It is springtime and the skunks are beginning to emerge from their lairs and search for food and mates. Yep, it’s also that time of year. Now, we all know that you shouldn’t mess with skunk unless you want to get sprayed by their butt juice that is basically impossible to get rid of. You and the clothing you were wearing will smell for the rest of your life. So, that’s easy, right? Just don’t bother them. But it’s not just us humans that are curious about these striped critters. Dogs also seem to have a fascination for them. So, let’s take a look at some of the facts about skunks you didn’t know and how you might deal with them this spring.

Just to start off, you should know that it’s not just adult skunks that can spray foul odors onto their predators. Baby skunks can spray even before they can open their eyes to see. I imagine that could lead to all kinds of shenanigans for their mothers with babies accidentally spraying each other because they can’t see and they think their brother or sister is an enemy. One thing you probably don’t know is that skunks don’t usually spray a predator unless they feel threatened. Usually they will just stick up their tail in warning and let out a little sample whiff of what the predator can expect to get if they proceed further.

Another way skunks will try to scare off predators is for a mother skunk to face the danger head on and begin stamping her front paws. They may also hiss and lunge at the predator. If they are being tracked through an area with dense flora, they will also let out a cloud of their special spray to discourage the predator from continuing to stalk them. And when skunks do decide to spray a predator they specifically aim their butt towards the face so they can get them in the eyes, nose, and mouth. Pretty clever for a furry four legged animal.

Finally, what everyone really wants to know is what do you do if your dog comes homes smelling of skunk. Well, experts agree that the best thing to do is mix together four cups of hydrogen peroxide, a teaspoon of dish soap, and a quarter-cup of baking soda and wash them down good. You may have to repeat a few times to totally get rid of the smell.

Has your pet ever come home smelling like its been sprayed by a skunk? What did you do?