There is nothing quite as repulsive as the spray of a skunk. I mean, do you know anyone that doesn’t mind the putrid smell these little furry creatures give off? No, me either! And it would be bad enough if these little critters sprayed and that was that, but that’s just not how it goes. Once a skunk sprays that horrible scent it lingers for days or even weeks before it finally dissipates, but even then you can catch a reminder whiff of that nightmarish scent if the item or area sprayed becomes damp from rain or other sources.
I think you would be hard-pressed to find a person who had not experienced driving past a dead skunk in the road gagging as they held their breath while that strong pungent odor circulated through the vents of the vehicle. I bet you didn’t realize that you could hold your breath that long! It was almost as if that smell burned a permanent scar on your nostrils, and you could swear that you could still smell that darn skunk hours after you passed it.
And how about that time the skunk sprayed your poor dog right in the face; it took weeks for you to get the stink out of that poor little pooch. You felt terrible as you scrubbed on that little spray-yellowed face and watched in horror as your poor pup’s eyes watered and as he whined pitifully.
Yup, the threat of skunk spray is quite obvious and well-documented but did you know that this is not the only danger that skunks pose to you and your family and pets.
Rabies is one of the biggest dangers when dealing with skunks. In fact, according to the CDC, there were 1,588 cases reported cases involving skunks in 2014 which represented 26.3 percent of wildlife rabies cases in the United States. One sure sign that a skunk has rabies is if it wanders around erratically during daylight hours. Other signs of rabies in skunks include fearless behavior around humans or pets and very aggressive behaviors.
Skunk poop is another danger. It is not commonly known that the excrement of a skunk can be loaded with dangerous and harmful bacteria that can transmit to people and pets, and those that are aware of this fact are sometimes under the mistaken thought that it only poses a danger when it is fresh. The truth is that skunk waste can harbor harmful parasites that are infectious for days or weeks after the animal has deposited it. Proper handling and disposal procedures should be followed when dealing with skunk waste.
Another area where skunks pose a danger is in disposing of their dead carcasses. As their lifeless bodies decompose the harmful bacteria that these bodies harbor multiply and can cause infection when they come into contact with your skin or mucous membranes.
Skunks are also known to harbor parasites, both internally and externally. Tapeworm, roundworm, lungworm, flukes, as well as fleas, ticks, and lice and all the dangers they pose, are commonly found residing in and on skunks. These parasites can carry their own set of pathogens that can cause illnesses in people and pets.
Don’t take the threat that skunks pose lightly, and use caution when you are in close proximity to these woodland pests. It is never a good idea to try to handle a skunk issue on your own. The best and safest way to eliminate skunks from your home or property is to contact a licensed professional like Thomas Pest Services. Our wildlife specialists are highly trained and are equipped with the latest technologies and protective gear to ensure that they remain safe while ridding you of your skunk issues. They have studied the habits and habitats of these furry stinkers and know how these creatures respond and react, and they can safely and humanely remove those creatures from your property.
If you are dealing with the sickening stench of skunks this spring give us a call. Our experts are standing by to answer all of your questions and are prepared to quickly and efficiently evict those skunks.