The Day the Skunk Came to Our House
Move out and open the freezer
Stink stank stunk
When that skunk sprayed their LP tank in the country, we all heard about it in our class that year. We were in high school. Teenagers. Smell mattered in our classrooms. More than that, we smelled it that day — a month later — when we gathered at her house.
Maybe it was the family dog that spooked the skunk that sprayed that tank that released that odor throughout their house. What happened next is still funny for us to recall decades later.
A quick Google search for skunks reveals more than I knew before.
skunk, (family Mephitidae), also called polecat, black-and-white mammal, found primarily in the Western Hemisphere, that uses extremely well-developed scent glands to release a noxious odour in defense. The term skunk, however, refers to more than just the well-known striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis)
She would come to school asking us, “Do I smell like a skunk? Can you smell anything now?”
Fumes in the house
In rural areas, liquid petroleum (LP) tanks are common. They supply fuel to heat houses and to cook with gas stoves. Combine the gas with the skunk and the house is “skunkified.”
Skunks use their spray as a last line of defense against predators. The spray’s intensely pungent odor comes from thiol, a chemical compound mainly composed of sulfur and hydrogen. -Critter Control.com
Oh, the smell of a skunk seems to last forever. The family had to move out of the house because the smell was so unlivable. Whatever and wherever that skunk had sprayed, the perfume of the skunk permeated the whole heating system and blew the fumes throughout every inch of the house, into the fabric of the furniture, onto their clothes, in the bedding.
Even after they had moved out, the smell, though not as pungent, was still there. She kept her underwear in the freezer!
Helpful hints to keep skunks away
To avoid having this happen to you if you live in a rural area, there are some helpful suggestions on the web. First, identify what might attracts skunks to your yard.
Skunks can be attracted to a yard or a house by certain items that might be in the yard or near the house. As stated before, bird seed and sunflower seeds are two main attractors of skunks. Pet food, garbage, grills and lumber can also attract skunks, as can openings under houses, decks or sheds.
What are skunks afraid of?
It may seem ironic, but skunks hate certain odors (as if they have room to judge). Citrus, ammonia, mothballs and predator urine (dog, coyote, etc) are three smells that can scare off skunks.
Skunk Diseases and Property Damage
More of a concern than merely the smell is the fact that they may be infected with rabies. Rabies is a serious animal disease that can transfer to other domestic animals like cats and dogs.
Skunk Diseases and Risks of Intrusion
Skunks are small animals but can cause serious property damage, or worse, spread disease. Skunks are the primary carriers of rabies in the United States and pose a serious risk to humans and their pets. Skunks are also skilled diggers and create deep burrows that can threaten the structures of homes and businesses.
Diseases/Rabies
Skunks are particularly susceptible to the rabies virus, which they are then able to transmit to humans or pets. It is important to note that skunks do not transmit rabies through their spray. They are able to transmit the dangerous disease through saliva, most commonly through biting.
Rabid skunks are marked by aggression, wandering during daytime hours, muscle tremors or paralysis, excess salivation, and may appear approachable. It is possible for an infected skunk to not exhibit symptoms for weeks, which means all skunks are potentially dangerous and should be avoided.
There are rabies vaccines available for dogs and cats.
Property Damage
Skunk Burrows
The front claws of skunks give them perfect tools for digging. Skunks will build burrows and tunnels under buildings, sheds, decks, and concrete foundations. These burrows can threaten the structural integrity of homes and businesses, but they also can provide access inside.
The day the skunk came to our house
Experiences we have throughout our lives that we relive through writing may be the very unique connections that we enjoy writing or talking about.
Write them down! Just start with one…then smile as you recall. Smile when you remember exasperating ties and times that make your friends still laugh out loud!
Read more from Bev about faith, freedom, writing, and life lessons.
