One wild animal that has found a home among Lake County residences is the common skunk. Just about every homeowner at one time or another has had to deal with a skunk. Skunks often find a home beneath a house, in a garage or in a storage building. They are very common throughout the county but are rarely seen because they are most active at night. Skunks are often hit by vehicles, the reason being their eyesight is bad and they don’t see the vehicles coming.
California has two species of skunks, the most common being the striped skunk. The striped skunk is a house-cat-sized animal (between 4-10 pounds) with long, black fur and two variable broad white stripes down the back. The head is triangular, the tail large and bushy.
There is also the smaller spotted skunk. Spotted skunks have black with white spots or short white streaks. They are smaller than the striped skunk, about half the size of a house cat. They are more common in Southern California.
Just about all the skunks in Lake County are of the striped skunk variety. Most skunks live only about two years. They feed on bugs, small rodents, bird eggs and small seeds and berries. When they are living near houses they often feed on cat or dog food or even garbage. In other words, they are opportunistic. Since skunks are poor climbers, most experts recommend placing cat or dog food on a chair or bench.
Skunks breed during February and March and have litters about nine weeks later. The litters range from four to six (called kits). They are member of the weasel family.
All skunks have the ability to discharge a nauseating musk from their anal glands. They are capable of spraying their musk several times with accuracy to a distance of about 10 feet. This is their primary defense. Coyotes, foxes and golden eagles are the primary predators of skunks. Wildlife biologists say the black and white color of a skunk is to warn off predators.
Pets such as dogs and cats are often the target of a skunk’s odor. For many years the owners of pets sprayed by skunks would wash the pet with tomato juice. Experts now say that that doesn’t work. In fact, it can do more harm than good. The best method of getting the skunk smell off your pets is to use a commercially manufactured odor remover. The item can be purchased at most farm supply stores. You also can make up a solution of one-half cup baking soda, one-half teaspoon washing detergent and a quart of hydrogen peroxide. Work the mixture into the dog’s fur and then rinse off
Skunks are one of the primary carriers of rabies in California. According to authorities, a high percentage of skunks checked for rabies have tested positive for the disease during the past five years. Rabies is a viral disease that is fatal in mammals, including man and domestic animals (dogs, cats and livestock). It is transmitted by the bite of an infected animal. A skunk roaming around during daytime hours or one that exhibits unusual behavior should always be avoided. This is why all pets such as cats and dogs should be vaccinated for rabies.
In addition to rabies, skunks can carry leptospirosis, listeriosis, canine distemper, canine hepatitis, Q-fever, tularemia and trypanosoma. They are also heavily infested with ticks, fleas and mites, which are known carriers and transmitters of disease.
Once skunks get on your property, removing them can be a formidable task. The easiest way is to hire a commercial trapper. The Lake County Agriculture Department at 263-0217 can offer advice as well as the names of trappers who work in the county. The other option is to trap them yourself although that is not easy. Most people use a cage trap but the major problem is what to do with the skunk after you trap it. It shouldn’t be released back into the wild. Commercial trappers are required to kill the skunk.
