
3 Different Types of Skunks You May Encounter in Oshawa
The chances of encountering a skunk during the day are slim. Skunks are nocturnal and typically only come out at night when most people are sleeping. If you ever do encounter a skunk, the best thing to do for your safety and theirs is to keep your distance. Skunks are docile creatures that prefer not to use their spray, but are well-equipped to defend themselves if necessary. Of course, it may be difficult to avoid encounters with skunks if they have made a home on your property. To avoid an unpleasant and potentially unsafe situation, you should call for professional skunk removal in Oshawa.
Homeowners have many questions about skunks, mostly related to how to keep skunks away from their properties. It may surprise you to find out how many different kinds of skunks there are. Skunks are native to North and South America, and there are 12 different species. While we commonly associate skunks with the traditional black fur and white stripe, they all have some variations on the black and white markings that serve as a warning to predators. They all secrete a smelly musk that they can spray as a defensive mechanism. Among different skunk species, the chemical makeup of the spray varies, but they all contain compounds called thiols which are the main cause of the smell. As a result, all skunks smell more or less the same to untrained nostrils.
Some species of skunks cross paths with humans more often than others. Here are three that you are most likely to encounter: