With the start of warmer weather, many individuals are choosing to spend more quality time outside in their yard or on the patio. Despite feeling secure on your property, being outside means being vulnerable to wild animals such as a skunk.
If you happen to come in contact with a skunk, the best way to avoid being sprayed is by calmly walking away or going inside. Skunks will only spray if they feel threatened. In the unfortunate scenario that you are sprayed by a skunk, it is important to know what to do.
Apply first aid.
Before worrying about treating the odor, the first step should always be to apply first aid. While skunk spray is not poisonous or deadly, it is known to cause temporary blindness and coughing.
If the individual was hit in the face with the spray, immediately flush out eyes and mouth with cool water. This will not only help clear out the spray itself, but help ease burning and irritation. If swallowed, the spray can cause nausea, vomiting, and drooling.
Any scratches or bites need to be treated as well. Start by rinsing off the area with cool water and apply antibacterial cream or spray to reduce the risk of infection. If scratched or bitten, be sure to make a doctor’s appointment to get checked out as soon as possible. Skunks can have rabies, so certain measures need to be taken. 
Stay outside, if possible.
To prevent the interior of your home from being contaminated, try to stay outside if possible. Use the garden hose to rinse off clothing and skin, or ask a friend to bring out a large bowl of water.
If you need to come inside, take as much of your clothes off as possible and leave them outside. Walk quickly to the bathroom without touching anything or anyone.
Take a bath.
Everyone has heard about the age-old rumor about bathing in tomato juice to get rid of the skunks smell. While tomato juice might help wash off the skunk spray itself, it does nothing to neutralize the odor.
The best defense against the smell is a commercial grade skunk-odor remover. The remover uses liquid enzymes to break down the chemical components of the odor. Before using, be sure to read all directions carefully. Some skunk-odor removers are safe to use on humans, pets, and clothing, whereas some are meant solely for furniture and carpets.
If you do not have commercial skunk-odor remover on hand, natural home remedies are just as effective. The most common remedy consists of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, or laundry detergent. The hydrogen peroxide and baking soda help neutralize the odor and the dish soap help remove the oily residue from the spray.
Use a sponge or washcloth to scrub the mixture on your skin. Let the mixture sit for about five minutes before rinsing it off with cool water. After rinsing off, take a bath or shower with regular soap, body wash, shampoo, and conditioner to fully wash away remnants of the skunk spray and solution.
While using a commercial skunk-odor remover or natural remedy might work to get rid of a majority of the harsh smell, it might take multiple baths before the odor dissipates completely.
Have A Skunk Problem? Call the Experts at Shumaker Animal Control
If you think you have a skunk problem on your property, call the experts at Shumaker Animal Control to deal with the problem for you. Our experienced team will take care of the problem in a timely manner, ensuring that your home and pets are not in any danger.
At Shumaker Animal Control, we are a family-owned business who cares about the safety of you and your family but also about the well-being of the animals themselves. All of our trapping and control methods are humane, as we never try to hurt the angry or scared animal.
Call us at 443-854-8072, visit our website or fill out our contact form for more information.