Re: [APML]: Skunk-Be-Gone

["Patrick W. Greenlee" <patrickg@nosc.mil>]

>> why not use one of those powerful water guns that kids use.
>>They will shoot a stream farther than a skunk and you could put ammonia in
>>them to really get your point across.  Houshold ammonia is certainly sub
>>lethal, temporary in effect, but obnoxious and is a proven animal deterent.
>>Cheap, readily available, less dangerous than pepper spray.
>
>The use of ammonia to spray the skunks may be sublethal but it
>could certainly injure the animals if it get in their eyes. Ammonia is an
>alkali and
>alkalis can cause lasting corneal damage and may cause a lot of pain
>as well
>Skunks are obviously not a problem over here but I can appreciate the
>hazards their nocturnal visits may cause. However in looking for a
>solution one must consider the animal's welfare and avoid causing
>suffering.
>
>Nick Martin


Gee Nick, If you club them over the head with an ammonia bottle it could
cause serious dammage as well.  Let me make this clear for those who need
the dots a little closer together to connect them.  Ammonia smells bad and
is not pleasant to be near a strong concentration.  It is used in breakable
containers covered with gauze to arouse/stimulate fainted/passed out/groggy
people.  It is often found in well provisioned medical kits.  These kits,
containing ammonia should never be used to bash skunks over the head as it
can cause irreperable trauma.


Bottom line.  You don't spray the ammonia in the animals eyes (cruel
thought), just near them, in their path, etc.  A little on their coat
should not be a big deal but please do not spray them in the face, beat
them over the head with the ammonia bottle or anything else you wouldn't do
to a recruit in basic training (recall the singing and chanting while in a
"gas chamber"?).  Ammonia smells bad and discourages their hanging out in
the area.  It dissipates with little or no residual deleterious effect on
the environment (recall mammals distribute ammonia throughout their range).
It is preferable to the smell of the skunks and dissipates much faster.

P.S. Don't drink the ammonia or use it for eyewash, as Nick has pointed out
it is a strong irritant.

Patrick