Skunks

[joyce]

Does anybody know how to get rid of skunks? They are taking over around here. Getting in the garbage, leaving their perfume trail each morning when I get up.

[SpyderLady]

We use to have them walk up all the time at work. Dumb folks would feed them at the smoke tables. They are the worst for carryin rabies!! They would scare us to death walking up on us at night. We would slowly get up and back toward the door!! They occasionally would walk inside the open doors in the summer time. I always said if one sprayed me I sure wouldn't get in my car to go home. I would have them take me to the hospital and defume me! lol

Don't know how to get rid of them but will see what I can find out about them on the net.

[SpyderLady]

Place mothball-filled socks and/or sprinkle cayenne pepper around your yard to discourage digging.

Encourage it to leave by placing generous amounts of mothballs in cloth bags, or ammonia-soaked cloths under the building. Attach the bags or cloths to a string so they can be removed later.

Debris and brush piles should be removed or stacked neatly to eliminate suitable cavities. Remove lumber and junk piles.

Blow-up or plastic great horned owls may be strategically placed and periodically moved to deter skunks.

Use insecticides to control grubs in turf.

Lighting up of denning sites and a portable radio may cause the skunk to seek a more suitable habitat.

Keep fruit trees picked and don't leave rotted fruit on the ground.

Restrict use of birdseed. Skunks are attracted to it and to the birds and rodents that use the feeder.

If possible, eliminate outdoor sources of water.

Battery operated flashing lights, tape recorded human noises, scattered moth balls and ammonia-soaked rags strategically placed may deter skunks from entering your yard.

Shooting is discouraged because the skunk often will release musk.


Sprayed by Skunks

If a person or an animal surprises a skunk in a situation where neither can retreat, the skunk will spray in self-defense.

Skunk spray in human eyes is extremely irritating and can cause temporary blindness, but no permanent damage. Flush eyes liberally with cold water to ease irritation. Wash skin with carbolic soap and water, tomato juice, or vinegar or Massengil douch. You may be able to save clothing by washing repeatedly in vinegar water and/or hanging it outside for a month or so before dry-cleaning. For the worst sprays, however, it may be best to discard or burn the clothing.

When your pet is sprayed, the quicker you take action, the more completely you can remove the odor. Wash your pet with tomato juice, Massengil douch, or diluted vinegar to counteract the chemical makeup of the skunk spray. Skunk Off and similar preparations containing neutroleum alpha, available from some pet stores, are effective.

Skunk Smell Remedy: 1 quart 3% peroxide, 1/4 c baking soda, 1 tbs liquid hand soap. Mix all three ingredients together. Shampoo animal thoroughly keeping out of eyes, nose and mouth. Soak 5 minutes. Rinse well.

[joyce]

Thanks spydie. I put out moth balls every year to keep the snakes away from around the house. It seems to work. Guess I need to go to Wally World and get a couple of extra boxes and make this whole hillside smell like mothballs. Beats smelling like a skunk.