In last week’s issue of the Stanley Republican, editor and publisher John McCloone discussed his experience with his dog having an encounter with a skunk.

Reflecting back throughout past years, I’m surprised how often people have called me with questions about deterring skunks and dog skunk encounters.

Skunks get their name from the Latin word “mephit” meaning “bad odor”. As well-known as skunks are by sight, it’s probably their legendary, powerful predatory protection for what they are best known. As an intimidating tool when threatened, skunks are able to discharge a yellowish, oily nauseating sulfur-alcohol compound made up of seven components called N-Butyl Mercaptan. With the use of two anal scent glands, they are capable of directing a stream of musk five to ten feet and the odor may carry up to one and one-half miles downwind. The oily compound when mixed with water, makes the odor more pronounced.

Skunks are crepuscular, meaning they are most active at dusk and at dawn. Their diet consists of insects, beetles, larvae, worms, bees,wasps,eggs,plantsandroots. Theywillalsofeedonmice, shrews, frogs and dead carrion. They have great success shadowing humans often living off trash, pet foods placed outside for stray cats and grub worms inhabiting residential lawns.

Skunks usually nest in burrows created by other animals such as foxes and woodchucks, but will also live in hollow logs and abandoned buildings. It’s not uncommon for them to burrow under residential homes with decks and porches. Research indicates they don’t spray within their own burrow or den.

Skunks don’t hibernate, but instead go into a dormant or semi-dormant state during winter months. During milder winter temperatures they will leave their nest and occasionally move about.

Skunks are polygynous, which means that in any given year, themalemateswithmultiplefemales. Fourtoeightyoungcalled kits are usually born in May or early June. Within twenty-two days, the kits eyes open and after eight weeks nursing, they begin hunting with their mother and eventually disburse. Statistically, the average life-span of a skunk is three years in the wild; fifteen years in captivity.

Until recently, skunks squat body shape and long digging claws led scientists to believe that they were part of the weasel family. Upon further study, it has been determined that they are actually an entire animal family unto themselves. It is believed that all species of skunks evolved from a common ancestor over thirty million years ago.

With exception to owls and eagles, which don’t have a sense ofsmell,skunkshavefewpredators. Ironically,skunksarearelatively clean animal and take offense to a number of odors such as lavender, peppermint, coffee grounds, moth balls and bleach. For example, if you have a skunk living underneath your porch, a mixture of bleach and water could be applied to the ground as a deterrent to remove them.

Skunks are generally fairly docile and are not a major threat to people. Given most situations, they will leave you alone if you leave them alone. Unfortunately, they are a primary carrier of rabies in the Midwest. If you suspect a skunk has rabies, do not approach it.

There are two forms of rabies in skunks, the “furious form”, where they become aggressive and the “dumb form”, where they become un-phased by human presence. Other signs of rabies in skunks to look out for include activity during daytime, and unsteady or disoriented gait, and drooling or foaming at the mouth.

If your dog is off leash and encounters a skunk, you most likely will have a problem. Unlike most animals in the wild, dogs are unaware of a skunk’s defense mechanism and will get sprayed. Therefore, both you and your dog will be in for an unpleasant surprise.

The old wives tale of using tomato juice does not neutralize skunkodoreffectively.Allyougetisapinkdog. Instead,following is a veterinarian recommended bath treatment to combat skunkodor. Basedona100pounddog,thebathformulais to use 4 bottles of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide (32 oz/bottle); 1 Cup baking soda and 1 Tbsp Dawn dish soap. Mix well in a bucket. Mixture will foam. Dog should be wet and then apply solution and mix well into the coat. Keep solution on for approximately 10minutesthenrinse. Dawndishsoapdissolvestheoil,thebaking soda deodorizes and the hydrogen peroxide flushes away the mixture. Longhaireddogsmightrequireasecondbath.

It is natural for dogs to roll in unpleasant scents. For years I have used this solution for bathing dogs. All odors are removed and the dog will have a healthy, silky coat. Best of all, this solution is bio-degradable.