My dog, Hazel, went out the back door the other night and I went to bed. My bedroom door opened and my wife yelled, “Your dog just got sprayed by a skunk.”

It was 10:30 p.m. At 1 a.m., I got back to bed after two full dog body washes with a formula of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and a teaspoon of dish soap. 

I lathered the dog up, took her down to the river, took her for a swim where she rinsed off (the concoction is environmentally friendly), then repeated the process. 

By the second time around the dog had just a hint of skunk smell on her head, so the formula does its job quite well, I must admit. (Just don’t use more than a teaspoon of dish soap, or you will have a very sudsy dog. Don’t ask me how I know this.) 

Of course, this story is not about dogs, it is about the striped skunk, one of the most recognizable animals in Montana, with its two distinctive white lateral stripes running down the back of its black body. 

Striped skunks range from about 22 inches to 31 inches in length and males weigh just under 7 pounds while females are about 6 pounds. 

They’re found nearly all-over North America and are adaptable to a host of different environments, including residential backyards. 

They spray what’s called mercaptans, containing trans-2-butenyl methyl disulfide and trans-2-butene-1-thiol, 3-methyl-1-butanethiol compounds from glands near their anus. 

That’s the science behind the stink, according to “Mammals of Montana.” by Kerry R. Forseman. 

They can spray the green liquid in a stream and also as an atomized spray. 

“Striped skunks spray as a last resort,” Forseman notes. Yeah, like when an 88-pound dog is bearing down to bite them. 

They typically give a warning by stamping their forefeet and walk with their tail held high. 

Skunks are omnivores, like humans, so they’ll eat just about anything. In my case, they were probably after drops from an apple tree in my backyard. They are primarily notcurnal as they prowl around looking for food. They can have a range of at least two miles. 

While they don’t hibernate they do den up in extreme cold, often together and they will enter a shallow lethargic state to reserve energy in extreme cold. 

They can produce musk shortly after birth, but musk production really ramps up about three weeks after being born, so yes, a baby skunk can spray you. 

Not many creatures eat skunks, but owls are known to. The Forest Service was studying spotted skunks in Oregon and found the remains of one high in a snag, the victim of a barred owl. Great horned owls will also prey on skunks. The birds don’t have much of a sense of smell. 

If your dog has a late night skunk encounter, here’s the formula for cleaning it up recommended by the American Kennel Club. Fortunately,  the ingredients can be found in most grocery stores, even late at night: 1 quart peroxide, plus  ¼ cup baking soda, plus 1 to 2 teaspoons of dish soap. Rinse, repeat as needed.