Milwaukee Wildlife Removal: Are Skunks Misunderstood?

When we think of skunks the first thing that often comes to mind is that unbearable stench that is almost impossible to shake. But there is more to these striped mammals than meets the eye. Let us take some time to get to know Milwaukee’s skunks a little better. Hopefully, this deeper knowledge will lead to the use of more humane strategies when Milwaukee property owners need wildlife removal services to handle skunk issues.

US Skunks

Skunks are part of the wildlife population of North America, including the US. But many people associate skunks with the strong offensive odor they sometimes emit and nothing else. The truth is that skunks are much more than stench carriers. They are naturally reclusive and typically avoid encounters with people and other animals. Milwaukee’s skunks, like others in North America and the world at large, love to dig to find food. This is why they leave unsightly holes in lawns, causing homeowners much grief.

Little Known Skunk Facts

Skunks have suffered throughout history as they were hunted and killed for their beautiful soft fur. But they have always been great gardening assistants as they eat rodents, insects and grubs, giving plants a greater chance to thrive. Skunks are omnivores. This means they eat a wide range of plant and animal-based foods.  Despite the fear and hatred that people have developed for them, skunks are actually gentle and shy. They are also quite adaptable, adjusting their habits to survive in natural and human-developed environments. The skunk odor may be a curse to those who get sprayed but it is a blessing for skunks. The stench they carry allow skunks to live pretty much undisturbed. They are avoided by people and wildlife animals alike, including predators. Contrary to popular belief skunks are not trigger happy with their stink bombs. They reserve the foul spray for the most urgent or threatening situations and will only spray after exhausting other options like running away or warding off the perceived threat by stomping its foot or hissing.

Avoiding and Handling Skunk Issues-Steps You can Take

While it is true that skunks are very misunderstood, they are still not the ideal wildlife animals to have around. You can discourage skunks from visiting your property and settling there by eliminating the things they might want to eat. Since they are omnivores, this list is pretty long but you can start with the garbage you discard. Pets such as dogs, love to chase skunks and this often results in them getting sprayed. Since skunk spray is so offensive in odor and so stubborn to remove, it is best that you prevent encounters between skunks and your pet. Controlling outdoor activities with your pet on a leash is a great way to do this. Additionally, identifying skunks in the home may be tricky. You may detect an odor lasting for a long time and find yourself searching for days and even weeks without success. This may mean that a skunk has died in an undiscovered crevice or hole after being trapped there. This often happens because while skunks are excellent at digging, they are poor climbers and often fall into uncomfortable positions such as window wells.

Expert Skunk Removal

Milwaukee’s skunks can make your home environment quite uncomfortable. But inhumane removal and extermination are unnecessary and cruel ways to tackle skunk issues. The best skunk removal techniques are humane ones that allow the animals to be safely removed from the space and relocated to natural habitats where they can continue to thrive. This type of expert skunk removal is offered by professional wildlife technicians at Skedaddle. Skedaddle’s wildlife technicians are trained and experienced in skunk biology and behavior and, as a result, are able to safely and effectively remove and exclude them from your property.