Skunks are mysterious mammals best known for their black-and-white striped appearance and the unique smell they produce when they are scared. Many people wish for skunks to stay off their property because of the scent they emit and their propensity to dig in the garbage and eat fruit growing in the garden. People tend to have questions about these stealthy creatures, such as, for example, can a skunk spray more than once? Here are four things you might wonder about skunks and their nighttime ventures.
1. Are Skunks More Active During the Day or Night?
Skunks are nocturnal, which means they are similar to creatures such as opossums and bats in that they perform most of their routine activities at night. Keep in mind, however, that it is still possible to see signs of skunks during the daytime, doing things such as:
- Foraging for food for their babies, an activity that occurs mostly in the springtime
- Searching for another hiding spot, particularly if a human or other animal chased them out of their previous den
- Hunting other animals, especially if many other nocturnal animals hunt in their area at night
You may also spot skunks at dusk and dawn; however, for the most part, they sleep during the day and look for food at night.
2. What Does Skunks’ Nightly Behaviour Look Like?
Skunks perform most of what humans see as their destructive behaviours between dusk and dawn. Because of this, it is not uncommon for property owners to wake up and notice disturbed soil in their yards and gardens picked apart for ripe fruits and vegetables. Skunks dig in order to find worms, grubs, rodents, and other food sources living in the ground. Homeowners might also see holes leading underneath their balconies, as locations like these make excellent hiding spots for animals looking to stay safe from predators.
Although skunks are active at night, they generally go unnoticed unless they release their scent. They do not tend to make loud noises that would alert a person to their presence, except for the occasional hiss or whine to talk with others of their species. Because skunks are relatively quiet and wreak havoc under the cover of night when they are less visible, they tend to get away with their destructiveness more often than some other pests.
3. Why Are Skunks Attracted to Your Home?
Skunks may leave humans alone for the most part, but there are several reasons why they are attracted to humans’ habitats, including:
- The smell of human food, including remnants of food in the garbage
- The appearance of dog and cat food on the porch or inside near the doors
- The possibility of hiding in locations such as under the steps or in the shed
If you see signs of skunks on your property, such as holes in your yard, it may be time to call wildlife control services in Montreal to get rid of the creatures safely.
4. What Causes Skunk Smell at Night?
Skunks generally spray when something threatens or startles them. Because their spray can travel up to a little over 2 kilometres, this is the distance you can expect a skunk to be from your home if you smell their scent inside your residence. Pet owners, in particular, should be aware of the possibility of their dog or cat encountering a skunk in the evening and getting sprayed while playing outside while being walked. A skunk removal service can take care of your issue without causing harm to pets.
If you have an issue with skunks on your property, call the specialists at Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control to remove them and prevent them from returning, without causing harm to the ecosystem.
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