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Still, there's no question that having a skunk hanging around your property stinks, especially for pet owners. Keeping pet food indoors and garbage secure is one way to discourage skunks and other animals from treating you as an al fresco smorgasbord. Cayenne pepper can be sprinkled around your yard to discourage digging for grubs. If you or your pet does have an unfortunate encounter with a skunk (this happens more often to pets since they're more likely to ignore the clear warning that skunks will give before spraying), forget about tomato juice, even if it did work for the Partridge Family. If your pet got sprayed in the eyes or mouth, rinse with water and call a veterinarian if redness or itching persits. Otherwise, the following solution, which was developed by Professor William Wood at Humboldt State University based on his heroic research into what exactly skunk spray is made of, will neutralize the smell in your pet's coat: One quart hydrogen peroxide, a quarter cup baking soda, and a teaspoon of liquid detergent. Lather, rinse, repeat if necessary. One caution: Don't store the solution in a closed container -- it releases oxygen and might explode.  Living with Wildlife - How to Enjoy, Cope with, and Protect North America's Wild Creatures Around Your Home and Theirs, from Sierra Club Books. Photo copyright Forest Capital Development Association 2000. All rights reserved. Up to Top |
Everybody knows one thing for sure about skunks: They can make a really terrible smell. But this member of the weasel family actually has a few things going for it. They help to keep rodent populations in check, and an estimated 70 percent of their diet consists of insects considered harmful to humans, including black widow spiders and scorpions. And they themselves serve as a food source for great horned owls.