One animal known for its unique smell since the first records of its existence is the skunk. Whether striped or spotted, these black-and-white, brown, or cream-colored omnivores warn others to approach at their own risk. If you look for it, their stripe forms an arrow pointing to where their spray comes out. Those too hardheaded or hungry to ignore this warning will receive a smelly surprise – a shot in the face by the skunks' famous rotten-egg-smelling spray. A predator would be extra unlucky to come across one of these stinkers, as they're only active for a few hours a day, right before sunrise and after sunset.
Skunks are not picky eaters, and their ever-changing diet proves this. They are known to consume plant and animal material and go for discarded garbage when they make their way into settled areas. They are similar in size to a housecat or a small dog, so it is easy for people to mistake these critters for someone's pet, approaching without noticing their telltale markings until it's too late. Luckily there is a way to neutralize the smell, although the answer is not tomato juice, as the old wives' tale would have you believe. Because the odor is caused by a chemical compound involving sulfur, the best way to get rid of it is to add an oxidizing agent, such as a mixture of hydrogen peroxide, a tiny bit of baking soda, and a dash of dishwashing liquid. This causes a chemical reaction, turning the stink into something less offensive.
Confrontation is not a skunk's preferred method of handling threats as they'd rather hiss and stomp and try to be deemed not worth the effort. There are other ways that skunks manage to bother people. They can destroy lawns, flower beds, and gardens. However, one benefit to having a visit from a skunk is that their thick fur protects them from being stung, making underground wasps' nests or a low-hanging beehive an easy snack. Since insects are a large part of their diet, they use the long claws on their front paws to dig holes several inches deep, looking for a tasty creepy-crawly.
You want to have a skunk den taken care of quickly. Between late April and early June, a mama skunk can dig a den and give birth to between 2 and 12 babies, eventually making alternate dens to raise them in until they are old enough to go out on their own, usually between 2 and 5 months.
If you've got a smelly skunk problem near your home or business or a small black and white digger ruining your lawn, Patriot Wildlife is the solution to your problem. We have the training and expertise to handle all your wildlife removal needs. Contact us today, and we can get started on a plan to have your property nuisance wildlife-free as soon as possible.
