1w ago

What do you do if you encounter a skunk?

I often make late-night walks down the street to the convenience store. Due to my work/sleep schedule, I can pretty much only do this late at night.

Unfortunately, this seems to be the same time that the local skunks begin prowling around the undeveloped lot between my home and the convenience store. Luckily, they've not yet gotten close enough to be a threat, but I always worry that one night I won't be so lucky, and I'll accidentally sneak up on one and spook it into spraying me.

I've looked online, and most of the articles I can find on the subject are about how to keep skunks from occupying your property in the first place. Which is great, but I don't own the property they're hanging out in, so I can't do much about that. I couldn't find many articles about skunk encounters that offer much advise beyond "stay away, dummy". Which I obviously plan to do, but life doesn't always go according to plan.

I live in the city, so it's actually kinda weird that there are skunks this close to a populated area. The city life has prevented me from having a lot of experiences with skunks, and honestly I want to keep it that way. But does anybody have any advice on how to help ensure that skunks stay away while walking?

18 comments

The only worrying experience I’ve ever had with skunks was when I was walking along a path and saw these two little faces pop out from some brush at the side of the trail— baby skunks. I backed away slowly, and took a different route. Last thing I wanted was their mother getting defensive because they were too forward with a human.

Leave them alone.
Really, that’s all it takes. If you get too close, just back away calmly.
Skunks almost never spray if your just… there. It’s almost always something more aggressive (you charge it, you startle it by running at it, etc. you have a dog that hasn’t learned or is too stupid to learn.)(or they think the smell hides them.)

Mostly, you'll only scare them if you're quiet and sneak up on them. If you walk normally and don't try to be quiet, they'll run away before you can get close.
Skunks are considered a pest and they're more than aware we don't like them, so they generally employ the timeless strategy of scurrying in the opposite direction unless directly threatened.

Skunks are common city animals, so it's a little more surprising to me that you haven't encountered then before. But for the most part they're pretty chill little guys, and forage widely -- so seeing one in your yard doesn't mean they've taken up residence. They eat grubs mostly (which is great for lawns and gardens).
As others have said, as long as you're not getting up in their faces, you shouldn't have any problems.

Pet me like one of your French girls or else I will take all your food and money.
- Hmmmmm... 🤔

So you're asking how to encourage them to avoid you? Mostly, as you implied, you don't want to suprise them. When you're in the area, try and stay in the open, and if you can, make a bit of noise like whistling or that. They'll naturally want to stay away where possible.
- This has been my approach so far. I try to walk with a particularly heavy footfall past that area, so that hopefully my presence is known in advance. So far, nothing's gotten close enough to be a concern. I've sometimes looked back and seen them crossing the street some distance behind me so I know they're active at the time, so maybe they are hearing me and keeping a distance.

Skunks spray as a last defence: they're not going to run up to you and spray.
Yell at it if you want, but a simple throat-clearing should be enough for them to flee.
And don't chase after it to verify your success.

You just have to smell worse than the skunk and they will see you as the alpha. So I recommend to quit bathing and eat a lot of fermented fish to start. Get creative and work on your own master stink.

Skunks are pretty chill. Just leave them be, and they should leave you alone. I like to carry a small pocket flashlight when I walk my dog at night to scare off coyotes and skunks before we get too close to each other.

Everyone I know who has had a skunk spray was due to one of two causes:
1). They ran it over with their car or 2). Their dog attacked it
In general skunks are very reticent to actually spray. I've never known anyone to get it from just walking by. I knew someone who blocked a skunk with their shoe from running in the house, because they mistook it for their cat.
From what I understand, they have poor eyesight and hearing, so in my experience they usually don't even notice you. They are a wild animal though so the important thing would be to not surprise them. I think if you make noise, keep your distance, and never corner one you should be fine.

In college we had skunks stop infront of the dorm doors because they wanted pets. I just moved them with my foot. Very docile creatures those skunks. Avoid stepping on them and you'll be fine.

Ask it if its heard the good news of our lord and savior jesus christ

Walk away from them until they feel comfortable enough to leave.

Make plenty of sound so they aren't startled by you coming up on them suddenly.
If you do encounter one, step slowly away until they either run off, or you're far enough away to change your route a little to avoid the specific skunk.
Skunks are pretty damn versatile. Like raccoons, and possums, they adapt easily to urban and suburban settings. They've been in and around most cities for a long time, but you don't know about them because they're typically shy and avoid high traffic areas.
If you do see one, chances are that moving to the other side of the street is plenty of space for them to not feel threatened.
But, they don't spray willy-nilly, so you'd likely have warning before it got that far. They'll typically try to avoid confrontation at all, and just keep the business end pointed at you. If you aren't coming closer, they'd much rather avoid wasting their spray.

I wait for the skunk to leave.

I'm no expert. But. Just run away? xD best way to get away from the spray, not sure there is anything you can do if it's just a surprise.
Hopefully this works

18 comments