 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Skunk Spray, a chemical called N-butlymercaptan, is a volatile mix of sulfur-containing compounds. The skunk produces and stores these chemicals in a pair of glands on the lateral sides of its anus. It stores enough for roughly 5 sprays, and it will need more than a week to produce more. The spray can reach almost 15 ft with impressive accuracy. The victim will not only succumb to the smell, but may also xperience temporary eye irritation or blindness. It is an effective defense that keeps all but a few sneaky predators away. The skunk does not have to spray at every encounter, nor does it want to. Since it takes so long to replenish its supply of spray, it uses a few tactics as warning prior to letting loose. The skunk's bold black and white fur pattern is unmistakable. And if the appearance doesn't make the threat turn back, the skunk will raise its fur and tail (to appear larger), hiss and stomp its feet. If the threat still does not go away, the skunk will assume the spraying posture: it will form a U-shape with its body, its tail lifted up, head and rear facing toward the threat, and spray. The spray will stick to fur and saturate the air immediately around the vicinity. Skunk spray can last for days to months depending on the amount. Surprisingly, skunks will not spray other skunks; possibly because it may be ineffective on each other. When these usually solitary animals fight (usually over a mate or a den), they do it with tooth and claw. Domestic dogs are very susceptible to skunk sprays. Being curious and playful, they tend to ignore the warnings and move in for a closer "sniff." Domestic cats, on the other hand, have been known to get along well with skunks and can often be seen feeding together. In some parts of the world skunks are kept as pets. They are very docile and pleasant animals. Owners typically have the scent glands removed. |
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
| What to do... | ||||||||||
|
Getting rid of Skunk spray has always been a challenge. There are many myths as to what to use. Oddly enough, many of home remedies overlap with what folks say will remove bubblegum stuck in hair. Removing all traces of the spray is a challenge. Luckily, chemists have identified the chemical make-up of the spray and identified specific chemicals to neutralize the odorous ones. There are two dependable ways of getting rid of skunk odor: The Old-Fashioned Way
The Hi-tech way
Make your own odor neutralizer. In a pinch, this formula will work well against skunk spray. Mix immediately before use and do not store. Be careful using this around the eyes.
|
||||||||||
|
Skunk stink stuff |
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
|
Skunk books |
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
| The details on New York State's only Skunk | ||||||||||
|
Striped
Skunk |
AKA:
Skunk, Polecat (incorrectly) Identifying characteristics: About the size of a domestic cat, they have black fur with a bold white stripe that runs from the top of the head and splits into two stripes at the shoulders. The stripes continue down the sides of the back and tail. The fluffy tail is bi-colored, with a black stripe running down the top and black fur underneath. A small white stripe runs down the face from the forehead to just past the eyes. Their heads, eyes, and ears are small; snouts are pointed and legs short. The front toes have large claws for digging. Size: About 23 to 32 inches in length (including their 7 to 12 inch tail), weighing an average of 7 pounds. Habitat: Open areas adjacent to woodland, grassland or crops. Often near water. Dens are built in shallow burrows, hollow logs, under buildings, decks or wood piles. They will make use of abandoned burrows when possible. Food: Omnivorous. Primarily insects, but also rodents and other small mammals, birds and bird eggs, crustaceans, fruits, nuts, plant material and carrion. They often attack bee and ant nests. Vocalization: Hissing. Predators: Most predators are deterred by the skunk's bold colors and funky smell, but Great-Horned Owls and Red-Tail Hawks regularly prey on the skunk. Both species have a poorly developed sense of smell. Many skunks are killed by automobile traffic, possibly due to the skunk's poor eyesight. Reproduction: A skunk's litter size averages 5, with 1 litter per year. Mating season is from February through March. Other Info.: Skunks are nocturnal, often emerging from their dens around dusk to forage for food. Although primarily solitary, a single male may winter with several females. Skunks do not hibernate, but will severely reduce their activity during winter. |
Distribution Status: Common.
Tracks |
||||||||
or
. These products are
formulated to break down or neutralize the compounds
in skunk spray. Use as directed.
