Striped skunk
What’s That Smell?
Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis)
By Cindy Murray
Who would guess that the Latin name for the skunk means “Bad Odour?” (At the end of this article is a shampoo recipe for those pets whose curiosity got them into quite a STINK!)
Now, to be fair, our striped skunks actually provide garden services for which we ought to be grateful, instead of using dangerous poisons. Skunks forage mostly for insects, especially those harmful to gardens and agriculture. They also hunt mice and rats. Skunks are solitary critters until early spring, when they are looking for mates. Females will give birth between April and May with two to ten kits appearing. The male disappears before the kits are born and does not participate in the rearing.
Skunks are quite happy to live in human habitats and very adaptable to our presence. However, they do not appreciate dogs and cats getting too close. Look out because they have extremely well-developed scent glands at the base of their tales and can actually direct the aim of the spray. This talent is so sophisticated that skunks can spray a wide cloud of mist or a stream right in a pet’s face and accurately hit the target up to six feet away!
Skunks are nocturnal and the number one cause of their demise are vehicles. Please watch for skunks when driving after dark.
Has your pet ever been skunked? A simple solution of one bottle of hydrogen peroxide, one-quarter cup of baking soda (NOT baking powder) and two teaspoons of liquid soap mixed together can rid your pet of skunk smell. Use as you would a shampoo and wash your pet with this solution. Allow the mix to stay on the fur for five minutes and then rinse with plain water. This really works instead of using a concoction of tomato juice (which masks the scent but doesn’t get rid of it). Be careful not to let the solution get in your pet’s eyes—it will sting. (For a demonstration, watch this short video by Sally B. Mitchell).
Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis)
By Cindy Murray
Who would guess that the Latin name for the skunk means “Bad Odour?” (At the end of this article is a shampoo recipe for those pets whose curiosity got them into quite a STINK!)
Now, to be fair, our striped skunks actually provide garden services for which we ought to be grateful, instead of using dangerous poisons. Skunks forage mostly for insects, especially those harmful to gardens and agriculture. They also hunt mice and rats. Skunks are solitary critters until early spring, when they are looking for mates. Females will give birth between April and May with two to ten kits appearing. The male disappears before the kits are born and does not participate in the rearing.
Skunks are quite happy to live in human habitats and very adaptable to our presence. However, they do not appreciate dogs and cats getting too close. Look out because they have extremely well-developed scent glands at the base of their tales and can actually direct the aim of the spray. This talent is so sophisticated that skunks can spray a wide cloud of mist or a stream right in a pet’s face and accurately hit the target up to six feet away!
Skunks are nocturnal and the number one cause of their demise are vehicles. Please watch for skunks when driving after dark.
Has your pet ever been skunked? A simple solution of one bottle of hydrogen peroxide, one-quarter cup of baking soda (NOT baking powder) and two teaspoons of liquid soap mixed together can rid your pet of skunk smell. Use as you would a shampoo and wash your pet with this solution. Allow the mix to stay on the fur for five minutes and then rinse with plain water. This really works instead of using a concoction of tomato juice (which masks the scent but doesn’t get rid of it). Be careful not to let the solution get in your pet’s eyes—it will sting. (For a demonstration, watch this short video by Sally B. Mitchell).
