Your first thought is probably to get rid of skunks in Ajax if you find them on your property. For a couple of reasons, this is more likely to occur during the summertime. Here is some information about why you are more likely to see skunks in the summer and how to get rid of skunks permanently.

Why Does It Seem That There Are More Skunks in Summer?

Skunks do not hibernate during the winter, but they do become less active. They spend most of their time sleeping and only forage for food when the weather is warm enough, living off their stores of body fat. However, when the weather warms up, skunks become more active again, looking for food and shelter. This is one reason why it may seem that you see more skunks in the spring.

Skunks are nocturnal and prefer to do their foraging at night. However, in the summer, sunset comes much later than in the winter. If skunks wait for complete darkness to forage, they don’t have as much time to find food. Therefore, they may come out at dusk while people may still be active, making it more likely that you will see them.

Another reason why it may seem that you see more skunks is that there actually are more skunks. Skunks mate in late winter and give birth about two months later during the spring. By late summer, the new babies are old enough to start leaving the den with their mother and accompanying her on foraging trips so they can learn to find food on their own once they grow up and leave the den permanently.

Skunks are generally docile creatures that prefer to run from a fight if possible. However, the mother skunks can be aggressive when protecting their babies, spraying and potentially biting or scratching. Skunks on your property are typically females with offspring, which makes professional skunk removal necessary to remove the babies safely without angering the mother skunk.

Why Do Skunks Dig During the Summer?

Skunks dig primarily to find shelter. They are burrowing animals and feel safer underground, especially if there is a sturdy object over their den. If skunks make dens on your property, you are most likely to find that they have dug a hole under a deck, porch, shed, or concrete front steps. Finding a den site is a top priority in spring, when female skunks are getting ready to give birth, and the presence of baby skunks makes removal more complicated.

Skunks also dig to find food. They are omnivorous and can eat many things, but they especially love insect larvae and may dig little holes around your lawn to find them.

How Do You Know When a Skunk Is Going To Spray?

Skunks have the ability to spray a foul-smelling liquid from their anal glands. They do this as a defence mechanism to slow down potential predators long enough to make a getaway. However, skunks don’t have a limitless supply of spray, and it takes their bodies several days to make more. Therefore, the skunks usually give warning signs that they are about to spray, such as hissing, stamping their feet, and lifting their tails so they can take aim.

It is rare for skunks to spray without giving warning signals, but it may occur if you surprise a skunk. Pets (especially dogs) and young children are more likely to get sprayed because they do not always understand a skunk’s warning signals. Dogs, in particular, are likely to interpret them as friendly overtures.

Skedaddle Knows How To Get Rid of Skunks in Ajax

You may try to research how to scare skunks away without getting sprayed, but the chances that this could go wrong are high. It is better to call Skedaddle for professional skunk removal as we remove the animals safely and clean up any smell they’ve left behind.