The Story Behind that Smell: Skunks in Westerville

Over the years, some neighborhoods in Westerville have garnered an interesting reputation for a certain seasonal stench. If you’re new to the community, it goes something like this: You’re standing on your porch when you feel a breeze. You take a whiff of the fresh air only for your olfactory senses to be ravaged by the acrid, sulphuric stench of skunk musk. You scurry inside and spare a thought for the poor soul who received the direct impact. Such is life, sometimes, in the suburbs.

The fact is, Westerville isn’t necessarily unique for skunk activity. Retired Animal Control Officer Kim Stambaugh says there are more skunks per acre in urban and suburban environments (versus rural) due to the availability of food, water and shelter.

“The skunk’s bold markings and defensive behaviors—such as fluffing its fur, stamping on the ground with its front feet, and growling—serve as warnings when the animal feels threatened,” she says. “Skunks can spray accurately and effectively up to 15 feet, which is why the smell carries throughout neighborhoods.”

Stambaugh says there are ways to make your yard less hospitable to these critters:

• Bring in unused pet food and water at night

• Keep tight-fitting lids on garbage cans

• Frequently harvest gardens and pick up fallen fruit

• Restrict use of birdseed; skunks are attracted to it and to the birds and rodents that use the feeder

• Seal up potential entry holes in and under buildings and decks

Dogs are often targets of getting “skunked.” If a skunk is near your property, Stambaugh says you should make plenty of noise before letting your dog out to the yard.

If you have questions about wildlife in Westerville, visit www.westerville.org/animalcontrol.