Are there more skunks this year?

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – Ohio’s Divison of Wildlife says late July is when baby skunks born in the spring start moving around and it seems there are more of them this year.

Joe Ferrara with the Division of Wildlife says he doesn’t know for certain if there are more skunks in the area this year, but Rob Fernback with Boardman’s Complete Pest Solutions says the company is dealing with more of them.

“I’ve actually been noticing them in my own neighborhood. When I leave in the morning or if I let the dogs out at the end of the night, you’ll have that aroma,” said Fernback.

The aroma of a skunk; it’s what people fear. It’s a spray or mist that can travel 15 to 20 feet. Trappers deal with it by using a plastic tarp.

“We approach the cage with this sheet and we wrap it so we can’t be sprayed,” Fernback said.

He says when someone gets sprayed, it’s suggested that they bathe in a combination of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and washing soap and they throw away the clothes they had on immediately.

If a skunk sprays the side of a house, shed, or garage Ferrara says it will probably smell for a few weeks.

“Open it up, get some box fans going, is about the best you can do,” he said.

Trapping is one way to get rid of skunks. Ferrara says a den can also be blasted with bright lights and loud music to scare them away but once trapped — skunks are euthanized.

That’s the law in Ohio.

“Any rabies vector species can’t be relocated — so mammals with canines — it’s unfortunate for the animal but it protects the populations at large. We don’t want to inadvertently move a diseased animal,” Ferrara said.

Another problem with skunks is how they react to pets — especially dogs. Dogs have been known to get sprayed.

Ferrara recommends going outside first with a flashlight, and if you see a skunk, make some noise and they’ll likely run away.

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