TYLER, Texas — Skunks are well known for their fragrant smell.
"I would describe it as a punch in the face, and it's very sulfuric," said Allison Luebke, keeper of mammals at the Caldwell Zoo in Tyler.
Skunks release their unmistakable scent as a self-defense mechanism. The pungent smell is meant to stun a predator enough that the skunk can make a quick get away.
The black and white creatures are found throughout North America. That means there is a chance you might run into one in the Piney Woods.
"The best course of action is to just leave them be," Luebke said. "They're probably more scared of you than you are of them."
If you do happen to get sprayed, the age-old tomato juice remedy might not be the best coarse of action.
"As for tomato juice, that's actually a myth," Luebke said. "It doesn't get rid of the skunk smell, it just masks it."
Instead, she recommends using hydrogen peroxide and baking soda.
For more behind-the-scenes zoo content, watch CBS19 on Fridays during Morning Y'all for the weekly segment, Exploring the Caldwell Zoo.
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