Skunk smell safe?

noodles123

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Jul 11, 2018
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Umbrella Cockatoo- 15? years old..I think?
UGHHH.....A skunk appears to have sprayed under the house (either in the crawl space or under the porch). I smelled it in my room last night IN MY SLEEP (dreamed about it before waking up and realizing!)

Anyway, Noodles survived the day, but there is a skunk smell in the house and it is grossing me out/freaking me out. It isn't a particularly small house either, but I can smell it everywhere (excluding the upstairs-- smelling it on the basement and main floor).

I am not calling any sort of company because they will likely use chemicals which would just make things worse...I am sensitive to the smell, so maybe it isn't SO BAD, but it's definitely noticeable when you walk in.
 
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Laurasea

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Actually I think it's so cool you still have skunks around, their numbers are declining.
But I remember the smell from my childhood, do sympathies to you!!
 

SailBoat

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Jul 10, 2015
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Skunk spray (mist) is oil based and if caught by the wind can travel several hundred feet. Commonly, it is localized and will hang on the surface(s) that was in the direction of the original spray. As the wind carries the 'mist' it becomes an ever smaller percentage in the air. Long way of saying: If Noodles was not in the target zone, you are safe.
Locating the target zone is important in determining what steps are needed to begin the process of reducing the smell. Start outside the home and complete a slow walk around the home noting where the smell is the strongest. Note the wind direction and determine if the smell is coming to the home or from it. If from the home, you now get to determine where, what opening or access point the smell is coming from.
Short of removing the heavily scented surfaces (lumber, dirt, stones, etc....) which is the quickest method of reducing the smell. You need to extensively vent the air with forcing high volumes of air out of that area.
Remember that air naturally rises in a home and it is not uncommon for the highest room(s) in the home will be most effect. As will the room(s) in which the greatest amount of air leaves the home.
Short review: Remove the surfaces originally targeted. If you cannot removed them, you can seal the surface (rarely a good solution) or you can clean the surfaces with a heavy clearer.
 
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Smerft85

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Jun 10, 2019
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Colorful Colorado with colorful birds
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Live traps! A lot of reputable pest control companies will use them, or you could trap it yourself! I was going to crack a joke about a skunk smell, but I'll refrain.

As far as the numbers of skunk dropping, well not here, I'll send you a few if you'd like! There are so many in my town alone that you have to try avoiding them in your car constantly, there were two hit a couple blocks from my house within 20 feet of eachother, half the town smells like rotting skunk, unpleasant to say the least!
 

SailBoat

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Jul 10, 2015
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Live traps! A lot of reputable pest control companies will use them, or you could trap it yourself! I was going to crack a joke about a skunk smell, but I'll refrain.

As far as the numbers of skunk dropping, well not here, I'll send you a few if you'd like! There are so many in my town alone that you have to try avoiding them in your car constantly, there were two hit a couple blocks from my house within 20 feet of each other, half the town smells like rotting skunk, unpleasant to say the least!

No!!! Never refrain from cracking a joke!!! Humor and Parrots are a joint enterprise in the joy of life!
Let me guess, lots of individuals that recycle their wastes in your area. Those devises or piles are magnets for skunks!
 

Laurasea

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Aug 2, 2018
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Live traps! A lot of reputable pest control companies will use them, or you could trap it yourself! I was going to crack a joke about a skunk smell, but I'll refrain.

As far as the numbers of skunk dropping, well not here, I'll send you a few if you'd like! There are so many in my town alone that you have to try avoiding them in your car constantly, there were two hit a couple blocks from my house within 20 feet of eachother, half the town smells like rotting skunk, unpleasant to say the least!

I wish you could send skunks.. I'm sure there are places that have a good population. But they are declining or expatriated ( extinct in some states)
I'm just trying to bring attention when I can to our wildlife disappearing and hope people will coexist..
 
OP
N

noodles123

Well-known member
Jul 11, 2018
8,145
472
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Umbrella Cockatoo- 15? years old..I think?
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We have a BOOMING populous here, but what you say is correct and it is sad. They are so cute and pretty sweet (minus their smelly quirk).
I think we will install a bight light or motion activated lights around the foundation and crawl-space and see if that helps. I am guessing that our crawl space is a hot commodity and with hibernation coming up, everyone wants a share...Hence the stink-wars...Just a guess...
 

SailBoat

Supporting Member
Jul 10, 2015
17,666
10,056
Western, Michigan
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Live traps! A lot of reputable pest control companies will use them, or you could trap it yourself! I was going to crack a joke about a skunk smell, but I'll refrain.

As far as the numbers of skunk dropping, well not here, I'll send you a few if you'd like! There are so many in my town alone that you have to try avoiding them in your car constantly, there were two hit a couple blocks from my house within 20 feet of each other, half the town smells like rotting skunk, unpleasant to say the least!

I wish you could send skunks.. I'm sure there are places that have a good population. But they are declining or expatriated ( extinct in some states)
I'm just trying to bring attention when I can to our wildlife disappearing and hope people will coexist..

The majority of North America is seeing an increase in Skunks. The decrease in Florida is likely due to an increase of those huge snakes that South and Central Florida is being over taken by. The few other areas that are seeing a decrease are likely as a result of the rapid increase in coyoties.
 

Smerft85

New member
Jun 10, 2019
178
10
Colorful Colorado with colorful birds
Parrots
6 budgies, 3 cockatiels, 1 amazon and two Indian ringnecks
Live traps! A lot of reputable pest control companies will use them, or you could trap it yourself! I was going to crack a joke about a skunk smell, but I'll refrain.

As far as the numbers of skunk dropping, well not here, I'll send you a few if you'd like! There are so many in my town alone that you have to try avoiding them in your car constantly, there were two hit a couple blocks from my house within 20 feet of each other, half the town smells like rotting skunk, unpleasant to say the least!

No!!! Never refrain from cracking a joke!!! Humor and Parrots are a joint enterprise in the joy of life!
Let me guess, lots of individuals that recycle their wastes in your area. Those devises or piles are magnets for skunks!

Not quite, but I'll hint for any small eyes! I'm a Colorado native and amendment 64 supporters are everywhere!
Something along the lines of if your parents find out, you'll lose your bag of "oregano!"
 

Smerft85

New member
Jun 10, 2019
178
10
Colorful Colorado with colorful birds
Parrots
6 budgies, 3 cockatiels, 1 amazon and two Indian ringnecks
Live traps! A lot of reputable pest control companies will use them, or you could trap it yourself! I was going to crack a joke about a skunk smell, but I'll refrain.

As far as the numbers of skunk dropping, well not here, I'll send you a few if you'd like! There are so many in my town alone that you have to try avoiding them in your car constantly, there were two hit a couple blocks from my house within 20 feet of eachother, half the town smells like rotting skunk, unpleasant to say the least!

I wish you could send skunks.. I'm sure there are places that have a good population. But they are declining or expatriated ( extinct in some states)
I'm just trying to bring attention when I can to our wildlife disappearing and hope people will coexist..

If I could bring you a few I'd gladly do so, there are so many here it's hard to keep from running them over, they truly are amazing animals, and most don't know there are several species of skunk too, 3 that I know of in Colorado.
 

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