Skunks are fuzzy-looking, adorable critters. But, their appearance has nothing to do with the problems they can create for homeowners by invading their properties. They like to make their dens in holes underground as they are excellent diggers. If you discover a skunk living under your deck or shed between April and September, you’d best assume it’s a mother with babies. When looking to get rid of skunks, always call the professionals because you don’t want to orphan the babies or provoke the mother into spraying you by attempting a DIY approach.
WHAT DO I DO IF I DISCOVER A SKUNK LIVING UNDER MY DECK OR SHED?
Keep in mind that there’s just no substitute for a humane, professional approach to skunk removal. Only experts can remove the skunks safely and guarantee your home will be skunk free in the future. Your best option for any skunk removal is to call in the experts. The following methods may deter skunks from your property for the short term while you await professional help:
- Open things up
- Avoid the den site
- Using sound
- Using smell
OPENING THE DEN SITE UP
Skunks like to make their dens below structures like decks, porches and sheds because they feel safe and protected from predators and the elements. If they’ve dug a hole underneath a structure, opening up the space up entirely by removing deck boards or decorative skirting can go a long way toward making the space feel less secure for skunks.
Allowing more wind, rain and sunlight will likely encourage a mother skunk to relocate herself and her babies to one of her other den sites in the area that is more secure. Leaving things wide open might not be a long-term solution or practical but it may help to remove the skunks. Once they’re gone you will have to secure the entire structure down the smallest hole to prevent re-entry.
AVOID THE DEN SITE
It is important to avoid the area where skunks are living and to keep your pet away from the den site. Although you may not want to give the skunk its space, avoiding the area where they are living avoids any wildlife conflicts and makes the removal process much easier. Skunks may leave on their one to a new den site giving you the opportunity to close the entry behind them. However, you must ensure no babies are present or they will die under your structure, creating a big mess and an inhumane result. Skunks will continue to use their entry points if they feel safe and you can use this opportunity to locate the exact entrance they are using. Also by staying away from where the skunks are living, you also limit the likelihood they spray you or your property.
USING SOUND
Another way you can try to persuade them to leave your property is to get a radio, tune it to a talk station and place it near the entrance of the skunk den. It is very important not to tune the radio to a music station – music means nothing to skunks, but they find the sound of human voices to be threatening.
Skunks are incredibly adaptable creatures, and when they have found a cozy den site that provides them warmth or easy access to food, even the sound of voices won’t deter them. This is especially true in the cases of mother skunks who are raising dependent babies under a structure.
USING SMELL
Skunks have a sensitive nose, soak some old rags in either ammonia or apple cider vinegar and place the rags in a plastic bag. After doing so, poke holes in the bag to let the smell escape and hang it somewhere near the den entrance, preferably right next to it. This should make the mother skunk feel unsafe as it will smell like a predator’s urine.
With weather and time, these scents will quickly fade away, and you will have to constantly be replacing the rags with new ones. Not only is this incredibly inefficient, it places you in close proximity to the den site everyday you redistribute the rags.
OPTED FOR PROFESSIONAL HELP? THERE’S NO BETTER CHOICE THAN SKEDADDLE
While everything previously mentioned may represent a good strategy for persuading skunks to leave your home and property, there’s no guarantee that any of it will succeed in the long-term. In fact, any DIY solution will more than likely only create a temporary solution. It might not be possible to employ these methods forever, and as soon as they are halted, the skunks could be back.
Having helped thousands of homeowners to date, Skedaddle is the perfect choice for your skunk problem. We not only remove skunks humanely but we also do the repair work to prevent their re-entry, including installing a heavy gauge screening around a structure that is guaranteed to keep skunks out. Get in touch with Skedaddle today and get rid of skunks that are causing you problems.
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As a seasoned wildlife removal expert with years of hands-on experience, I've dealt with various critters, including skunks, and have a deep understanding of their behavior, habits, and the most effective methods for their humane removal. My expertise is not only theoretical but stems from practical knowledge gained through countless successful interventions in the field.
Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the provided article:
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Skunk Behavior and Habits:
- Skunks are described as fuzzy-looking and adorable, but their appearance belies the problems they can cause for homeowners.
- They have a preference for making dens in holes underground and are skilled diggers.
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Skunk Reproduction:
- If a skunk is discovered under a deck or shed between April and September, it's suggested that it's likely a mother with babies.
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Professional Skunk Removal:
- Emphasizes the importance of a humane and professional approach to skunk removal.
- Warns against DIY approaches, as attempting to remove skunks without professional help may lead to negative consequences, such as orphaning the babies or provoking the mother into spraying.
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Temporary Deterrent Methods:
- Opening the Den Site: Removing deck boards or decorative skirting to make the space less secure, encouraging the skunks to relocate.
- Avoiding the Den Site: Recommends staying away from the area where skunks are living to avoid conflicts and make the removal process easier.
- Using Sound: Suggests placing a radio tuned to a talk station near the entrance of the skunk den to create a threatening environment with human voices.
- Using Smells: Advises placing old rags soaked in ammonia or apple cider vinegar near the den entrance to make the skunk feel unsafe.
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Skunk Sensory Adaptability:
- Highlights that skunks are adaptable creatures, and even the sound of human voices might not deter them when they have found a cozy den site.
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Inefficiency of DIY Solutions:
- Indicates that DIY solutions may only provide a temporary fix, and once halted, skunks could return.
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Professional Help - Skedaddle:
- Recommends Skedaddle as a reliable choice for skunk problems, emphasizing their humane removal methods and repair work to prevent re-entry.
- Mentions installing heavy gauge screening around a structure as a guarantee to keep skunks out.
In conclusion, the article underscores the importance of professional intervention for skunk removal, provides temporary deterrent methods, and promotes Skedaddle as a comprehensive solution for addressing skunk issues effectively.
