(Medicine River Wildlife Centre)

By rdnewsNOW staff

situation stinks

Skunks in Red Deer left to drown, wildlife centre believes

Jul 2, 2019 | 2:35 PM

Someone may have tried to drown a pair of skunks in Red Deer last week.

The Medicine River Wildlife Centre posted on Facebook on Friday that they received a report of two skunks on the bank along the Red Deer River in the city. One of the animals appeared to be stuck while the other appeared to be “dead,” according to the report.

The skunk that was stuck was set free by staff while the second was found still breathing and taken to the wildlife centre. It was given treatment and has since made a full recovery.

“It is likely that these skunks were brought to the river to be drowned,” the centre’s Facebook post said.

Medicine River Wildlife Centre deals with hundreds of calls each year concerning skunks and has one staff member dedicated to solving conflict with them. They have the following tips on how to avoid any unpleasant interactions with them:

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1. Skunks are unaggressive animals who do not want negative interactions with pets or humans.

2. If you encounter a skunk it is best to talk quietly and move away. They only react with a squirt of musk when they feel their life is in danger. Chasing them, yelling, or throwing things at them will be perceived as a threat.

3. If you have pets and you know there are skunks around, step outside ahead of your dog and speak loudly. If a skunk hears you, they will run and hide. This will help avoid surprises.

4. If you do have a run in with your pet and a skunk use the following recipe to create a shampoo, not tomato juice as once thought: 4 cups 3% hydrogen peroxide, ¼ cup baking soda, 1 teaspoon liquid dish soap

5. Keep any structures in your yard properly enclosed to avoid unwanted guests digging underneath.

6. Keep your yard uncluttered. Piles of wood and old furniture create lovely skunk habitats.

7. When building new sheds put them on skids 6 inches off the ground.

8. Don’t provide them with any food. Remove things like garbage, pet food, open compost, low bird feeders, or fallen fruit.

9. PLEASE NEVER TRAP AND REMOVE ON YOUR OWN. This very often results in cruelty, it does not solve the problem at its source, and just puts the skunk in someone else’s backyard.

For advice, support, and solutions to skunk conflict situations call 403-728-3467 or visit www.mrwc.ca.