Your house smelling like skunk can be nauseating, some have compared this smell to that of tear gas. Both of these smells can cause your eyes and nose to become irritated, tear up, produce mucus, and become red. But is this dangerous? This article looks into it
Skunk smells in the house can definitely be dangerous. This smell can make you nauseous and make you sick. Smelling this can mean that there is a skunk in your house or, that you have a gas leak (which can kill you)
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Is Not Addressing a Skunk Smell In The House Dangerous
Skunk odors in your house can not only be nauseating, they can also be dangerous as well. If a skunk manages to find its way into your home, this animal can damage your property.
If there are no skunks in your home, and the smell is coming from something else, this can be very dangerous and needs to be addressed quickly.
Skunk smell in the house at night:
Skunks are nocturnal animals, these animals are usually asleep during the day and awake at night. If the smell of skunk or skunk spray can be smelt at night, then this likely means that there are skunks in the area.
They may not necessarily be in your home, humans can smell skunk spray from 3,5 miles away, but they will likely be in your area. The stronger the smell of skunk, the more likely it is that these animals are close to you.
If the smell is very strong, then the animal may be in your home
Is this dangerous?
Having skunks in the area can be dangerous if you’re in close proximity to them, these animals are generally not very aggressive and won’t harm you but they can spray you if you get too close, this can cause nausea and vomiting.
They can also spread diseases to you and damage your property
Skunk smell in the house from your dog:
If your dog has been sprayed by a skunk, and now smells like skunk, your house can eventually smell like skunk.
This spray comes out as a liquid and can easily be transferred from area to area in your home. The smell can transfer from your dog, attach to walls, furniture, and anything else your dog comes into contact with
Is this dangerous?
Dogs can suffer from skunk spray as well. These animals can suffer for months after being sprayed by a skunk. If your dog ingests this spray then it can start to develop diarrhea and vomit. The smell of skunk in your home can also cause nausea and vomiting in people
Skunk smell in the house from your air conditioner
If you don’t have a skunk in your home, or in the area, and if the smell is coming from your air conditioner, and not your dog, then you likely have a gas leak. The chemical released by your AC, which makes the air smell like skunk spray, is called methyl mercaptan.
Is this dangerous?
Yes, having a gas leak in your home is very dangerous, if left unattended, this leak can result in carbon monoxide poisoning in people and animals or an explosion.
You need to leave your home as soon as you realize that your AC smells like skunk, after leaving your home, contact your HVAC company as well as your gas company
Skunk smell in the house after it rains:
If you’ve had a skunk spray outside, and the smell comes back after it rains, then this means that the water reactivated the odor.
Skunk spray is made up of many components. This odor can go away when some of these components dry up. If it rains, these components will mix with the rainwater and reactivate the smell making the outside smell like skunk, this smell can waft into your home after it rains
Is this dangerous?
This isn’t necessarily dangerous but this can cause the same nausea and vomiting that fresh skunk spray can cause, it isn’t very pleasant.
Can skunk fumes make you sick?
Yes, this stomach-turning smell can be quite nauseating and can make you sick for some time. This smell can cause you to have an upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, and even diarrhea if the spray gets into your mouth.
It can cause you to develop respiratory issues, especially if you already have trouble breathing due to asthma or COPD. It can also cause you to suffer from eye irritation or even temporary blindness if the spray hits your eye directly.
If you suffer from any of these effects, it is recommended that you see your doctor for a check-up.
Can skunk smell kill you?
Regular skunk spray will likely not kill you but if the smell is the result of a gas leak in your home then this can kill you.
A gas leak can cause carbon monoxide poisoning and even an explosion if not found in time. This is why it is so important to have this issue checked out as soon as you notice it.
Conclusion
In conclusion, if your home smells like skunk, you need to contact pest control to find and get rid of the skunk that may be in your house, skunks can cause damage to your property, give you diseases and their spray can cause you to develop diarrhea and or vomiting.
If there are no skunks in your house or area, then you need to quickly get out of your house and contact your HVAC company and gas company as you may have a gas leak.
If you enjoyed this article then you may also be interested in other skunk related articles. Here are some articles that you may be interested in: Essential Oils To Get Rid Of Skunk Smell In The House, Can Skunks Climb Walls?, Using Apple Cider Vinegar To Get Rid Of Skunk Smell In The House, Why Do Skunks Spray Every Night?