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How to Get Rid of Skunks

March 5th, 2006 by admin
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Who needs coffee when you have a family of wet skunks under your porch? Skunks can spray their musk up to 15 ft. For instructions on getting rid of the smell, read How to get rid of skunk smell.

Warning: Skunks can carry rabies. Never approach a live skunk and if someone gets bitten try to capture the skunk so it can be tested for rabies. Keep the head intact as the brain is needed for the test.

1. Keeping skunks away... far away

Skunks are scavengers and will eat anything from bugs to garbage. If a skunk finds a tasty morsel on your land, chances are good that he'll start visiting more often. This section will walk you through some steps to repel skunks from your property.

Eliminate skunk nummies

TrashSkunks are nocturnal, so you're most likely to see.. erm.. smell them at night and in the early morning when they're out scavenging for food. Skunks can and do eat anything; bird eggs, bugs and larvae, human wastes, small rodents, you name it - they'll eat it. Following is a list of the most common foods that attract skunks onto people's property:

Unprotected garbage. When you transfer your trash outside for pickup, store it in heavy duty metal or plastic trash cans with lids that will stay on even if the can is knocked over. Never place unprotected bags out on the curb.

Grubs and larvae. Skunks love grubs! Grubs are beetle larva that live underneath of your lawn. Skunks are known for digging small holes in peoples yards as they hunt for them. Luckily, beneficial nematodes also love to eat grubs, and are easily deployed in your lawn and garden to eliminate this attractant.

Pet food. Never leave unprotected animal food outside at night, it's akin to setting a place at your dinner table for Pepé le Pew. I had a neighbor once who would leave table scraps and cat food out for neighborhood strays. She ended up with a family of skunks living on her property.

Fallen appleNuts, berries, and fruits. If you have bushes or trees that bear fruits, nuts, or berries you should periodically walk your yard and remove any that have fallen to the ground. Skunks will happily feast on them, and so will rodents... which skunks will also happily eat.

Other attractants. While the above food sources are the most common culprits that attract skunks, there are (of course) more. If any of these exist on your property, do your best to minimize or eliminate them.

  • Compost heaps containing bones, fruit rinds and egg shells.
  • Large numbers of ground dwelling insects under dead leaves and foliage.
  • Easily accessible water sources.
  • Bird feeder spills.

Skunk repellents

Many folks swear by this or that for repelling skunks, but there seems to be little that delivers consistent results across the board. Here's a list of the most effective skunk repellents that we've been able to dig up. If you know of any not listed here, please add them with the 'tips' form at the bottom of this page.

  • Bright light - Skunks are nocturnal and prefer to stay hidden, flooding an area with light can be an effective deterrent. Use flood lights in combination with motion sensors.
  • Automated sprinklers - Contech manufactures a device called 'The Scarecrow' which is essentially a sprinkler attached to a motion sensor that will spray any animals that wander into your yard.
  • Spicy pepper solutions - Pepper sprays are reported to work well but must be reapplied every few days to remain effective.
  • Commercial repellents - There are many available types, people have also reported success with dog and cat repellents.

Skunk barriers

The good: Skunks are horrible climbers and they can't jump very high.

The bad: Skunks can fit through openings as small as 4" and they're good diggers.

Strategy: Erect barriers around areas that skunks may find interesting in order to keep them out.

Skunks will make homes underneath houses, sheds, decks, and other above-ground structures. Seal them off as well as possible - remember that they can fit through holes as small as 4 inches. Skunks won't burrow underneath them unless they can see that there is space on the other side. Fill in holes and ditches as well.

Enclose large, open areas with a three-foot high wire mesh fencing like chicken wire and it one foot deep to keep skunks from burrowing underneath.

2. How to get rid of a skunk that's moved in

Be cautious when around skunks - they could have rabies. If you see one acting strangely, disoriented, foaming at the mouth or overly aggressive - get away from it and call animal control. If someone gets bitten by a skunk, do your absolute best to capture it so it can be tested for rabies. It's brain is required for the test, so keep the head intact.

Forcing skunks out

Skunk removal isn't hard. The trick is to do most of the work while the skunk is out foraging so you don't risk getting sprayed. Sprinkle a light layer of flour, chalk, or other white powder around it's den and wait until nightfall. After dark, return and look for tracks leading away to indicate that the skunk has left in search of food and then get to work sealing up all of the entrances (barriers were covered in the previous section). If you do this right the skunk will not be able to get back in. If he does, wait until the next evening and try again.

