Dealing with skunk spray

I like skunks! They are pretty, low key, great mousers.... if it wasn't for that whole "stinky butt juice" thing, most people would like having them around. 

but that is a BIG " if " ! 

Fun facts about skunks:

• Skunks only spray in self defense. 
• Skunks don't want to spray. They will often try to intimidate you by hissing, fluffing up, raising their tail, stamping their feet and false charging. Only if that doesn't work will they spray. Talk softly to the skunk (it really works) and back away slowly. 
• Skunk spray is made up of two parts. The water based chemical called thiol (N-butly mercaptan) is the stinky part. The second part is an oil base that makes it linger for days. 
• Baby skunks have the stinky part, but not the oil. If they spray you, it washes right off. 
• Skunk "essence" is harvested and distilled. The oil base is used in very expensive perfumes to make them long lasting (can you image that distillery?) 
• Skunks can spray up to 15 feet. A little more if the wind is in their favor.
• A skunk can spray up to 6 times (usually less) before it runs out of "juice". After that, can take 10-14 days for their glands to refill.  During this time, they are defenseless. Another reason they don't want to spray unnecessarily. 
• Here are a couple of good articles if you want to read more about skunk spray.  

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/ask-smithsonian-what-makes-skunk-spray-smell-so-terrible-180955553/

https://www.scenichudson.org/viewfinder/wildlifelove-eight-ways-skunks-might-surprise-you/#:~:text=Some%20perfume%20manufacturers%20rely%20on,and%20expensive)%20scent%20last%20longer.

• A skunk's #1 predator is the Great Horned owl. GHOs prey on skunks regularly and often take housecats, presumably mistaken for a skunk. 
• In self defense, the skunk will attempt to spray the GHO. If it manages to hit the owl in the eyes, the owl will be blind for about 24 hours. It is not uncommon to see a GHO sitting motionless (and stinking!) waiting for the skunk spray blindness to wear off. Fortunately for the owl, they have almost no sense of smell! 
  

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washing off skunk spray

Predator Impact's first skunk call was about 5 years ago. For five years I was proud to brag that, even though we had trapped and relocated hundreds of skunks, I had never been sprayed.... until last week! 
It was a very routine skunk call. We caught the skunk and drove to the release site, but then I got lazy. Normally, I place the trap on the ground, open the door, and get back in the truck. The skunks are usually asleep and it takes them a while to wake up, leave the trap, and waddle into the woods. This day I opened the trap before placing it on the ground. The skunk was wide awake and, at some point, bolted out of the trap! When I looked down, the little &%#$@ was spraying my pant leg!
Once I was thoroughly sprayed, he ran off into the woods. On the drive home, all three dogs were crushed up against the passenger's side door trying to get away from me! 
The one good thing to come out of this was that I was able to test out a remedy that the birddog guys have told me about for years, but I have never had the chance to try. 

According to some friends who are avid bird hunters, their dogs can be sprayed by a skunk, they will bathe them in CloSYS mouthwash and the dog will sleep in their bed that night. 
CloSYS is available at any Walmart or pharmacy. 
This makes sense chemically. Both bad breath and skunk spray involve sulfer based compounds. It is logical that something that kills bad breath would neutralize skunk spray odor. 
One note: Do not get your dog (or yourself) wet first. The CloSYS works best if applied dry and then washed off later. 
I am really pleased to report that I applied the CloSYS, then took a shower. The smell was almost gone after the first application, and a second application to my leg in the area that took the direct hit cleaned it right up. 
I got dressed and saw customers the rest of the day and no one noticed a thing. 

There are lots of baking soda/peroxide/soap formulas on the internet, and several different premade formulas available, but I have never had as good a result as I had with the CloSYS. 

Predator Impact used to advertise that we trap and relocate skunks without them spraying 99.99% of the time. I guess now we have to advertise 99.98% of the time! 

Call Predator Impact to handle all your skunk related issues. We use special traps and successfully relocate the skunks without spraying 99.98% of the time! 

Predator Impact
(918) 397-4091