Don't let skunks create a smelly problem for you

Last week I received several calls from folks who have problems with skunks. Because of the number of calls (six), I thought it would be a good topic for this week's article.

Skunks are a cat-sized or smaller animal with long fun and a long, bushy tail. Skunks also are easily identified by their distinctive black-and-white color. These creatures are near-sighted, omnivores and have a healthy appetite for grubs and insects. They also will consume mice and baby rats.

Skunks are members of the Mustelid family, a species that includes weasels, martens and badgers.

Skunks normally do not engage in long foraging trips, their area normally ranges within a few hundred acres from the den. They can stay active all year but will stay in the den during cold periods.

They will breed in February and March and have their litters in may and June. Generally, skunks are solitary animals, except when raising their young and sharing a den during cold periods. Once the babies are able to travel, the mother will appear with her young traveling single file behind her.

The only real defense a skunk has is to spray a noxious odor, which is created by sulfuric acid and body oils from their anal glands. They can, and do, bite but most often do not. From first-hand experience, a skunk can spray standing on its head with you holding its tail. Generally, they won't spray without first displaying a warning of stamping their front feet.

To find out if a skunk is under your house or deck, sprinkle a fair amount of flour in the suspected entrance. Because skunks are nocturnal, check the entrance area for tracks a few hours after dark. Once the animal is gone, seal the entrance with a heavy gauge of chicken wire to prevent further entry.

Before sealing the entrance, flood the area with light for several days, making sure the entrance is bright. When the skunk returns before dawn, they will be repelled by the light and blocked by the chicken wire and they will go elsewhere to sleep.

If you get sprayed, use the following formula:

A. 1 quart of 3-percent hydrogen peroxide.

B. 1/4 cup of baking soda

C. 1 teaspoon of Dawn liquid dish soap

Mix these ingredients and coat yourself thoroughly. Rinse the mixture off after several minutes. If the smell is still there, repeat the process. The last time I got sprayed, it took two applications; for my dog KeiKei, it took three applications because of his heavy coat of fur.

If you are allergic to any of the above products, please don't use them. Always test fabrics and paints before using any chemical compounds. Please remember to wear rubber gloves to protect your hands and eye protection for your eyes.

If you would like to share a cleaning idea or concept with the reading audience, call Ed Madan at Northwest Executive and Environmental Services, LLC (255-2266); or send them to the Bonner County Daily Bee, 310 Church St., Sandpoint, ID 83864, Attn: What Would Ed Do?

Copy written by Edmond E. Madan, certified forensic, fire, flood, mold inspection and remediation contractor. Ed is the chief executive officer of NWES.