Dangers
Skunk spray
- Symptoms: Stinging, burning, redness, tearing, lung irritation, nausea
- Serious effects: Permanent blindness, severe respiratory reactions, and anemia
- Treatment: Decontaminate the area and seek medical evaluation if symptoms are severe or persistent
Rabies
- Transmission: Skunks can transmit rabies through saliva, most commonly through biting
- Symptoms: Aggression, wandering during daytime hours, muscle tremors or paralysis, excess salivation
- Treatment: Seek medical evaluation as soon as possible if bitten by a skunk
Besides the smell, skunks love to make burrows under homes and more often take over abandoned dens left behind made by other animals. They also enjoy eating grubs which can be found in rich fertile soil on your lawn.
Removing Skunk Odor
Chemist Paul Krebaum discovered a solution that changes the odorous thiols into odorless acids, thereby chemically neutralizing the skunk odor.
The formula is:
- 1 quart of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide (fresh bottle),
- ¼ cup of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), and
- 1-2 teaspoons of liquid dish soap.
