Have you noticed an odd smell near your porch or shed? Skunk odour detection is often one of the first clues, along with disturbed soil or unusual noises at night. These are common skunk burrow signs indicating that an unwanted guest might have made its home on your property. Skunks are drawn to dark, quiet spaces like sheds and decks, so catching these signs early is important to avoid further issues, such as property damage or lingering odours. 

If you suspect skunk activity, read on to learn what to watch for and how to address it. Our team at Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control in Durham specializes in humane wildlife removal services and can provide the expert help you need.

How Can You Tell an Animal Is Living Under Your Structure?

Noticing strange things around your yard? From odd smells to disturbed soil, these can be important clues that an animal has taken up residence under your deck or shed. Recognizing these signs early can help you handle the situation before it causes bigger problems for your home and garden.

The Smell Will Be Hard to Miss

A strong, unmistakable odour is often the first and most obvious sign. Skunks are widely recognized for the smell of their spray, which they release when threatened. If one has taken shelter under your porch or backyard building, you’ll likely notice that sharp, sour scent becoming stronger the closer you get to the structure. Skunk spray can linger for days, making it impossible to ignore.

However, even if you don’t smell the full blast of a recent spray, you might pick up on a faint musky aroma. This less intense smell could mean the animal uses your space as a regular retreat. Whether strong or subtle, any persistent scent around your yard is an important clue.

Disturbed Soil or Little Holes

Another telltale sign is what’s happening to the ground around your home. Skunks are excellent diggers, often creating burrows for shelter or searching for food. When they settle in under a deck or outdoor shed, they leave visible traces of their activity.

Look for small holes, each about the size of a soda can, along the edges of the structure. Loose dirt mounds or disturbed soil nearby can also indicate fresh digging. If your previously tidy yard is suddenly speckled with tiny pits or piles of dirt, it’s time to inspect more closely.

Nighttime Noises

Because skunks are nocturnal, their activity often goes unnoticed during the day. But once the sun goes down, the signs can become more obvious. If strange sounds like scratching, rustling, or soft thuds are coming from beneath your deck, you might have a visitor.

Since they prefer the darker hours, these noises tend to start at night and stop by morning. Keep an ear out for clues like this, as it’s one of the clearest indications that an animal has taken up residence.

Tracks and Droppings

If you’re still uncertain, a quick look for physical trace evidence might convince you. Skunks leave behind distinct tracks that feature five toes and visible claw marks. You might spot these prints in soft soil or along outdoor walkways.

Their droppings are another giveaway. Resembling cat feces, they’re often found near an entrance point and may contain visible bug shells, which reveal their diet of insects and grubs. Finding tracks or droppings like these can help confirm your suspicions.

Trouble in Your Yard or Garden

Skunks don’t restrict their activity to quiet, hidden areas—they also leave signs in your lawn or flowerbeds. When foraging for food, they dig small, shallow holes to rummage for grubs or worms. These holes might appear as small divots or patches where grass looks overturned.

They’re also known to scavenge through trash bins. If you wake up to find overturned garbage and a mess of leftovers scattered across your yard, it could be the work of this determined visitor. Damage to vegetation, flowerbeds, or scattered trash near your home can all indicate their presence.

What Draws These Animals to Your Space?

You might be wondering, why your property? Why your deck rather than your neighbour’s? There are a couple of reasons. Skunks are on the lookout for food and shelter. If your yard has soft, rich soil (hello, grubs!), or if there is an opening beneath your flooring, your property becomes an attractive place for them to dig.

Additionally, they rely on a sense of security. The underside of decks and small outdoor buildings creates the perfect place to hide from predators while staying warm and dry during bad weather. If there’s easy access and a minimal chance of disturbance, that area becomes prime real estate for these burrowing animals to settle.

How to Prevent Them from Moving In

Keeping your property less appealing to foragers will go a long way in avoiding this disruption. Here are a few precautions you can take to help secure your space and reduce the risk of animals moving in:

• Block Off Openings: Seal off any entrances around the base of your deck or shed. Using heavy-duty barriers like hardware cloth or fencing at ground level can stop burrowers in their tracks.
• Tidy Up Your Yard: Minimize overgrown grass and weeds and keep your yard free of debris. This makes it less inviting for animals to hide.
• Keep Lids Tight: Garbage bins with loose lids are an open invitation. Ensure that trash is sealed tightly to avoid attracting them.
• Deterrents Can Help: Motion-activated lights or sprinklers can startle and discourage unwanted visitors from sticking around.
• Manage Food Sources: Grubs and insects are a food favourite for skunks. Lawn treatments that address pest populations can remove the buffet that initially attracted them.

Why Should You Handle the Problem Quickly?

Once you suspect an animal has chosen your home for theirs, it’s important to act quickly. Leaving a burrow unchecked can lead to structural issues or even more unwanted guests. These animals may dig deeper or widen openings to create a larger living space, weakening your foundation over time. They can also bring in fleas, ticks, and other pests.

The longer you wait, the tougher it becomes to remove them safely—and the more work it’ll take to repair any damage.

Who Can Help?

Sometimes, even with the best prevention measures, animals can still find their way underneath your outdoor structure. When that happens, it’s important to call a professional to safely handle the situation. At Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control in Durham Region, we specialize in humane methods that protect both the animals and your property.

It might be tempting to tackle the problem yourself, but professional help is the safest and most effective route. Our experienced technicians use proven methods, like one-way doors, to allow animals to exit your property naturally, preventing harm and ensuring they don’t come back in. This approach is not only safe but also keeps your space protected for years to come.

A Fresh Start for Your Backyard

If your backyard is telling you all the skunk burrow signs—unpleasant smells, digging in strange places, scuffles at night—it might be time to take a closer look. Addressing the issue early keeps your home and yard safe and ensures these fascinating but troublesome creatures are handled humanely.

For homeowners in the Durham Region, our team at Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control is here to help. We’ll use safe and effective methods to restore peace to your outdoor space so you can get back to enjoying your yard—without worrying about unwanted visitors.

Have questions? Noticing the tell-tale signs we talked about? Reach out to our team today. We’re ready to help you reclaim your deck and shed with care and expertise.