Completely soak your pet in the solution (do not get it in the eyes) and rinse thoroughly with plain water. If a pet is sprayed, the DEEP recommends creating a “skunk odor solution” from common household ingredients: “One quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup of baking soda, and 1 tsp of liquid soap. People commonly use tomato juice or diluted solutions of vinegar to eliminate the odor from people, pets, and clothing. Rinsing eyes with water will help restore vision,” the DEEP reports. ![]() A skunk’s spray is normally directed toward the eyes and may cause temporary blindness and nausea. “If confronted by a skunk in this position, it is best to make a slow, quiet retreat. Before spraying, though, they typically stomp their feet and arch their tail as a warning. Skunks spray the sticky, yellow fluid from glands located on the side of its rectum as a defense mechanism when they feel provoked. Skunks are part of the Mustelid family and produce a strong-smelling liquid from scent glands. The babies’ eyes do not open until they are three weeks old, and they only venture out with their mom when they reach the age of around seven weeks old. They are more active in the daytime during the spring, when they are foraging for food to feed their babies.īetween late April and early June, skunks give birth to an average of six babies that are born blind and helpless. Seeing them in the daytime does not mean they are rabid or that something is wrong with them. ![]() However, they can be out and about during the day, too. Since skunks are primarily nocturnal, they are most active at night. They also have been known to dig in lawns looking for grubs and eat turtle or bird eggs on the ground. Skunks eat a smorgasbord of food, from insects and small mammals to vegetation and garbage.Īs a result, they commonly visit people’s yards in search of food scraps from garbage cans that are not fully secured. Sharp teeth and long claws enable them to dig in soil or sod and pull apart rotten logs in search of food.” Their short legs and flat-footed gait makes them appear to waddle when they walk. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) describes eastern striped skunks as having “a small head, small eyes, and a pointed snout. The stripe typically divides into two stripes down its back. It also has a distinguishable white stripe that stretches from the middle of its forehead down to its tail. ![]() The eastern striped skunk is the species of skunk commonly found in Connecticut and it is known for its fluffy black fur. In this miniseries, The Newtown Bee will consult animal experts to explain how to support these animals safely from afar and what to do if you encounter them face-to-face. In a perfect world, animals would know the boundaries of what land is preserved for them and what is human-inhabited, but the reality is these creatures are just doing their best to survive. Summertime also means many animals are more visible as they are out and about gathering food for their growing families. Many, too, are calling agencies to report wild animals injured on the side of the road or accidentally poisoned. Residents are having close encounters so frequently that it is not uncommon for people to share photos of a bear investigating their bird feeder or a bobcat traveling across an unfenced yard. This can mean a variety of wildlife are venturing into areas they never have before - backyards, hiking trails, and busy roads - when searching for refuge or nourishment. As the landscape in Newtown and surrounding towns continues to change, wild animals are being impacted and trying to adapt to their new environment as best they can.
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