This summer we were down at Mauch Chunk Lake’s beach pavilion bringing a variety of animals to entertain and educate visitors to the lake.

We enjoyed doing these informal programs as much as the folks that happen to stop by.

One week, I took along some furs and quizzed the group on what mammals can be found in our state. Some of the furs stumped the crowd until I held up the skunk pelt.

Immediately there was a nervous chuckle and some gasps. One lady informed me she did not like skunks and when I asked her why, her reply was, “Well, because they stink!”

Nature has a reason for all creatures, and some unfortunately are labeled as “dangerous” when it comes to timber rattlesnakes, “ugly” when referring to turkey vultures and “stinky” when it comes to the striped skunk.

Common creatures

Striped skunks are common throughout Pennsylvania and populations vary per square mile from as little as 2 to 30 individuals and the home range covers about 2 miles in diameter. Adults start breeding in February into March, and during this period, males may roam as far as 5 miles each night in search of females; mating with several of them.

There is usually one litter annually with the litters consisting of 4-6 offspring. Born naked and blind, they develop quickly. At three weeks, their scent glands develop, at four weeks their eyes open and at eight weeks they begin nightly excursions with the mother. At 4 months of age, they can spray accurately up to about 8 feet.

By September, they begin to disperse while some may remain with the mother through the following spring. They are not social by nature, but they do den together in the winter.

Questions about skunks

Over the years, the staff at the center has fielded numerous questions about these nocturnal and often misunderstood animals.

Here are few of the more common questions I have answered over the years.

Q. How do I know if a skunk is getting ready to spray?

A. The very recognizable black-and-white pattern is no mistake … those warning colors are telling all creatures, “Leave me alone!”

If that isn’t enough to discourage an interaction, skunks will raise their tails and wag them back and forth (much like a grandmother shaking her finger at an unruly grandchild), then comes the drumming of the front feet on the ground and then raising the back legs up, somewhat resembling a handstand.

There may be growls and hisses accompanying this display. Only after these attempts are made, and when none are heeded, does the skunk turn and spray. Skunks can spray accurately up to 12 feet.

Q. Help! My garden is being eaten by a family of skunks.

A. Believe it or not, skunks are beneficial to gardeners and farmers because they do eat a variety of pests. Spring and summer they are eating more animal matter such as grubs, crickets, grasshoppers and beetles. During the winter they eat roughly equal portions of animal and plant matter. Small mammals and reptiles are eaten when food is scarce.

Q. The skunks are digging up the lawn.

A. They are actually doing a good thing by digging out the grubs that harm surrounding shrubs and other plants. Sprinkling the lawn with cayenne pepper may deter the skunks from digging.

Overwatering lawns brings the grubs to the surface of the soil, making it easier for the skunks to smell them and dig for them.

Q. Our dog was sprayed by a skunk. How do we remove this smell from my dog?

A. Despite what I had believed my entire life, tomato juice does not work, so instead try this: 1 quart of hydrogen peroxide, 1 teaspoon of liquid soap (dish or laundry) and ¼ cup of baking soda. Dip a rag in this solution and wipe down the dog. Keep in mind the hydrogen peroxide may lighten the fur of darker colored animals. This mixture can’t be stored and has to be mixed up each time it is needed. This solution works for humans as well as pets!

Q. A skunk has fallen into our window well; why doesn’t it jump out?

A. Skunks cannot jump and they are not the best climbers, so a board with an old towel attached to it and placed in the window well will offer the skunk a way to climb out.

Q. There’s a skunk family under the shed or deck! How do we get them to move out?

A. Believe it or not, there are smells that are repulsive to skunks. Rags dipped in ammonia and placed in areas where the skunks are, mothballs (as long as children and pets cannot pick them up) and other repellents will make living under the building inhospitable.

I have read that loud music and bright lights will also disrupt that dark and quiet living spaces the skunks find so pleasant. I don’t recommend this because if this was how my neighbor tried to evict the skunks under his shed, he would have had a bigger problem because I would have been on the phone with our HOA or the police or both.

Jeannie Carl is a naturalist at the Carbon County Environmental Education Center in Summit Hill. The center rehabilitates injured animals and educates the public on a variety of wildlife found in the area. For information on the Carbon County Environmental Center, visit www.carboneec.org.