The smell of a skunk is unmistakable. It’s potent, lingering, and can cause nausea and burning eyes. While skunks are generally docile creatures that want to be left alone, having them denning under your deck, porch, or shed puts your family and pets in the “splash zone.”

Why Skunks Choose Your Home

Skunks are burrowers, but they are also opportunistic. Rather than digging a den from scratch, they prefer to exploit existing cavities. The gap under a concrete stoop, the crawlspace under a deck, or the space beneath a shed provides perfect protection from the elements and predators.

The Dangers of Skunks

The Spray: A skunk can spray its sulfur-based fluid up to 15 feet with high accuracy. If sprayed on a dog or into an HVAC intake, the smell can make a home uninhabitable for days.
Structural Damage: Skunks dig aggressively. Their burrowing can undermine concrete slabs, causing stoops to crack or sink. They may also tear at vent screens to access crawlspaces.
Rabies: Skunks are one of the primary carriers of rabies in the United States. Any skunk acting aggressively, stumbling, or active during the day should be treated with extreme caution.

Humane Skunk Removal (Without the Stink)

Many homeowners are afraid to call a professional because they fear the removal process will trigger the skunk to spray. At HWCS, we specialize in methods that keep everyone odor-free.

1. The “No-Trap” Exclusion Method

Trapping skunks is stressful for the animal and increases the risk of spraying. Instead, we prefer exclusion.

We trench around the affected structure (deck, shed, etc.).
We install a heavy-gauge steel mesh barrier (called “trench and screen”) that extends below the ground and curves outward.
We install a one-way door over the main burrow entrance.
The skunk exits at night to forage but cannot dig back in.

This method solves the problem permanently. The skunk moves on to a new territory, and your structure is now fortified against skunks, groundhogs, and opossums forever.

2. If Trapping is Necessary

In cases where the animal is stuck (e.g., inside a window well), we use covered traps. Skunks generally do not spray if they cannot see their target. Our specialists approach slowly and keep the trap covered during transport to keep the animal calm.

What to Do If Your Pet Gets Sprayed

If your dog meets a skunk before we arrive:

Do NOT bring the dog inside. Keep them outside to prevent the oils from transferring to your furniture.
The Recipe: Forget tomato juice. Mix 1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide, ¼ cup of baking soda, and 1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap.
Wash: Apply immediately to the pet (avoiding eyes), lather well, and rinse. Repeat if necessary.

If you have skunks digging around your foundation, contact HWCS for a permanent exclusion solution.

Skunks Under the Deck: Odor-Free Removal Strategies