Skunks can cause a lot of trouble if they make your property their home. Their strong smell, digging habits, and potential messes make them unwelcome guests for any household. Luckily, there are proven ways to keep skunks off property and prevent them from returning. The key to success lies in following practical skunk prevention tips and consistent skunk deterrent methods.

Skunks are drawn to areas with food, shelter, and water, so making these hard to access discourages them from settling in. By securing areas like garbage bins, decks, and crawl spaces, you can create a less inviting environment. For more effective and humane removal, professionals like Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control in Toronto provide reliable solutions, such as specially designed one-way doors. 

These tips will help you keep your home free from skunks, and we’ll explore each one so you can take the right steps today.

Why Skunks Come Around

Skunks don’t roam randomly; they’re always in search of three things that sustain them. If your property offers one or more of these, you’ll likely catch a glimpse of them in your yard at some point. Here’s what these animals typically look for:

• Food: Garbage bins without lids, pet food bowls left outside, birdseed on the ground, or fallen fruit from trees can all attract skunks. These easy food sources make your property a prime spot for skunks to forage, especially at night when they are most active.
• Shelter: Sheds, decks, porches, and crawl spaces provide safe and warm nesting areas. Woodpiles and garden clutter also appeal to skunks looking for cover. These hidden spaces give them a sense of security, making it more likely they’ll stick around.
• Water Access: Pools of water from rain, leaks, or water bowls give skunks an easy supply to drink from. Even small puddles or poorly drained areas can provide enough water to keep skunks coming back.

The best way to stop skunks from coming around is to eliminate these attractions altogether. By addressing these three needs, you can make your property far less appealing to skunks.

Skunk Prevention Tips That Really Work

Being proactive is the most important part of keeping these animals off property. The following skunk prevention tips are effective ways to make your property less appealing to these animals while discouraging them from returning.

Secure Food Sources

Food is the primary motivation for most wildlife venturing onto your property, and skunks are no exception. Removing access to food is one of the simplest and most effective skunk deterrent methods.

• Invest in sturdy garbage bins with tight-fitting lids and ensure they stay closed.
• Bring pet food indoors or remove the bowls after your pets have finished eating.
• Clean up fallen fruit from fruit trees or berry bushes quickly.
• Sweep up birdseed that spills onto the ground, as it can attract skunks in search of an easy meal.

Block Off Hiding and Nesting Areas

Sheltered spaces make wonderful homes for skunks, particularly under structures like decks and sheds. Sealing off these areas will make your property less attractive to them.

• Use durable wire mesh to close off the underside of porches, decks, and sheds. Ensure the mesh is securely fastened to prevent skunks from digging under.
• Regularly inspect your yard for holes, gaps, or signs of burrowing and fill them in immediately.
• Keep woodpiles stacked tightly or stored in raised, covered spaces to avoid providing potential homes for skunks.

If skunks have already taken root on your property, Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control can safely remove them using their one-way door system. This allows these animals to exit the space on their own but prevents them from returning.

Fix Standing Water Problems

Skunks need water to survive, and if your property provides easy access to it, you could be unintentionally inviting them in. To make your home less appealing, start by emptying pet water bowls at night or bringing them inside, as even small amounts of water can attract wildlife. Check your outdoor faucets, hoses, and irrigation systems for leaks, and repair them promptly to prevent puddles from forming. 

It’s also important to address any drainage issues in your yard. Poor drainage can lead to standing water after rain, creating a reliable water source for skunks. By removing these water sources and keeping your property dry, you make it far less attractive for skunks to linger or settle in.

Keep Your Yard Landscape Uninviting

Skunks prefer yards with plenty of places to hide, dig, or forage. Keeping your outdoor spaces neat and tidy leaves them with nowhere to stay.

• Regularly trim overgrown shrubs and bushes.
• Remove clutter like old logs, debris, or other materials that skunks could use for shelter.
• Consider planting deterrent plants like lavender or thorny bushes, as skunks are less likely to stay near them.

A clean and open yard significantly reduces the likelihood of skunks moving in.

Install Skunk-Proof Fencing

Fencing is an excellent physical barrier to keep skunks off your property, but it’s important to remember that skunks are skilled diggers. To make your fence effective, you’ll need to take their digging behaviour into account during installation. Start by burying the bottom of the fence at least 30 centimetres deep into the ground. 

This prevents skunks from tunnelling underneath and gaining access to your yard. For added protection, consider using an L-shaped footing at the base of the fence. This design extends outward underground, making it even harder for skunks to dig their way through. 

It’s also crucial to choose fencing materials that are durable, such as mesh or wire, which skunks and other animals can’t chew through. A well-constructed fence, designed with these features in mind, can provide long-term protection and safeguard your property from persistent wildlife, including skunks.

Why Professional Help Makes the Difference

Sometimes, even when you follow all these steps, skunks might stick around. That’s because dealing with wildlife requires specific expertise and tools to ensure animals don’t return. Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control in Toronto specializes in humane animal management and takes extra steps to ensure skunks leave for good.

Skedaddle’s signature one-way doors work by allowing the animals to exit while completely blocking re-entry. Once they’ve left, the team seals up potential entry points so no other wildlife can move in. This method ensures long-term results without relying on harmful or ineffective techniques.

Add These Tips Together for a Skunk-Free Home

Living with skunks nearby is frustrating, but it’s a manageable problem when you take the right steps. The key is to combine multiple techniques from these skunk prevention tips. Work on making food, water, and shelter unavailable to skunks while keeping high-risk areas sealed off or protected.

If you notice repeated visits or ongoing issues, professionals like Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control are there to help. Whether you need their one-way doors or advice on sealing your property, their approach ensures safety for both you and the animals.

Don’t wait for small skunk issues to escalate into full-blown problems. If you’re struggling to keep skunks away and need reliable advice, contact Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control in Toronto. Their team of experts will assess your property, apply effective skunk deterrent methods, and create a plan to stop skunks from returning. Request an estimate today and make your home skunk-free for good!