I ran into a skunk fishing at night that was a bit aggressive (he came to me I didn't walk in on his home) and almost had to shoot it with my 10mm. While that would work I was wondering if I had had some quality gel pepper spray if that could have made him stop.
Yes they are little but I don't want the germs from a bite, or rabies even though I could get treated for it.
Oh I'm definitely in favor of backing away. This guy was coming at me faster when I started to back away lol! Yeah I guess it sort of seems obvious now that you say it, it's a spraying animal, if it doesn't like pepper spray it'll spray back naturally. I'll stock up some tomato juice.
Ammonia,Citrus peels,dog urine is said to keep them away. I've just used the garden hose with a High Pressure Nozzle like this one and skunks (all animals) make thier rounds about the same time so hit it with water a few times and they learn to stay away.
The moment you spray a skunk it's going to spray you, you can do one of two things. Spray the skunk and hope for the best or back away, also tomato juice will remove the skunk spray off your body.