Smelling more skunks? Could be because it’s baby skunk season

Skunks aren’t exactly the most adored mammals in Southern California, but there's a cute reason why they should be on your radar: It’s baby season right now.

That also means some changes in skunk behavior. Here’s what you should know about skunk life and how they care for their young around L.A. County.

Quick skunk facts

The skunks most people encounter in California are the striped species, which have jet black fur and two bright white stripes that run from the back of their neck to the base of their tail. (Yes, like Pepé Le Pew if he were a little less groomed.)

Ted Stankowich, a biological sciences professor at Cal State Long Beach, is a skunk expert. He said they’re nocturnal, omnivorous creatures that primarily come out around dusk or early evening to find food.

“They eat bugs, eggs, grass, fruit and anything they can find,” he said. “A lot of scavenging for trash among humans.”

These mammals are explorers that typically don’t venture that far. Females go up to a square mile away from home while males can traverse up to four square miles.

They can have multiple dens with a particular favorite. Skunks can live in a variety of nooks and crannies, like rock piles, under homes or in bushes.

The creatures tend to have a bad rap because of the spraying, but Stankowich said a lot of that is based on misconceptions. The mammals aren’t usually aggressive.

“ I like to say that they have sort of a great attitude of the world — you leave me alone. I leave you alone,” he said. “But if you mess with me, I’m gonna come after you.”

As for lifespan, they live about two to four years in the wild. That’s shorter in cities because they’re more likely to be killed by drivers.

How baby season changes behavior

Baby skunks are called kits.

In warmer climates like ours, mating can start as early as January.  Mothers are pregnant for about two and a half months, so if they mate in February, they’ll likely give birth to a litter of four to six kits around April.

These little ones are born blind, deaf and mostly hairless. They’re mostly helpless for the first few weeks of life and rely on their mother for milk.

A kit’s little body can make a droplet of oily musk within about a week. However, Stankowich said they can’t spray it properly until week three or four.

While skunks aren’t normally aggressive, lactating mothers are the exception. They leave the den at night to forage, so they can eat and keep up with milk production. That can make them “a bit more ornery,” Stankowich said.

“ They get more nervous, they get upset if they’re harassed,” he said. “Those animals are much more feisty than your normal non-lactating or pregnant skunk.”

Kits can be a little feisty too. When they’re in the den, they’re developing defensive behaviors. Stankowich has seen kits do foot stomps and hiss to act aggressive and strong.

The offspring start leaving the den and start exploring with the family at around two months old, meaning there are likely more skunks than usual around May to June.

Kits turn into adults around late summer and early fall when they venture off on their own.

What that means for you (and your pets)

Since skunks aren’t as big as coyotes, it’s easy to miss the increased activity. But you could still spot a mother with her kits wandering around her in a big group.

If you do see skunks out and about, Stankowich said you don’t need to turn tail and run. Instead, stay still, keep any pets on a leash and don’t try to feed the skunks.

“ They’re not there to bother you. They’re not there to attack you,” he said. “If they tell you to back up, you’ll know it.”

Now if you have the unfortunate gift of getting sprayed anyway, there are steps you can take to get rid of the smell on you or your pets.

First off, tomato baths are a myth and water activates more of the smell, making it worse. Instead, use a combination of these three things:

• A quart of hydrogen peroxide
• A quarter cup of baking soda
• Teaspoon of dish soap

You’ll wash yourself or your pets with this. Depending on how long your pet’s hair is, you might need a couple of rounds. If spray gets in your household, bleach can be used to knock out the smell.