Skunk Removal & Control
Humane solutions for skunk problems in your home or business
About Skunks
Striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) are easily recognized by their distinctive black and white coloration and their notorious defensive spray. These medium-sized mammals are common throughout our service areas, often coming into conflict with humans when they take up residence around homes and businesses.
Size & Weight
Adults typically weigh 6-10 pounds and measure about 20-30 inches in length including their tail.
Behavior
Primarily nocturnal, skunks are omnivorous foragers that prefer to avoid confrontation. Their spray is used as a defensive last resort when they feel threatened.
Diet
Skunks eat a varied diet including insects, small rodents, fruits, berries, eggs, and human garbage. They're particularly fond of grubs in lawns.
Reproduction
Skunks typically breed in late winter, with litters of 4-7 kits born in spring. Females often seek sheltered denning sites under structures for raising young.
Problems Caused by Skunks
Odor Issues
- Powerful defensive spray that can linger for days or weeks
- Spray can contaminate home air through vents and windows
- Risk to pets that may confront and provoke skunks
- Odor from denning sites even without spraying incidents
Property Damage
- Digging under foundations, decks, sheds, and porches
- Creating dens that can compromise structural integrity
- Lawn damage from digging for grubs and insects
- Raiding gardens, trash cans, and compost piles
Health & Safety Concerns
- Potential carriers of rabies and other diseases
- Host to parasites like fleas, ticks, and mites
- Skunk spray can cause nausea and eye irritation
- Defensive behavior when cornered or protecting young
Our Skunk Removal Process
We use proven, humane methods to safely remove skunks from your property and prevent their return.
Inspection
Thorough assessment to identify skunk activity, den locations, entry points, and potential food sources.
Trapping
Professional live trapping using specialized equipment designed for skunks to minimize stress and spray risk.
Removal
Safe, humane relocation of captured skunks to appropriate habitat areas in compliance with local regulations.
Exclusion
Installing barriers and sealing entry points to prevent future skunk access to denning areas.
Important: During spring and early summer, we take special care to check for the presence of skunk kits (babies). If young are present, we ensure the entire family is safely removed together to prevent orphaning.
Preventing Future Skunk Problems
After removing skunks, we implement these effective preventative measures:
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Structural Exclusion
Installing L-shaped barriers around the perimeter of decks, sheds, and porches to prevent digging access. These barriers are buried at least 12 inches deep and extend outward.
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Food Source Management
Securing garbage cans with wildlife-resistant lids, removing fallen fruit, and using grub control treatments for lawns to eliminate attractive food sources.
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Habitat Modification
Removing brush piles, sealing access to crawl spaces, and keeping the property well-lit at night, as skunks prefer dark, secluded areas.
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Den Remediation
Properly filling in abandoned skunk dens after ensuring they're unoccupied to prevent other wildlife from using them.
Skunk Removal FAQs
Signs of skunk presence include strong musky odors around your property (even without spraying incidents), small conical holes in your lawn from foraging, tracks with five toes and visible claw marks, and sightings of skunks at dawn or dusk. You might also notice debris pulled out from under decks or sheds where they're creating dens.
Our technicians are highly trained in skunk behavior and use specialized equipment and techniques to minimize the risk of defensive spraying during the removal process. Skunks typically only spray when they feel threatened and will usually give warning signs first, such as stamping their front feet and raising their tail. We work carefully to avoid triggering these defensive responses.
For items that can be washed, a mixture of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and liquid dish soap is effective. For larger areas or structures, we offer professional deodorization services using specialized commercial products designed specifically for neutralizing skunk spray. Contrary to popular belief, tomato juice is not effective at removing skunk odor.
While skunks are generally docile and prefer to avoid conflict, they can carry rabies and other diseases. Their powerful spray, while not typically dangerous, can cause significant discomfort, including temporary blindness and nausea if it gets in the eyes or is inhaled. We recommend never approaching or attempting to handle skunks, and keeping pets away from them.
Having Skunk Problems?
Our wildlife experts are ready to provide a humane, effective solution with our 10-year guarantee.
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