t spray without first displaying a warning of stamping their front feet.
To find out if a skunk is under your house or deck, sprinkle a fair amount of flour in the suspected entrance. Because skunks are nocturnal, check the entrance area for tracks a few hours after dark. Once the animal is gone, seal the entrance with a heavy gauge of chicken wire to prevent further entry. Before sealing the entrance, flood the area with light for several days, making sure the entrance is bright. When the skunk returns before dawn they will be repelled by the light and blocked by the chicken wire, they will go elsewhere to sleep.
If you get sprayed use the following formula:
A. 1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide
B. 1/4 cup of baking soda
C. 1 teaspoon of Dawn liquid dish soap
Mix these ingredients together in a bucket and coat yourself thoroughly. Rinse the mixture off after several minutes. If the smell is still there, do it again.
When cleaning with any cleaning product, always wear eye protection and rubber gloves to protect your hands. If you would like to share a cleaning idea or concept with the reading audience, call Ed at NWES (255-2266), e-mail them to nwees@hughes.net or send them to Bonner County Daily Bee, 310 Church St., Sandpoint, ID 83864, Attn: What Would Ed Do? For more information about Ed, and his handyman services, check him out at www.nwees.com.
Copy written by Edmond E. Madan, certified forensic, fire, flood, mold inspection & remediation/restoration contractor. Ed is president of Northwest Environmental Services,(NWES Inc.)