Is Skunk Spray Toxic?

The skunk uses a defensive spray to repel predators who come into contact with the animal; the spray is propelled from a pair of glands either side of the anus. The spray contains a number of chemicals that make the odor smell foul and can be toxic when administered in large amounts.

  1. Skunk

    • The skunk is a member of the weasel family, with six species of skunk native to the U.S., according to The Chemical Educator. The various species of skunks found in the U.S., with the most commonly found being the Spotted Skunk weighing between 2.5 and 10 lbs. The skunk is an omnivorous animal, being mostly nocturnal in its feeding on grubs, worms, lizards, bulbs and garbage, the Arizona Department of Game &Fish reports. The skunk is commonly feared because of the susceptibility of the animal to infection from the rabies virus. To warn off predators a skunk raises its tail in warning, rears up on its hind legs and stomps its feet when faced with a perceived threat. These warnings are followed by the skunk spraying in the direction of the perceived predator.

    Chemicals

    • The research into the toxicity and chemical composition of the defensive spray of the skunk has been limited by the lack of researchers to take part in researching the spray. The spray of the spotted skunk, striped skunk and hog-nosed skunk are reported to be similar in composition, according to The Chemical Educator. The chemical composition of the spray is dominated by chemicals 1-butanethiol and 2-butene-1-thiol. Further chemicals found in the spray of the skunk were at one point thought to be 2-butenyl methyl disulfide or 2-butenyl propyl sulfide, but in 2011 these chemicals are thought to be 2-butenyl thioacetate, The Chemical Educator reports.

    Toxicity

    • The spray of the skunk creates hydrogen sulfide when it is excreted into the air, which can be toxic to humans in large amounts. Other toxic materials within skunk spray include methanethiol, which in the correct amounts, can prove fatal to small animals such as rats. In humans the spray of the skunk can induce nausea and if administered in large amounts without proper ventilation, can cause unconsciousness and in severe cases prove fatal.

    Pets

    • It is common for pets, such as cats and dogs to become curious of a skunk and be sprayed when they investigate the animal. The spray has similar qualities to tear gas, as it is a lachrymator that can damage the eyes of an animal. When sprayed in the eyes the spray of a skunk can blind an animal, such as a dog, for up to two days, according to the Dog Breed Info Center. The toxic spray of the skunk can remain within the fur of an animal for up to two years if the oil is not removed quickly and the odor neutralized.