Are Skunks Dangerous?

Skunks are nuisance animals that can cause damage to your property and pose a threat to your safety. Skunks are known for their ability to spray a foul-smelling liquid as a form of self-defense, and this spray can be very difficult to remove from clothing or skin. Skunks also dig holes in lawns in search of grubs and insects, and their burrowing can damage the roots of your plants. But that’s not all; skunks can also carry and transmit diseases that can harm people and pets.

Continue below to learn more about the dangers of nuisance skunks, and more importantly, how to protect your property and loved ones from skunk threats and damages.

Skunk Trapper Indianapolis Indiana 317-875-3099
Skunk Trapper Indianapolis Indiana 317-875-3099

Basic Facts About Skunks

Most people know skunks for their notorious defensive spray, which they use to ward off predators and other threats. But there’s a lot more to these interesting animals than just their smelly defenses! Here are some basic facts about skunks:

Skunks are members of the mustelid family, which also includes weasels, otters, and badgers. There are two main types of skunks – the striped skunk and the spotted skunk.

Skunks are typically black and white in coloration, with the exception of the albino skunk. They have a long, bushy tail, and their fur is thick and oily, which helps to repel water.

Skunks are relatively small animals, weighing between 4 and 10 pounds. They are nocturnal creatures, meaning they are most active at night.

Skunks use their powerful sense of smell to find food. Their diet consists mostly of insects, but they will also eat small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fruits, and nuts.

Skunks are solitary animals, only coming together to mate. Females give birth to litters of 4-6 kittens in the spring. Baby skunks are born blind and deaf, but they grow quickly, reaching adult size within a few months.

As mentioned before, skunks are best known for their ability to spray a noxious liquid as a form of self-defense. This spray is produced by two glands located near the skunk’s anus, and it can be aimed with accuracy up to 15 feet away!

Skunk Diseases

There are a number of diseases that can be spread by skunks, including rabies and leptospirosis. Skunks are also known to carry the bacteria that cause tuberculosis, and while this disease is not currently widespread in skunks, it is still a concern for public health. In addition, skunks can also be carriers of the West Nile virus, which can be deadly to humans.

Skunks are not the only animals that can carry and transmit these diseases, but they are certainly one of the most commonly known carriers. This is due in part to their habit of spraying their musk, which can contain the bacteria that cause disease. If you come into contact with skunk musk, it is important to wash the area thoroughly with soap and water.

If you suspect that you or someone else has come into contact with a skunk and may have been exposed to one of these diseases, it is important to seek medical attention immediately. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical for the successful treatment of any of these diseases.

What to Do if You Encounter a Skunk

While skunks are generally peaceful animals, they will use their spray as a last resort when they feel threatened. So, if you see a skunk, it’s best to give it some space and admire it from a distance! Never attempt to touch, trap, harm, or kill a skunk. Simply turn around and walk briskly in the other direction. If you have skunks revisiting your property, they could pose threats of damage and disease. In this case, you are encouraged to seek out professional skunk removal and control service in your community.

If you have a skunk on your property, it is important to take steps to control it and remove it safely. Contact Budget Animal Removal at 317-875-3099 for fast and affordable animal removal and control services to get rid of skunks in Indianapolis, Indiana and its surrounding counties. Request a free estimate or advice, today!

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How to Wash Your Dog if They are Sprayed By a Skunk

Skunks use their anal scent glands to protect themselves from predators. And since dogs are curious by nature, they are often victims of skunk dousing. The same situation applies to cats as well. Fortunately, there are tried-and-true ways to de-skunk your pooch if they ever cross the line with a defensive skunk.

Continue reading to learn one method that seems to do the trick for most pet owners, and what you can do about getting rid of nuisance skunks on your Tennessee property.

Skunk Removal Nashville Tennessee 615-337-9165
Skunk Removal Nashville Tennessee 615-337-9165

Why Do Skunks Spray?

Understanding why skunks spray can help you defend your pet from future attacks. You see, skunks have this built-in weapon as their last line of defense against predators. Mothering skunks are more likely to spray attack, however, any skunk that is provoked too much will spray to gain freedom or space from whatever it is that is provoking them. Dogs are “sniffers” and like to get to know other animals by smelling their rear sides; skunks do not like this behavior and consider it a threat, making dogs a common victim of skunk spray attacks.

