“If criticism had any power to harm, the skunk would be extinct by now.” (Fred Allen)
Did you know that in North America the skunk
comes in four different species? They are the striped skunk (Mephitis
mephitis, most common), the eastern spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius),
the hooded skunk (Mephitis macroura), and the hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus
leuconotus).
The average size skunk is 20-30 inches long (from
tail tip to feet), and weighs around 6-10 pounds. Its average lifespan in the wilds
is 2-4 years. Skunks are omnivores, and enjoy eating beetles, grasshopper, bugs
and worms, bird eggs, small rodents, frogs, fruit and berries, and mushrooms.
Skunks are nocturnal, which means they are
most active at night. They do not hibernate, but tend to be inactive during the
coldest months in winter. Many gather in communal dens for warmth. For the
remainder of the year, skunks are generally solitary by living and foraging
alone.
Skunks are known to release a powerful smelling
fluid through their anal glands when feel threatened. Skunks will only attack
when cornered or defending their young. Spraying the famous skunk odor is a
skunk’s last method of defense. A skunk will try growling, spitting, fluffing
its fur, shaking its tail, and stamping the ground first. Skunks can spray their
liquid as far as 15 feet.
My connection to skunks is through our dogs. They
have all been sprayed a couple of times in our backyard. Anyone with an ounce
of sense would know to run away from the skunks, not my Chihuahuas. They like
to get up close and personal with the skunks that occasionally visit our yard
at night. (Our storage shed that is attached to our house always has the light
on. Skunks don’t like light. We also scattered moth ball in our back garden to
keep them away. According to Bobbi they don’t like that either.)
When the skunk squirts Bobbi’s canine babies,
she gets very maternal and animated, the arms thrash, and she loudly barks orders at me like she’s
a general. Before bathing the dogs in a de-skunking shampoo inside (with lots
of towels to dry the offender) to get the last few remnants of the stink; the guilty
dog (Rosco, Chico, or Lola) has their eyes checked, and are doused outside in the
following concoction to get the majority of the smell off:
· 1
quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide solution (found at any pharmacy or grocery
store)
· 1/4
cup of baking soda
· 1
teaspoon of liquid dishwashing soap
Wearing rubber gloves, work the solution into
your dog’s coat, washing him/her thoroughly. Don’t leave the solution on their
fur for too long since peroxide can bleach his fur. Then rinse completely. You
might have to repeat the process more than once. If any of the skunk smell gets
on you during the dog bathing process, wash your clothes in regular laundry
detergent and 1/2 cup of baking soda.
“In order to keep
a true perspective of one’s importance, everyone should have a dog that will
worship him, and a cat that will ignore him.” (Dereke Bruce)[i]
[i] Adapted from:
· “Skunks” by Havahart
· “What to Do When Your Dog Gets
Sprayed by a Skunk” by Jan Reisen
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