This is part of a recurring series to help you stay safe from insects, plants and other critters you might encounter.
Riding bikes early one morning, Tree Kiester was slightly ahead of his wife when he saw a flash of white just off the side of the road.
“It was one of those things that barely registered — a weird blur — and I remember wondering what the heck was that,” says Tree, Scouting America’s director of environmental health and safety. “About five seconds later, I heard it.”
That weird blur was a skunk. The sound was his wife getting sprayed.
“If you’ve ever startled a skunk, you know that sound,” Tree says.
Skunks aren’t aggressive and would rather flee than spray. In fact, spraying is always a last resort: Its scent glands take 10 days to refill, so it’s defenseless during that time. That’s why the best thing to do if you encounter one on the trail is to slowly back up, putting about 10 feet in between you and the skunk. If it feels cornered, it’s likely to stamp its paws, hiss and arch its tail over its back. Those are warning signs that you’re about to get hit by a massive stink bomb.
But keeping your distance isn’t always possible. Skunks are common on the trail, especially if you’re out at dawn or dusk, when many skunks are active. Here’s what Tree advises if you or a companion gets sprayed.
- If possible, don’t go inside right away. By waiting a few minutes, the worst of the vapor will dissipate into the air instead of in your house.
- If it’s not private enough to remove your clothing, remove at least the outer layer before going inside.
- As soon as possible, seal your clothes in a plastic bag. Skunk spray is a sulfur-based oil that keeps releasing odor into the air. Containing clothes keeps the odor from spreading until you can properly deal with it.
- Use a de-skunking solution to wash your clothes.
- An effective home remedy is a mixture of 1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide, one-fourth cup of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap.
- Soak or thoroughly saturate the smelly areas for 10 to 15 minutes. (Keep in mind that peroxide can bleach fabrics.)
- Wash using your regular detergent on the highest temperature setting safe for your clothes.
- Hang to air dry. Don’t use the dryer yet.
- If your clothes still smell, repeat the process.
- If your skin was sprayed, don’t use water to wash it off. Plain water alone can spread the oily compounds in skunk spray before you’ve treated it. Instead, use the same mixture you used on your clothes. Apply it to affected skin, let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse. Don’t use the mixture for your eyes or mouth.
- Instead, use water to rinse your spray from your eyes, which is painful and can cause temporary irritation. Flush with water immediately.
- If your pet is sprayed, stay outside and check its eyes first. Gently flush the eyes with lukewarm water or saline for several minutes. If you see severe redness, call a vet.
- Apply the same peroxide de-skunking solution to its dry fur, working deep into the coat. After 5 to 10 minutes, rinse. Use a regular pet shampoo after rinsing.
5 fun facts about skunks
- Skunks help the environment just by eating. Munching on insects helps keep pest populations in check, which can reduce the need for chemical pesticides. Dining on fruits and nuts allows them to spread seeds through their scat, which promotes biodiversity.
- They don’t hibernate. They enter a state called torpor, a deep sleep that lowers their body temperature and metabolism. This can last less than 24 hours or a few days.
- Their spray is highly flammable. Skunk spray contains thiols, sulfur-containing compounds responsible for its intense odor.
- Kids will love this one: Skunk spray is stored in two anal scent glands on either side of the critter’s butt!
- Not all skunks have the same striped appearance — the spotted skunk’s stripes are broken up so they look more like, well, spots.