Skunks sightings in our area have been on the rise with more seen out and about, leaving some wondering why are they seeing so many right now?
Officials say there are a number of reasons, the time of the year one where baby skunks are starting to grow up is a major factor.
“This is the time of year where mothers with nests, the babies have matured to the point where they’re six to 10 or 12 weeks old … you’re seeing a lot of juveniles that are poking around, sometimes a little bit later in the dawn than what you’d normally see in adult skunk. They don’t typically like light or a little earlier at dusk,” Drake’s Wildlife Services Wildlife Technician Seth Detwiler said.
Officials say that while the spray and smell of skunks can be a big problem, the animals often will leave you alone unless they feel threatened.
Detwiler adds that pet owners have the most to be concerned about and should take extra precaution if you smell the stench of a skunk nearby, as they are known to carry multiple diseases.
“Skunks can carry distemper and leptospirosis, and they can also carry, you know, fleas and ticks and skunk round worms, as well as being the primary vector for rabies in the Midwest,” Detwiler said.
Experts say if sprayed by a skunk, immediately wash your eyes and face with cold water, and a mixture of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and liquid soap can be used to get rid of the odor but make sure to keep it away from the eyes mouth or nose.
Officials with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources say that if you are trying to remove a skunk from your property, you do not need a permit but want to keep a few things in mind to avoid getting sprayed.
“If you do catch in a cage trap, just approaching it really quietly, trying to get it covered with something like a blanket to keep it in the dark and things like that, and then grabbing that trap to move it can help,” Indiana DNR Wildlife Biologist Geriann Albers said.
Indiana DNR officials asking those who do see skunks in the area to report them using their new iNaturalist project as it helps them track how many are in our area.