The Skunk And Its Reputation For Smelly
It is not difficult to come across one on a road. Surely, if it is close, its fetid smell will allow you to detect its presence even before you see it. The skunk is one of the worst-smelling animals on the entire zoological scale.
Its attractive and friendly appearance is counteracted by the bad smell that characterizes it. As is often the case with everything natural, this unpleasant aroma has its reason for being.
Skunk life
- The skunk, also known as skunk or skunk, inhabits mainly American lands ; it is also found, although in smaller numbers, on other continents.
- It is a mammalian and omnivorous animal, it has a varied diet. Their favorite foods are rodents, insects, eggs, and honey; they also eat fruits and other vegetables.
- The largest populations of skunks are found in areas where there are many rodents. They play a very important role in the control of these animals.
- They live in burrows that they dig into the ground with their strong front legs.
- They are solitary animals, difficult to find in the company of other skunks. They only get close to other beings of the same species when it is time to mate.
- The females keep their young with them in their burrow. When the little ones grow up, they go away looking for their own destiny.
- There are several species of skunk, although their lifestyles are similar.
Why does the skunk smell so bad?
That penetrating and bitter smell is the defense system of the animal ; it appears when the skunk feels threatened, frightened or trapped. When he thinks he’s in danger, he shoots a jet that comes out of his anal glands.
The great pressure with which the liquid is expelled allows it to reach more than four meters away. In this way they defend themselves from predators and humans who want to harm them.
With this scent system it manages to scare away large and powerful animals, such as bears. This ability to spray from long distances, coupled with her escape velocity and her ability to hide, keep her safe when the environment is hostile.
How to eliminate the bad smell of the skunk?
A person who has received a skunk bath on his clothes, in his backpack or in the car, smells rotten. The bad smell will also circulate if the skunk has impregnated the house pet.
It is not easy to eliminate that smell that seems to settle in the nose and that nothing can make it disappear. It can soak through clothing, rugs, and even skin, and stay there for months, so you need to act quickly.
- A very common suggestion is to wash the affected item with tomato juice. It is a temporary solution, as it only masks the smell, which then reappears.
- Exposure to air and sun tempers the intensity of the odor. Ultraviolet rays help neutralize it.
- Another good strategy is to wash the impregnated area with water and mild soap, and then spray it with vinegar diluted in water (one part vinegar in five parts of water).
- Baking soda mixed with hydrogen peroxide and liquid soap is an excellent solution. This mixture can be used on objects and on the skin of people and animals.
The procedure may need to be repeated more than once. It is also convenient to alternate the methods; ventilating the rooms is always an action that favors the elimination of the odor.
Myths about the substance that skunk gives off
It’s not as bad as it sounds – the smell is just that, bad smell. There are those who believe that skunks go around the world spraying everyone who crosses their path, but the reality is not like that.
The ability to emit the odorous substance is limited; skunks only have enough to spray about five times. When your reservation is exhausted, it takes up to six days to rebuild it.
There are even warnings when the skunk is about to drop its liquid weapon, as it raises its tail. When you watch the skunk’s tail lift, turn away.
