You’re Telling Me Idaho Has Skunks?! Here’s How To Keep Them Away

I refuse to say that I was "today years old" about anything. Let's go ahead and retire that saying, shall we? But I will say that I have been naive for my whole life in thinking that skunks are just in cartoons. You know, that handsy Pepe Le Pew character and that girl he likes. Wait, she's actually just a white cat. So really I just thought there was one skunk in the world at it's a cartoon. But skunks aren't mythical creatures. But if I sit and think about it, I can't picture any place that strikes me as "oh, skunks would live here." But apparently they live in Idaho.

I was scrolling through Instagram like the bored millennial I am, and someone shared a video of a skunk frolicking in Boise! According to Idaho Fish and Game, the Striped Skunk is native to this beautiful state of ours and is a predator! I also love that it rates the skunk's confidence level as...confident. Don't love that its presence occurs regularly and especially in warmer weather. Naturally I'm freaked out, but there are some tips to keeping these stinky aggressors out of your yard.

The Old Farmer's Almanac suggests these measures be taken if you have a skunk issue and it needs repelling:

• Spray a mixture of castor oil and dish-washing detergent diluted in water. Skunks find the smell offensive. Spray the area at night when the skunk is away foraging.
• Probably the best skunk repellent is a light. Skunks are nocturnal and their eyes are very light sensitive. A bright light or a motion sensor flood light will scare skunks away.
• If the skunks are in a smaller garden patch, put bars of strong–smelling soap or a room deodorizer near your garden. Ironically, skunks hate strong scents.

Hopefully you won't have to worry about this. But if you do, may the odds be ever in your favor.