Skunk alert!

[tiggymalvern]

A young skunk was in at the wildlife centre today. It was very cute, and sadly the poor thing died, but not before it had sprayed its cage with Eau de Skunk, and that in a building where the windows can't be opened for fear of losing the inhabitants. I'd often wondered what skunk actually smells like, and now I know - it's not a deeply horrible smell per se, though it's not attractive; it's just incredibly strong and seems to ram itself up your nose. Especially when you have to stick around and work in it (though I obviously didn't find it as bad as the teenaged volunteer who ran outside for fresh air saying she felt sick).

The skunk didn't spray on me, but I did have to handle it after it sprayed, and the smell was definitely still with me in the car on the way home. I've had a bath, now, of course, though from what I've heard, I'm left wondering if I might still smell vaguely of skunk. I don't suppose I'd know if I did.

Comments

[meerkat.livejournal.com]

Oh, poor little skunk! Their perfume is indeed powerful, and not the most pleasant scent, but I think that skunks are generally cute animals. I'm always sad when I see dead ones on the highway.

[tiggymalvern.livejournal.com]

I've always thought skunks looked incredibly attractive animals, though I thought the same about raccoons before I came into contact with their personalities! Sadly, the skunk didn't stick around for me to get to know it.

[pretentioustfu.livejournal.com]

That icon on this comment always makes me squee.

[tiggymalvern.livejournal.com]

It has a million uses :-) But the two of them together are, and Vash's expression just says that's what he's thinking of Wolfwood, and EMU's art is beautiful anyway and the layers just worked.

[pretentioustfu.livejournal.com]

I so hope some of their doujinshi is available at NDK this year. Hopefully, if everything works out, I'm going there. ^_^

[jambery]

That's sad :(

If the SO thinks the smell is lingering, try this quick fix:
1 quart 3 percent hydrogen peroxide (fresh bottle)
1/4 cup baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)
1-2 teaspoons liquid dish soap.

Ingredients must be mixed in an open container and used immediately. Never mix the ingredients in advance because oxygen released from hydrogen peroxide may cause a closed container to explode. The solution can be used on people or pets; avoid splashing the product in the eyes or mouth. Allow the solution to remain on hair for five minutes before rinsing with water. Repeat as needed. Do not use this solution on clothing — it may discolor the fabric.

[tiggymalvern.livejournal.com]

Ah, thanks for the recipe! I'm sure he'll let me know if I need it when he gets home XD

I was sprayed with a bottle of commercial skunk-odour remover at the centre (they come prepared there XD), but as I said, skunk still lingered in the car. Maybe yours works better!

[tameiki.livejournal.com]

Skunks are so cute. At a distance. Poor little one that died today though. What was wrong with it?

Ah the lingering aroma of au de skunk. *sniffs* Nope, I don't smell anything at all. There *is* something to this long distance thing, isn't there. XD

If you still have lingering smells, I wonder if the old wive's tale of tomato juice has any truth to it?

[tiggymalvern.livejournal.com]

There would have been something to a long distance relationship in the morning!

That's two of you voting for tomato juice - I'll bear it in mind for next time :-)

[lady-ganesh.livejournal.com]

Add my voice in too. It's the traditional New England remedy!

[darthhellokitty.livejournal.com]

An old-fashioned remedy for dogs sprayed by skunks is to give them a bath with tomato juice. Don't know if you want to go that far! XD Some people are bothered more by the smell than others, it may be a genetic thing.

They really are lovely creatures. They breed fancy ones for pets, although they are illegal to keep in some places.

[tiggymalvern.livejournal.com]

Well, the SO came home and sniffed me carefully, and said there might be a little lingering something, but nothing you'd notice without thinking about it. I'll be out hiking today, then another bath, and hopefully that should fix the rest!

[pretentioustfu.livejournal.com]

Aww, poor little skunk. I've always thought skunks were cute, and I've at points been tempted to own a rabies-vaccinated and deodorized one as a pet, since I've heard they're much like cats temperament-wise, you just have to get the right one.

That said, I draw the line at the smell, but some people have even managed to develop a love for it: http://www.skunklover.com/ I hope that's a troll (it's what googling for this eventually turned up), but I actually heard something awhile back about someone who seriously made a skunk-scented perfume.

[tiggymalvern.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, descenting - that sounds like it might be similar to the descenting of ferrets, which is standard practice in the US and illegal in the UK because it's considered a mutilation, like declawing cats. And certainly in the case of ferrets, they smell less, but it doesn't go away entirely.

I think I'll stick with cats.

[pretentioustfu.livejournal.com]

Quote:

I think I'll stick with cats.

Just don't ever get one called "Pinky." (look up "Pinky cat attack" on Youtube. I don't know whether to laugh that the cat got its revenge against its exploiters or to cry for the guy who was displaying it.)

[teaforme.livejournal.com]

I remember the smell of skunk from growing up in a semi-rural area. They'd get hit by cars, and you'd smell the skunky smell when you were driving around the country roads. Also, the occasional backyard visitor would spray when scared by the resident cat or dog. Phew!

Surely Muraki's bouquet smells sweeter than skunk! ;-)

[tiggymalvern.livejournal.com]

so imagine that smell in a confined space! Though I presume smaller skunks produce proportionally less of the offensives, so....

Surely Muraki's bouquet smells sweeter than skunk! ;-)

Oh, I'm sure, but I'm less sure that the intentions are sweet XD

[lady-ganesh.livejournal.com]

They are such beautiful little critters. Apparently some people keep them as pets with the smell-gland removed surgically. If it wasn't for the fact that they are still wild animals and I have Issue with such things, I would want one.

[tiggymalvern.livejournal.com]

There are many animals that are beautiful and totally unsuitable as pets. Still doesn't stop a lot of people. Chinchillas, chipmunks, parrots, the list goes on....

[lady-ganesh.livejournal.com]

Indeed!