Forwarded message - for info, please visit
http://www.wildwatch.org/Binocular/bino12/binoc12.pdf

The Sweetness of Skunks

BY CONSTANCE YOUNG

If, like me, your dog has been "skunked," or you've had to deal with
a dead skunk on your property, you know how unpleasant their
unique aroma can be. All the same, I insist that skunks are "sweet."
By learning a little about their inoffensive personalities and typical
behavior, you can avoid skunk-related problems, and even learn to
appreciate these appealing creatures.

Skunks are generally docile and sweet, and yet remain a very
misunderstood creature. Skunks are wrongly thought to be harmful;
in reality they are useful and quite gentle. Skunks seldom spray
people on purpose, and by taking some simple precautions we
can avoid being sprayed at all when we meet them accidentally.
"Any human who gets sprayed by a skunk deserves it," said
wildlife rehabilitator Val Nassetta. "Skunks don't just spray when
they see a human - they usually stomp on the ground with their
paws and make warning sounds two or three times before spraying."

Skunks are "nature's sanitation engineers," according to Erica Mills
of Aspen Skunk Rabies Research, Inc. They are an important part
of our ecosystem, ridding us of cockroaches, grubs, baby rats,
gophers, moles, and even poisonous animals such as rattlesnakes
and black widow spiders. If you have an insect or rodent problem,
a resident skunk might be just the ticket!

It is important to understand that skunks are terribly near-sighted.
Because of this, they can confuse quick or loud movements with
those of a predator. If you move slowly and softly when you
encounter a skunk it will have no reason to spray you. Should
you happen upon one suddenly, it will usually warn you before
spraying. Skunks run directly toward a threat, stop, then stomp
and hiss or squeal. They can make sounds like a squealing pig,
grunt, hiss, whine, even chirp like a bird. They can only run at
about 10 miles per hour, which is partly why so many are killed
by cars. Drivers assume they will run away fast, like other animals,
but they cannot. Instead, they stand still to face the threat, ready
to spray, which of course, sadly, does nothing to save them from
a car.

As for rabid skunks, do not assume that one out in the daytime
is sick. Skunks can forage at any time of day or night, especially
when they have young to feed. Only if you see an adult skunk
who appears paralyzed, or exhibits odd behavior such as circling,
self mutilating, or unprovoked aggression or unusual tameness,
should you contact an animal control officer.

Dealing with Problems Sensibly - Both for Your Sake and the Skunk's

If your dog is sprayed, forget tomato juice. There are commercial
deodorizers to use on dogs or your own skin and clothing. Or try
bathing your dog in a combination of vinegar and dish liquid, being
careful to keep it out of their eyes, of course. For your house, there
are treatments available at hardware stores. A home remedy is one
quart 3% hydrogen peroxide, ¼ cup baking soda, and 1 tsp. liquid
soap to help get rid of skunk odor. Burning vanilla or citrus candles,
or incense, can also deodorize your home.

Most other common problems are related to skunks' poor eyesight
and their short front limbs, which are useful for digging but not
climbing. They often get their heads stuck in empty food jars or
yogurt containers, some of which have especially small openings.
According to Carolyn Engle Moore, putting some canola oil around
the rim will allow you to remove it more easily. Of course, call your
local wildlife rehabilitator if you need help to save the skunk from
this form of suffering.

Here Are Some Recommended Measures For Common Problems:

Skunks dining in your yard. The easiest solution is not leaving dog
or cat food outside, or unsecured garbage or compost piles. Feed
pets indoors only. Keep garbage in secure containers, and ask a
local garden club about erecting a secure composter.

Skunk caught in a window well or other depression. They are poor
climbers. If the well is less than two feet in depth, use a piece of
wood as a plank. (Remember, do everything in slow motion so as
not to alarm the skunk.) To help them climb, attach a towel or
chicken wire to the board. If the well is deeper, place some smelly
cheese or cat food in the far corner of an animal carrier (or plastic
rectangular trash can turned on its side) and slowly lower it into
the well. The food should make the skunk walk inside; then slowly
raise the receptacle to ground level, keeping it level and your hands
on the outside of the container. If you move slowly, the skunk will
not spray and will come out.

Skunk in shed or garage. To get it out, leave the door open before
dusk and sprinkle a wide stripe of flour under it so you can watch
for a track of exiting footprints. Close the door when you know
the skunk has gone.

Skunk under a shed or deck. Skunks sometimes raise their young
in such sheltering places. They are nomadic, so they will usually
leave when the young are grown. The kind and simple solution is
to wait for them to leave on their own - remember they are
beneficial at ridding your environment of pests. When they've
moved out, block the entry hole. But do not trap them as starving
young may be left behind.

Picking up a skunk. If you need to pick one up, cover the animal
with a thick towel or blanket. Remember, "Slow and easy; nothing
quick or fast," says Nassetta.

If after reading these suggestions you still don't know what to do,
call Val Nassetta in Hyde Park at 845-229-5626 or Elise Able
of Foxwood (foxlady@foxwoodrehab.com)

Skunks are sweet, but that doesn't mean we should keep them as
pets. It is illegal in New York State, but even if it weren't, they are
not suitable. They need exercise, and, like all of us, become
overweight when confined. They are nocturnal, so feeding times
are awkward. Their preferred diet is insects and grubs, Nassetta
reminds us, and cat food is not healthy for them over the long
term. And besides all this, it is almost always kinder and more
practical to let wild animals live where they were intended to live -
in the wild.

For more helpful info, try this website.
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/html/ec/ec1579/#t0

Posted on SHARE Yahoo group - Feb. 29, 2008