How to Avoid Getting Sprayed by a Skunk… and what to do if you do

Getting sprayed by a skunk ranks up there with the top worst things to happen to you outdoors. But fear not: there are ways to avoid getting sprayed by this nocturnal animal, whose defense mechanism is to spray a liquid with an unpleasant, strong scent from their anal glands when threatened. Skunks are usually mild-tempered and will avoid humans and other animals at all costs. However, they will spray if they feel threatened or are surprised. 

If you do happen to become a victim of the elusive skunk, here is what you can do.

How to avoid getting sprayed by a skunk

From stomping your feet to steering clear of skunk dens, here are a few tips to avoiding being sprayed by this close relative of the badger family. 

•     Stomp your feet and make some noise: If you come across a skunk, stomp your feet, and talk or sing in a low voice. This will ensure they do not become suddenly surprised by your presence and defend themselves. In most cases, they will continue on and go about their business.
•     Familiarize yourself with a skunk’s den: You’ll typically find their homes under wood and rock piles, porches, buildings, concrete slabs, rock crevices, and culverts, as well as in standing or fallen hollow trees. Be on the lookout for a smooth, grass-free depression with one entrance and a musky odor coming from it. Search for skunk droppings, which resemble feline stool, and staggered skunk tracks, also similar to those of cats. Just keep in mind that skunks have five toes rather than four. If you come across one of these dens, leave the area immediately and call a pest control technician immediately.
•     Call the skunk removal experts: Never attempt to remove a skunk from your property on your own. You will only end up sprayed with a smelly liquid that’s extremely hard to get rid of.
•     Don’t leave food or garbage out: Seal all trash and don’t leave loose garbage or food outside. Install motion detectors and motion activated sprinklers to deter them if they enter your property.
•     Use skunk repellents: Skunks hate the smell of citrus, mothballs, and ammonia, as well as predator urine from a dog or coyote, for instance. Use mothballs or ammonia-soaked cotton balls around your property, but keep them well away from children.

How to keep you pet from getting sprayed by a skunk

The best way to prevent your dog or other curious pet from getting sprayed is to follow all the above tips in addition to the following:

•     Don’t leave uneaten pet food outside: Skunks happen to be opportunistic eaters and will eat any leftovers they can find.
•     Seal open spaces under porches, etc.: Skunks are attracted to elevated sheds, open garages, and wood and rock piles, so do all you can to keep those areas closed off.
•     Use light and noise: Set up bright lights and direct noise towards any known dens, which get dark and quiet a few hours before nightfall. Because they are such mellow creatures, skunks will search out another home that is not so bright and noisy.

Uh Oh…Your pet was sprayed. Now what?

If your pet has been sprayed, the first thing you should do is close all entrances to your house, keeping your pet outside. If they makes it inside, they will want rub themself all over your carpets, bedding, and furniture to try and escape the noxious fumes. Why make your cleanup job much more challenging and unpleasant than it has to be?

If your pet’s eyes look red or irritated, flush them out with some cool water to remove the spray. If your pet has bite marks or scratches, bring him to the vet immediately.

Don’t rinse them off with water. That’s because skunk spray comprises oils and thiols, which are chemicals containing sulfur. If you rinse your pet with just water, this will just spread the oil across a larger portion of their coat.

Forget the tomato juice. The effects are minimal and will only mask the smell for a short period of time. Instead, make a homemade solution of:

• 1 quart of  3% (three-percent) hydrogen peroxide
• ¼ cup of baking soda
• 1 teaspoon of liquid dishwashing soap

Don some rubber gloves and rub the dog’s coat with this solution, followed by an immediate rinse. Next, go through your pet’s regular bathing routine: shampoo, rinse, dry, and brush. Rinse and repeat as needed.

What is you were sprayed by a skunk? 

If YOU were the one who was sprayed, you will want to take off all your clothing right away, stuffing it in a garbage bag. Seal the bag and put it outside. Wash your body with a fragrant soap or a grease-cutting dish soap, then give your hair a wash with a shampoo type designed for oily hair, or you could use the solution above for pets.

Alternatively, you may want to soak in a baking-soda bath. Just add up to four cups baking soda to a bath of hot water, then soak for 20 minutes. Rinse, then repeat as needed.

To get skunk smell off clothes and fabrics, wash them with a regular laundry detergent mixed with a half cup baking soda in hot water. Air dry the clothes, as a drying machine can bake in the smell. Repeat until the odor is gone. If the clothes aren’t that important to you, throw them out rather than go through the cleaning process.

Soft surfaces that you can’t wash by hand or in a machine (i.e., couches and carpets) may be steam cleaned.

Get Expert Advice & Customized Solutions

Skunks are considered nuisance wildlife animals, and they should be humanely removed from your property when possible, especially if you have spotted several of them or you have a repeat offender. To schedule a consultation and estimate for humane skunk removal or any other wildlife, call Best Known Pest & Wildlife at 781-333-1998, or fill out our online form