Skunk Smell Composition

So, what is it that you smell on your dog? The oily liquid that comes out of the anal glands is a chemical compound called a thiol. In fact, there are multiple types of thiols that make up the chemical composition of their spray, two of which are the root cause of the signature skunk odor. Since it is oil-based, the odor can linger for a long time. Also, it requires a certain approach to completely remove it from pet fur.

What You Need to Get Rid of Skunk Smell on Fur:

▷ Baking Soda
▷ White Distilled Vinegar
▷ Liquid Hand Soap
▷ 3% Hydrogen Peroxide

Now Follow These Steps:

Check your dog’s eyes, mouth, and nose to ensure the spray has not come into contact in these areas. If they have, it can cause serious inflammation and irritation. Take your pooch to the vet right away if they were sprayed in these areas. Do not wait to clean them first. Your vet will also ensure that they were not bitten or scratched in addition to the spray attack.

If your dog’s eyes, mouth, and nose are okay, you can continue by thoroughly rinsing them with clean water. It is recommended to do this outdoors, NOT in a bathtub or shower. If you bring them indoors, the smell will come inside with them! It can be made worse if your pooch decides to jump on your bed or couch!

After the rinse, mix together 1 quart of hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup of baking soda, and 1 teaspoon of liquid hand soap (do not use detergent). Generously bathe your dog in the solution, and then rinse them clean with warm water. You may need to repeat this step 3 to 4 times, depending on the strength of the smell.

Once your pet dries, you can finish the job with a little pet perfume, available at any local pet store. Or you can get their hair trimmed to remove any lingering, odorous fibers. For really strong, lingering smells, you can finish their fur with some natural essential oil, like lavender or lemon. Just put a few drops in a spray bottle with water, and then spray their coat while avoiding the eyes and nose.

Are you tired of the nuisance skunk activity on or around your property? Take action by safely diverting their interest away from your premises with our help! Contact us at 615-337-9165 for TWRA licensed and insured Nashville, TN critter control for skunks and more. We serve commercial clients, too!  

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Why You Need to Protect Your Home From Skunks Right Now

Many people assume that skunks hibernate during the winter, but this is not true. Although skunks are certainly more active in the spring and summer months, in the winter, they have plenty to do, and they sure do get it done! Just around the corner is February, which is prime skunk mating season. This means that skunks are active right now, and on the hunt for a mate, and for a place to birth and raise their young.

For those who live near wooded or forested areas, or large bodies of water, you could be at a higher risk for nuisance skunk intrusions and subsequent damages. Even if you do not live in areas like these, skunks are commonly known to wander through urban and suburban neighborhoods, causing all sorts of mayhem. What kind of mayhem? Well, skunks are quite destructive.

Continue reading to learn why you do not want skunks around your property right now, and how to protect your property from the increased skunk activity during their February mating season.

Indiana Skunk  Removal and Control
Indiana Skunk Removal and Control 317-875-3099

Skunks Spray Their Scent During Mating Season

February is skunk mating season, which is just one week away. Right now, skunks are out and about, searching for potential partners and places to raise their offspring. Skunks have been known to wander up to a 50 mile radius looking for a mate, so they certainly get around town. One primary way that skunks attract their potential female mates is by spraying their scent. To make matters worse, when females turn down a male partner, they spray their scent back! You do not want this tell-tale odor lurking and lingering around your property!

Skunks Find Shelter in Residential Spots

Skunks are a nuisance animal because they are intrusive and destructive. In residential and metro areas, they typically look for shelter in anything they can access. Most often, wildlife removal companies get calls about skunks under the porch, skunks in the crawl space, and even skunks in log piles, barns, and sheds. Once they have found a place to den and raise their young, you can expect them to make an awful mess. Not only will their food scraps leave behind an unhygienic and unsanitary mess that can attract pests and parasites, but their droppings will be around too, as they freely use the outer areas of their dens as bathrooms.

