Smalley talks about skunks, and of course, their stink

This week we’re talking skunks.

Years ago, an annual late spring fishing trip for me was the Big Hole River.

One of my favorite wading sections was the Maiden Rock area between Divide and Melrose.

While the brown trout fishing was usually pretty good, there was always the threat of upsetting one of the large number of skunks that roamed the shoreline.

Recently I ran across a story in Iowa Outdoors magazine titled “Why Does Skunk Spray Smell so Bad and Why is it Hard to Get Rid Of?”

Before relating the answers, be advised there are actually two species of skunks in Montana.

The western spotted skunk, Spilogale gracilis, half the size of our striped skunk, has interrupted white stripes on its rump and is found roughly south of a line linking Missoula, Helena and Billings.

The more familiar striped skunk, Mephitis mehitus, is found in the entire state of Montana, often as road-kill.

Skunks are “opportunistic omnivorous” meaning they eat both animals and plants, including small mammals, reptiles, bird eggs, grubs and berries.

According to www.fwp.mt.gov, skunks are excellent mousers and mostly nocturnal.

The IO article states that the stinky chemicals in skunk spray are thiols and thioacetates, both high in sulfur. Dah.

Both chemicals easily bond to other atoms, one reason they are hard to get rid of.

Skunks have two muscular and independent sprayers, so they can shoot a general warning mist or a direct stream at a clumsy fly-caster.

Apparently baby skunks can spray nearly from birth and have been observed spraying each other for fun. They don’t wait until they’re in junior high!

One of my fishing buddies, a guy we sometimes call “Wes” in this space, tells of removing the scent glands from baby skunks and selling the skunks for pets.

How to remove skunk smell? Most sources recommend a mixture of one quart hydrogen peroxide, one teaspoon dishwashing liquid and ¼-cup baking soda.

Scrub yourself or your dog while the mixture is still bubbling and repeat as needed.