How to Stop Skunks From Living on Your Property

When it comes to our smelly friend the skunk, prevention is always the best option. Once skunks have made their den site on a property, they can cause thousands of dollars in damage, and can be intimidating to remove. With over 30 years of experience removing skunks from the property of thousands of homeowners, we understand skunks’ behaviour and what draws them to your home. To learn more about how you can protect your home from skunks and the damage they cause, keep reading!

WHEN SHOULD I EXPECT SKUNKS ON MY PROPERTY?

February through March is mating season for striped skunks, and during this time they are searching for a den site to mate and eventually birth and raise their kits in. As skunks are very active during this time, many homeowners see them walking through their yard in increased numbers. Following the mating season, litters arrive between April and May. As babies are dependent on their mothers, female skunks will enter and exit the den site more often to provide their babies with food. The low ground structures that our properties provide offer a warm and convenient place for skunks to burrow a den site under.

WHERE WILL SKUNKS MAKE THEIR DEN SITE ON MY PROPERTY?

Skunks cannot climb so they make their dens at ground level. Skunks tend to burrow out their dens in cavities below structures on properties, such as concrete front steps, wooden porches, decks, sheds, and home additions that do not have foundations. They are nocturnal (i.e. active at night), and will chew or burrow through wood and siding. Their burrows can cause weaknesses in the structures.

It is more likely you will smell a skunk than see one. Persistent, faint musk smells under a building or woodpile may suggest that a skunk has taken up residence. You may find small, shallow holes in the lawn, similar to those made by squirrels, which are a result of a skunk foraging for grubs and insect larva.

HOW CAN I PREVENT SKUNKS FROM COMING TO MY PROPERTY?

Lawn care and property maintenance are your best friend when it comes to skunk prevention. By maintaining a neat backyard and repairing any vulnerable areas on your property, you will limit skunk interest and ability to access your yard. Follow the steps below to help stop skunks from living on your property:

• Repair any holes or damage on the fence
• Place the garden in raised garden beds or place chicken wire around the garden
• Treat the lawn for grubs
• Trim the grass regularly
• Properly store garbage and recycling bins with tight lid
• Keep pet food indoors
• Remove any fallen logs, and fill any burrows in the ground
• Install motion detection lights
• Attach wire mesh to deck or shed to prevent them from getting under (check that no skunks are under your structure before installing the mesh, otherwise the skunk will be trapped and die)

IF PREVENTION FAILS, SKEDADDLE IS HERE TO HELP

Accessing a skunk’s den can often be difficult. Using specialized hands-on techniques our technicians will carefully remove skunks from their burrow. If there are baby skunks, they are placed inside a heated baby box so that they can be safely relocated by their mother to one of her multiple den sites.
The key to getting the animals out from under these steps permanently is to block access. Part of our process involves taking specific measures designed to prevent future skunk intrusions. Our Wildlife Specialists will not only seal the entry point after removal, but will also protect any potential openings by burying a heavy gauge screen deep into the ground. We then deodorize the surrounding areas to deter other skunks from making your deck, porch or shed their home.

After our thorough process is complete, we will have cleaned and repaired the damage, and protected your home from future unwanted visitors.If you think you have a skunk problem, call Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control today.