Skunk traps

If you can't seem to coerce your skunky buddy to leave willingly, you may need to trap him. First, check with your local authorities to make sure you're within the law to do so and then invest in a box skunk trap that is small enough to keep the skunk from raising it's tail all the way up.

Release skunks far from peopleWhen you set the trap, secure a few old towels or blankets to the outside to make it safer to approach once it catches a skunk. Bait the trap with anything that has a strong odor; sardines, tuna, giblets, and canned cat food are all good choices. Check it often, you're just as likely to catch a stray cat or raccoon as you are a skunk so don't depend on your nose.

Once you've got your skunk, cover up the trap so it cannot see outside (don't smother it) and secure it in the back seat (or open trunk) for a nice long ride out of town. When you've located a suitable secluded area, place the trap on the ground, open it up and wait for the skunk to leave. Skunks will often be confused and scared so it might take it a while to work up the courage - be patient. Sometimes you can coax it out by sitting the trap so it's floor is angled towards the door.

If that doesn't work, consider leaving it for a few hours and returning later to retrieve the empty trap.




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Previous Tips »
  1. Skunkanator Says:
    June 25th, 2009 at 10:24 am

    I’ve Whacked 7 skunks this year alone! Get yourself a small trigger trap and bait with KFC chicken. Regular or Crunchy, it don’t matter. Microwave before baiting so the smell brings them in. They love the Colonel!! Remember to wrap the trap with a heavy gauge plastic garbage bag leaving ONLY the opening exposed.Once trapped, tie off the exposed end.Take PEPE down to the local pond for a swimming lesson. Remember to poke a hole in the bag before submerging trap in water. Once satisfied PEPE is KAPUT, remove bag and dispose of trespasser. REMEMBER TO ALWAYS WEAR RUBBER DISPOSABLE GLOVES.Trap must now be aired out for several days and then washed down or it stinks up your yard and may lure more skunks. Sounds cruel,BUT it’s the only sure way to rid yourself of the problem.
    For those who feel for them, have your house stink through out for months,cloths,dishes,my TT roadster, and you too will join the club.
    Skunkanator..Winnipeg,Manitoba,Canada

  2. JP Says:
    June 24th, 2009 at 11:13 pm

    What if i get rid of the skunk one way or the other and it is a mommy skunk and it has baby skunks dont want them rotten under my garage how do i know if theres baby skunks?

  3. Kevin in Ontario Says:
    June 22nd, 2009 at 10:03 pm

    Hey hoping for some help.. I just tonight found Mom or Dad with two young skunks come out from under my back deck. I understand sealing the area up but if they are living under there how can I do this during the day? I’m assuming they are residing under there but the deck is only 6″ of the ground. Any help out there???? Thanks in Advance

  4. Me Says:
    June 15th, 2009 at 12:36 pm

    Skunks hate water. In order to get them out, we are going to continually spray the hose under the porch and drown them out. My husband did this yesterday and you can tell that it really ticked them off. The skunk dug so much and so deep this time that he could not control his bowels. Now we’re SURE that it’s a skunk…not a rabbit based on the type of skat. The other thing is Home Depot carries a product that smells like coyote urine that comes in granule form, so late tonight (after it’s been dark for a while) I’m going to sprinkle these so it seems that there could be a threat nearby. I will try to post the results.

  5. barbara b-t Says:
    June 11th, 2009 at 5:59 am

    Years ago my husbands family dog got sprayed on a visit up-north to the family cottage. His mother and sister got out the ketcup and slathered the dog with it. No more smell, Dad arrived later that night after everyone was in bed. In the morning when Mom woke up to find Dad eating his egg with ketcup (back in bottle off of dog) noone had the heart to tell him what he was eating. Mom went to the store replaced the ketcup and tossed the other bottle out.

  6. l lawrence Says:
    May 13th, 2009 at 5:26 pm

    I used hydrogen peroxide,baking soda,and dish det. with a small amount of essential oil of orange. make a paste, scrub the dog for ten min, rinse , do not dry with dryer, it’ll dry out the skin to much. worked like a charm !

  7. smartass Says:
    March 5th, 2009 at 5:15 am

    To the person which is supposed to be an exterminator, you are an idiot and as bad as any skunk. Hope you get sprayed!

  8. Stef Says:
    February 25th, 2009 at 12:26 pm

    i need help. I think i have a skunk living in my basement. i can’t find a way for them to get in, but three times I have woke up to the smell of skunk. once with the alarm clock. my grandma said they don’t like mothballs. Should I try it?