Furthermore, skunks are common carriers of several infectious disease, including the Rabies virus, which can be transmitted to both people and pets. They also carry disgusting parasites like lice, ticks, and more. If you have a curious pup, you do not want them having a dangerous encounter with a diseased skunk!

Skunks Will Destroy Your Lawn for Grubs

Skunks can reproduce up to 7 baby skunks per litter, known as kits. Not only will skunks be birthing their litters come early March or late April, but they will need to feed too! Skunks are omnivorous species, meaning they eat both plant and animal matter. Skunks favorite source of food are grassy lawns, where they can use their long, sharp claws to dig up sod and access the juicy grubs and worms below. After mating season, skunks are even more prevalent, and can cause more lawn destruction than any other time of year.

Your Top Solution to Skunk Control in Indianapolis, Indiana

Call Budget Animal Removal at 317-875-3099 for fast and affordable animal removal and control services for nuisance skunks in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our DNR licensed skunk trappers offer skunk removal, skunk control, skunk trapping, clean up and minor restorations, 24 hour emergency service, free estimates, and more! In fact, just entrust all of your wildlife removal and control needs to the DNR licensed and insured professionals at Budget Animal Removal.  Request a free estimate, today.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Nuisance Skunks

There are some incredible facts about skunks that you may have never known about. For example, the scientific name for skunks is mephitis mephitis, which is derived from the Roman goddess of poisonous vapors, and loosely translates to “bad odor bad odor.” Although skunks can surprise you with fun facts like this, they are highly destructive, as well as odorous, so it is important to protect your property from skunk wildlife damages and safety hazards.

Continue reading to review the most frequently asked questions about nuisance skunk prevention and protection.

Indianapolis Skunk Removal and Control 317-875-3099
Indianapolis Skunk Removal and Control 317-875-3099

Will Skunks Damage My Lawn?

Skunks are notorious for digging up lawns in search of juicy grubs and other underground larvae. Because their sense of smell is so heightened, they can sniff a lawn and instantly know where to start digging. The result is a lawn that looks more like a mud field. Getting rid of a lawn grub infestation is a good start to mitigating the damage they can do. Furthermore, skunks will also tear up and devour yields in gardens.

Will a Skunk Spray Me?

Skunks have anal scent glands that produce a mixture of sulfur-containing chemicals, which have an aggressive odor. They use these spray glands as a weapon for defense, which means they will only spray if they feel threatened. They are more prone to spray if they are nursing and protecting their young. Although they have a great sense of smell and can hear quite well, they have poor vision, which also contributes to them feeling threatened when approached. 

How Do I Remove Skunk Smell?

Skunk smell can be removed in a number of ways. Although tomato juice is the old-timer remedy for skunk smell, the easiest way is to use some common, household items like vinegar, dishwashing liquid, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and vanilla extract. The first remedy is a solution containing water and apple cider vinegar.

Just rinse the affected area thoroughly, and then generously scrub in the solution. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then rinse and repeat until the smell is controlled. Another remedy includes mixing 1 quart hydrogen peroxide, 1/4th cup of baking soda, and 1 teaspoon of dish-washing liquid. For dogs and cats, you can add in a cup of vanilla extract to mask any residual or lingering odors.

How Can I Repel Skunks?

The best way to stop skunks from trespassing onto your property is to take away the stuff they are looking for. This includes food, water, and shelter. Remove food sources like grubs, pet food, water fountains, koi ponds, and exposed garden yields. Things like log piles, openings under patios, and outdoor sheds are viable shelters that should be contained.

You can also make your own non-lethal, eco-friendly repellent from cayenne pepper, ground pepper, and water. Just spray around the perimeter of your garden beds, or directly on your fruits and vegetables, to keep them from coming back for more. If skunks are still a problem, you will require professional intervention. Contact a local and trusted wildlife removal and control company that is licensed by the Department of Natural Resources.

Indianapolis Skunk Removal and Control You Can Afford

Call Budget Animal Removal at 317-875-3099 for fast and affordable assistance with nuisance skunks in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our DNR licensed wildlife removal specialists offer wild animal abatement services, cleanup and minor restorations for animal damages, 24 hour emergency service, free estimates, and more! Request a free estimate, today.

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