How to Get Rid of Skunks (6 Easy Steps)

Last Updated on September 22, 2022 By Emma W. Thomas

What is Skunks? According to Wikipedia Skunks are North and South American mammals in the family Mephitidae. While related to polecats and other members of the weasel family.

It is one of the animals that smells worse in the entire animal kingdom. Its attractive and sympathetic appearance is offset by the bad smell that characterizes it. The skunk is a shy and intelligent creature, but not when they spray someone with their musk.

Due to the powerful smell, and the fear of being sprayed, it can be difficult for some people to tolerate these smelly creatures. However, don’t panic! It is not the time to get high, but it is time for you to act wisely. Getting rid of the skunk is not such an easy thing to treat, but you can certainly take several steps to prevent the smell from being removed from your home.

Skunks are omnivorous animals that live off huthe man waste. Although harmless, you should get rid of them without approaching them, or you will run the risk of being bitten or even getting a dose of their harmful spray that can cause a lot of discomfort to animals and human eyes.

These creatures often take residence under decks and courtyards and scaring garbage with a broom is not the best option. Fortunately, there are some things you can do how to get rid of skunks in your yard, which include:

Step How to Get Rid of Skunks in your yard

1. Do not feed skunks

Skunks are scavengers and eat nothing nutritious they find in their way. If you have trees that produce berries, wild apples, nuts, or other fruits, as often as you can clean them regularly.

You should also rule out other types of vegetation, such as lots of grass, as they may contain seeds and other food sources for skunks. Place a tray under bird feeders to pick up the food drop and clean the street seeds in your yard.

Ripe fruits and vegetables are another attraction of skunks, and you should surround your crops with a low fence as skunks may not pass over but may dig under the fence.

It may be considered to bury the fence a few inches below or sprinkle chili or cayenne powder around the fence perimeter to keep the skunks away.

2. Protect your Waste

Skunks survive with garbage; therefore, it is important to keep the trash can sealed properly. You can get a blocking trash bin at local home improvement stores in your area. You can also consider storing garbage in the garage or a shed at night so that its smell does not attract skunks.

3. Bright Lights; Scared skunks

Skunks are nocturnal creatures, and they don’t like bright light. Lighting your patio at night will scare skunks away.

Since the light in the patio will shine throughout the night, use energy-saving bulbs or solar lighting to save energy and avoid paying the high electric bill.

You can also use a motion sensor that trips when any creature approaches it. In this way, the lights do not have to stay overnight as the skunk has to intervene in the sensor for the light.

4. Use chemical products

Certain chemicals’ smells can keep skunks away. You have to spray in areas where skunks are suspected of spending time, and skunks will avoid those areas. However, you should apply repellents regularly, especially after heavy rains.

Citrus peels repel skunks naturally. Spread either lemon or orange peels in your yard, especially in areas where skunks are suspected to spend time.

Ammonia; Soak the cotton balls in ammonia and place them in your yard to keep skunks away.

Mothballs

Caution:

If you use these, keep them away from children.

5. Install motion-activated sprinklers

These sparks ignite automatically when there is any movement too close to them.

It is a natural and safe way to get rid of skunks. Place them in areas where suspected skunks shelter.

6. Close Off Places skunks Hide

Skunks reside mostly in protected areas, under porches and terraces. Close these spaces using a fence, rocks, or plywood.
Piles of building materials, woand od can also serve as a refuge for skunks.

You should store these materials in a container or a ship to prevent skunks from hiding.

If skunks are persistent to leave your yard, contact an animal control center in your area to help take care of the disposal. They have special tools to catch and release skunks away from their yard.

The following information can be very helpful if when a skunk enters your property, consider the following:

• The skunks eat both plant and animal material: insects, small rodents, eggs, rats, and even human waste. They are beneficial for farmers because they eat a large number of garden and agriculture pests, and avoid leaving garbage in the open or pet food outside.
• They can dig under buildings or garages as they enter the openings of the foundation; They can kill poultry and eat eggs; Domestic animals can often get sprayed by this animal if it feels provoked, so if you notice the presence of a skunk near, it is better to keep your domestic pets, indoors, as much as you can.
• They prefer a dark location, to get rid of skunks closing holes since these are the main locations where skunks can nest.
• Reduce attractors: Water tanks, leftover vegetables, fruits, etc.
• First of all, a skunk is a wild animal, do not try to catch it yourself; the best alternative is to seek help from a professional, for timely advice.

FAQ

Can I Kill A Skunk?

Yes, but only with extreme caution! The first thing you need to know about killing a skunk is that it is illegal in most states. This means that you could face serious penalties including fines and jail time. Also, many homeowners insurance policies don’t cover damage caused by wildlife like skunks. 

1) How long does it take?

A skunk takes about two weeks to become pregnant. The gestation period lasts approximately 60 days. After birth, the young remain with their mother until they reach sexual maturity at around six months old.

2) What happens if I don’t remove the stench?

Skunks produce a strong odor called musk which attracts other predators such as raccoons, foxes, owls, snakes, birds, dogs, cats, and humans. If left untreated, the odor may cause health problems like nausea, vomiting, headaches, dizziness, respiratory issues, skin irritation, eye pain, nosebleeds, and more.

3) Can I trap skunks?

No! It is illegal to capture wildlife without proper permits. Trapping also causes stress on the animal that could lead to injury or death.

What attracts skunks to an area?

There are several reasons why skunks might visit your backyard. Some of them include:

• Food sources – Skunks feed primarily on carrion, especially dead mammals. In addition to eating meat, they also consume vegetable matter, insect larvae, and bird droppings.

• Shelter – Skunks build nests out of vegetation, leaves, grass clippings, twigs, sticks, mud, hair, feathers, and fur. Nests provide protection against weather conditions and predators.

• Reproduction – Females give birth every year between April and July. Pregnant females usually stay close to their nesting sites during pregnancy. Young typically weigh less than 1 lb., grow quickly, and shed their coats within three weeks after hatching.

Are there any diseases associated with skunks?

Infectious disease transmission through contact with infected feces as possible. Diseases transmitted via urine include leptospirosis, tularemia, brucellosis, salmonellosis, campylobacteriosis, cryptosporidiosis, giardiasis, toxoplasmosis, trichinosis, histomoniasis, coccidiomycosis, and others. Infections acquired through bites include rabies, Lyme disease, cat scratch fever, trench fever, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Ehrlichia chaffeensis infection, human granulocytic anaplasmosis, Bartonella henselae infections, and Borrelia burgdorferi infections.

Is there anything I can do to prevent skunks from coming into my house?

You should make sure that any potential entry points are sealed off. You can seal up cracks and crevices using a caulking compound or caulk gun. Seal up gaps underneath doors and windows. Keep trash cans covered and locked. Remove weeds growing along fences and walls. Use repellents containing DEET or picaridin. These products work well to deter skunks from entering homes.

Can I buy skunk removal services online?

No, we recommend contacting local pest management companies who specialize in removing skunks. These professionals know how to safely capture and relocate skunks without causing harm to humans or pets

Conclusion

Skunk spray is a common way How to Get Rid of Skunks. However, it is not recommended for use around children or pets. If you do choose to use skunk spray, be careful where you apply it. Make sure you cover all areas of the area where the skunk has been spotted. It may cause irritation on some people’s skin

References:

https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-get-rid-of-a-skunk/

https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/what-do-about-skunks