Skunks avoid attacks – usually their bold colours and threat postures are enough to allow them to escape without a fight. But they can seriously injure pets.
Do Skunks Attack Pets?
There are numerous stories of skunks attacking cats or dogs across the Americas – usually in suburban yards and lots. These attacks can cause serious injury – and potentially even deaths – to domestic pets like cats and dogs. However, they aren’t attacks in the true sense – they are defensive.
Skunks have spent thousands of years evolving to have a hands-off approach to avoiding danger or being eaten by predators. Emboldening their color patterns into blocks of black and white as well as developing signature posturing can often trigger a memory in any animal – one of ‘stench’. When these animals remember this: most predators – or older nosy pets – leave with their tails between their legs in fear. Unharmed.
How Do Skunks Attack?
Skunks are part of a wider network of animals who look and behave in a certain way – and deliver a powerful memory at the same time. Something no one will ever forget – like a wasp or bee with that bold color and a powerful sting. Skunks are the same – but with a lingering and sometimes painful spray of noxious chemicals into the face. These chemicals are like tear gas and can cause temporary blindness, vomiting, and nausea.
And it doesn’t go away for days.
However, you can only learn this trick if you have already seen the effects of it – so a young pup or inquisitive kitten may never have seen a skunk in action and will potentially approach a skunk. If they don’t catch on to the visual tricks a skunk applies (hissing, arching their back, tail wagging, and stomping) – they will soon regret it.
Because of this well-practiced method of warning off other animals – most skunks assume that they won’t be attacked. They know they don’t need to attack anyone else either. Any bored horses, territorial rabbits, or cheeky goats – or any other animals including humans – who get attacked by a cornered skunk was because of their own curiosity and persistence. They won’t do it again!
Why Do Skunks Attack Dogs With Spray?
Skunks are just one of the animals in the world who evolved a different method of defending themselves. Some went for big fangs, long legs, thick skin, wings, or a venomous bite – the skunks went for toxic spray. Most of the skunks’ close relatives, like the stink badgers, wolverines, and ferrets, all smell pretty bad too – but the skunk went one step further in that department.
Although they do have sharp teeth and powerful paws and claws – they chose to develop a targeted, sticky oily jet of chemicals instead. Specialized anal glands store a riot of 7 noxious chemicals that can be propelled out from under their tail with pinpoint precision – and with lightning speed. Frighteningly too – they can shoot this out up to 10ft away.
By spraying this chemical weapon from such a distance – they are saving themselves the risk of injury in an attack or fight. This is far safer for a skunk – and often catches out an unwary predator or unsuspecting pet. It makes sense to be able to prevent an attack rather than risk a face-to-face fight.
This also means that the skunk can scare off animals far bigger than themselves.
Are Raccoons More Afraid of Dogs Than Skunks?
Are raccoons afraid of dogs? It’s a common question among pet owners. While raccoons are known to be cautious around larger predators, dogs often fall under that category. Raccoons, being nocturnal and territorial creatures, may display aggression towards dogs, but they are generally more afraid of humans than dogs. On the other hand, skunks are notorious for their defensive tactics and potent spray, making them more likely to avoid any potential threat, including dogs. So, while both raccoons and skunks may have some fear of dogs, raccoons tend to be more wary overall.
Can You Scare Skunks Out Of Your Yard?
Most skunks can’t climb trees or smooth fences and gates (because their feet are more designed for digging up the insects they so love) so they can’t escape danger in the same way as a raccoon for example. So when coming face to face with a large dog or angry cat – they can’t run away. Spraying an attacker in the face is the easier and safer option for them.
This spray is so irritating that it can disable an animal for some time – allowing the skunk to escape to a safer place without being chased. However, this isn’t a minor deterrent – the discomfort of the spray in the eyes and face can be disabling for a considerable time – and in rare cases can cause death. Many cases end up with the veterinarian – or looking up tomato-based concoctions online.
There are ways to avoid contact between your cats and dogs and wild skunks – such as keeping pets in at night and only feeding them indoors – but outdoor pets like horses, chickens, goats, and rabbits might not be able to avoid this if not housed securely at night.
You can also make your yard a no-go area for skunks with a few simple housekeeping tips such as closing doors, clearing piles of deadwood, and protecting your garbage.