  9. Mari Says:
    February 21st, 2009 at 7:34 am

    I have no tip. Just a thank you for all the tips here. I am going to try some. We have a skunk under our trailer. He’s been here since just before winter or atleast that’s when he made his presence known to us. Which my house smelled like skunk for a while. My husband put moth balls under the trailer and that helped with the smell eventually but wasn’t a quick fix to the odor. Well we know the skunks still here cause he made himself known again a few days ago. I’m going to try the amonia. So thanks for the tips.

  10. flanna pilokski Says:
    February 20th, 2009 at 8:38 am

    as you might have already heard of me i am a professional bug reasearcher and the ugly duckling bug industry, so u have some very important advice for you if you are really willing to get rid of your pests, forst of all you need to bath youself in vinegar and dry off with rhye bread. second, spin around 16 times chanting the words high low buffalo teeny tiny bracelet beads, cantalope and butterflies, robert much bakes a pie. now most of the bugs have fled theyr nests in your home all you have to do now is realize THAT BUGS HAVE FEELINGS TO AND YOU KNOW WHATA IF THEY DONT WANT TO LEAVE THEYR NESTS TOOOOOOO BAD!
    yeaah thats right im a professional

  11. chalie Says:
    February 20th, 2009 at 2:20 am

    i got 8 skunks running aound my house dont know were they live but there shreaking keeps me up wat can i use 2 suround the perimiter of my house would bearmase work or should i stay up and shoot them does a pellet gun work

  12. jon Says:
    February 17th, 2009 at 5:14 pm

    very good tips. A skunk living in my neighbors yard somewhere kept coming to my yard to look for food, sprayed my dog 3 times. easiest fastest solution, go hunting. sat, waited and killed it. :) no more stinky nasty horrible excuse for an animal

  13. Pepe Le Pew Says:
    February 16th, 2009 at 6:13 pm

    You are all stupid! We skunks will have the last laugh tonight when we spray your dogs and your disgusting little kitty cats!
    Vive Le Skunk!

  14. Max Says:
    February 11th, 2009 at 12:42 am

    Wow a whole lot of great tips on here! I found out that I have a skunk problem in my front yard now too. I was thinking.. What if you filled up a balloon full of paint then put the peanut butter around the outside so then when the skunk pops it, it gets a face full of paint. Or too bad you couldn’t rig up something that would sound an alarm that you could hear so then you could go out and shoot it!

  15. MASK Says:
    February 3rd, 2009 at 3:19 pm

    We have a skunk that has been in my buddy’s fishing boat for about 3 weeks now. We have not caught ANYTHING!! We usually catch several large Stripers or Hybrids every time we go out, but it seems this particular little black and white bastard has us….well….skunked!! We have already sent several other skunks to the unemployment line (Larry, Fred, Sammy and Bill)….but this one is kicking our ass! Any help would be greatly appreciated!

    MASK

  16. julie Says:
    January 29th, 2009 at 1:24 pm

    To rid pets of skunk odor- bathe them in a disposable douche solution- works like a charm.

  17. Megan Says:
    December 23rd, 2008 at 10:43 am

    I recently found out that I have a skunk living under my porch. We had 3 Kittens and I set cat food out on the porch for them. One day One kitten went missing I brushed it off not thinking twice about it. About two weeks later another kitten went missing I got concerned. My husband was coming home from work one night when his lights hit the porch. We then found out what was eating our kittens Just a few days ago the third one went missing. We have no more cats so this means no more cat food out. Hopefully the skunk will leave because there is no more food.

  18. Gene in Texas November 22, 2008 Says:
    November 22nd, 2008 at 8:24 pm

    We have tried moth balls,setting ourcats food up at night and a shotgun so far allthat has really worked is the shotgun. but they seemto keep coming back. Going to try the radio next

  19. germ Says:
    November 6th, 2008 at 7:51 pm

    I’ve had skunks under my house for weeks. What I did was go and buy a 10 shot co2 revolver. It works great got two so far!

  20. Dawn and David Says:
    October 14th, 2008 at 6:42 pm

    Our Siberian Husky was gettting sprayed every other night by a skunk. Well about a month ago we smelt the skunk went outside to shoo it off and we go to the dog to see if she got sprayed again, nope she got a really big skunk, and killed it. The next night same smell we checked out the dog and she had a baby skunk dead. Well one week later another one can around and that one died too. So we’re proud of our husky for keepin the scunk population under control in the trailer park where we live. And it’s been about 3 weeks since a skunk has been around.

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