Love is in the air… unfortunately.
You may notice eau de skunk floating in the air more this time of year. You may also see more roadkill skunks.
That’s because it’s breeding season for our striped friend Mephitis mephitis and it’s less often seen, eastern spotted cousin, Spilogale putorius.
Our striped friend breeds starting in February. A single litter of up to six young is born sometime between early May and early June.
For the eastern spotted skunk, they breed in late winter and give birth from April to July.
So, what do you do if the smelling suitors spray your property? According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, some pest control operators have commercial deodorants. Household products such as ammonia, bleach, vinegar and canned tomato juice might also help. However, these should be used for more spot treatment of items (or people) sprayed directly by a skunk.
Stripped Skunk - MDC Staff
Stopped Skunk - MDC Staff
Written by Brit Stack, 2024 graduate