Skunks are cute, with their stubby legs and unique markings. Still, you do not want a skunk living on your property because it can cause damage and may present health risks. If you locate a skunk den or home on your property, it is best to contact local skunk removal services. However, how do you know when you’ve come across a skunk den?

Spotting a Skunk Den on Your Property

Skunks are clever little critters, and they are keen hiders. Spotting their nesting sites is not always easy, but there are some tricks to locating them. Experts suggest looking for signs of dens in likely locations, but you must also know the characteristics of a den to identify it when you find one.

1. Characteristics

Skunks are scavengers, and their nature influences how they look for and make their dens. If another animal made a nest and abandoned it, a skunk may take advantage of the premade site and conserve its energy. The animal also doesn’t care if a squirrel, coyote, or other critter made the den as long as it is abandoned. 

If a skunk cannot find a premade nesting site, it will and can make its own. The animal will find space underneath something else. It may choose a brush pile, logs, deck, house foundation, or even cement slabs. If skunks can find and inhabit a space with minimal effort, it can make it a home.

2. Signs

Skunks are relatively low-profile animals, but they still leave traces of their presence, especially when they have a den nearby. Some of the signs to look for include:

• Tracks
• Droppings
• Odor
• Cone-shaped holes
• Barking dogs

3. Likely Locations

Skunks enjoy various locations to build dens, but they feel most secure in forests, farms, ravines, and fields. However, city skunks can feel right at home in a suburb or backyard, building their den under decks, sheds or porches. Skunks also tend to stay where they make a den; they are most interested in creating a home, and finding a place that offers stability and protection. That said, the animals are also known to rotate den sites, meaning they may take a break from one location to visit another. However, skunks will probably not leave on their own, so you will need the help of humane wildlife control in Madison.

Knowing the Risks of a Skunk Den on Your Property

Skunks are messy neighbors. If a skunk lives on or near your property, it may dig up your yard looking for food. It also removes sod to place in and around its den. Skunks can also wreak havoc on gardens and other landscaping. 

Besides being messy neighbors, skunks can also carry and transmit bacteria and illnesses. While the animal might transmit bacteria through bits and scratches, transmission is more likely to occur through cross-contamination.

Finally, if a skunk lives on your property, it increases the risks of you, your family, or your pets getting sprayed. Skunk spray is potent and can lead to nausea and more severe issues if ingested. It is crucial that property owners keep skunks away from their property.

Hiring a Professional for Skunk Removal

Never attempt DIY skunk removal. Skunks are wild animals, and you should treat them with the respect they deserve. If you have or suspect you have a skunk den on your property, contact skunk removal near me and inform them of your problem.

If you need immediate assistance or would like advice about preventative techniques, contact Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control and schedule a property visit. The service will send out a team of qualified wildlife technicians to assess the property and house. Before they leave, they will provide service advice and options to homeowners.