Skunk!

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by Carol Brinkman, HCMG	Skunk!
Have a problem with skunks digging holes in your lawn? According to the experts at PlantAnswers.com skunks, for the most part, are not a big nuisance to Texas homeowners. More often it is armadillos or opossums that cause the problem in lawns. Actually they are doing the grass a favor when they dig for the grubs. However, no one is allowed to dig in my flowerbeds and borders but me.
It must be the current drought, but we have had more nocturnal visitors than we can remember. Our Have-a-Heart trap has paid for itself several times over — four raccoons, 2 opossums, one fox, and one skunk!
Trap and release is good policy, but with a skunk it is a different matter. The problem with trapping a skunk, of course, is the odor. However, there are now traps on the market that catch and contain the skunk and the odor as well. That isn't the kind of trap we were using. We were told that putting a cover over the trap to darken it often lessens the chance of the skunk releasing the spray when the cage is moved. Our solution was to turn to the professionals (in this case, the local animal control).
The logical thing to do would be to deter them from your yard. Removing the food supply, i.e. maybe your pet's food, along with the water supply, is a start but not a guarantee. If you (or a pet) are sprayed by a skunk, the odor can be eliminated by using a product such as Skunk Odor Eliminator (Outright Products, Bramtom Company, Dallas, Texas, 214.438.0397). Obviously, you would prefer that this product be close at hand in such a situation. These products can sometimes be found in pet supply stores. It is a natural beneficial bacteria/enzyme formula in the product that removes the odor. A home remedy to eliminate skunk odor can be made by mixing a quart of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup of baking soda and one teaspoon of a liquid detergent.