Skunk Removal
pest expert Matthew S. Hess
10/24/2023
The presence of a skunk on your property is hard to miss. Whether the scent is faint or overwhelming, it is a clear indication of their presence. Among all the nuisance wildlife that cause trouble, skunks are easily identified by their smell, and unique coloring and pattern. Typically, skunks have a completely black body with a white stripe running down their back. If the skunk scent is only occasional, it may likely be a passing skunk. However, if the scent persists, for several days, it’s probable you have a nuisance skunk. If so, you may be in need of professional skunk removal.
What Do Skunks Look Like?
Kentucky is home to two types of skunks. The striped skunk is found throughout the state and is common. The spotted skunk is rare and is only found in Kentucky’s southeastern counties. It is important to note that the spotted skunk is protected year-round, and it is illegal to disturb, trap, or kill them. Both species are about the size of a domestic cat, with short, stout legs and a distinctive gait. Their five-toed feet are specially designed for digging holes. A small white stripe down the center of their small, triangular heads separates their black eyes and small ears. To learn more about skunks, Check out our Nuisance Wildlife facts Sheet.
Striped Skunk
Spotted Skunk
Where Do Skunks Live?
Skunks are known to inhabit darkened areas and are capable of digging their own burrows. In their natural environment, they also utilize hollow logs, rock crevices, and burrows that have been abandoned by other animals. Additionally, wood and brush piles, under stumps, and other similar areas can be used as dens. In areas near human settlements, there are numerous locations that can be suitable for skunk harborage. Under decks and sheds, in crawlspaces under homes, in garages and open sheds or barns are great. Further away from structures, within drainage culverts, under man-made structures, and more all offer equal protection for these animals.
Skunks can thrive in a variety of environments as long as there is access to food, shelter, and water. Forested areas, open fields, farmlands, grasslands, mountainous regions, and other areas are suitable habitats where skunks flourish.
Skunks prefer darkened areas for their dens. A hollow log is the perfect spot.
What Do Skunks Eat?
It may come as a surprise that having skunks on your property may mean an underlying rodent or grub infestation is present. While skunks scavenge on garbage, eat fruits, nuts, crops, pet food, and bird seed, they also enjoy other food sources. Grubs, insects, snakes, frogs, mice, and rats are high on their list of favorite foods. In fact, skunks are often considered to be better mousers than cats! Having a skunk problem could be an indicator of a rodent infestation. If you frequently see skunks on your property, have a licensed pest control company do a thorough rodent and insect inspection.
Skunks love eggs. This means your hen house may not be safe unless you take precautionary measures to exclude skunks from entering.
Skunks eat a variety of foods including fruits. If you have fruit trees, making sure to clean up any unused fruit that has fallen from the trees can reduce a number of pests, including skunks.
Why Am I Seeing Skunks On My Property?
There are several reasons why skunks might be present on your property. In order for life to prosper, it must have the three necessary elements for survival; food, water, and shelter. Most of the time, food or shelter will be the cause for skunks on your property. Skunks are opportunistic and are attracted to easy denning sites like under concrete slabs, rock and wood piles, under sheds and crawlspaces, and similar easily accessed areas. Additionally, easy meals can lure skunks in to your property. Pet foods, garbage, fruits, and so on.
The primary evidence for a skunk problem will likely be the smell. If you notice the smell day after day, the skunk has likely found shelter and has made a den on your property. However, if the smell is infrequent or you notice small areas of digging throughout your lawn, food is the likely the incentive. In either of these cases, hiring a pest and wildlife company like Four Seasons Pest Solutions is in order. Yet, in some cases, the skunk may be simply passing through and require no control measures. Simply smelling the proof that a skunk was nearby does not always mean you have a skunk on your property.
Limiting access under decks, crawlspaces, under wood and rock piles, under outbuildings and other similar areas will reduce the potential for skunks to find harborage on your property.
Can Skunks Be Harmful?
The noxious odor of skunks is an inherent part of their biology and they will release their potent spray when they sense danger. Despite being natural pest and rodent controllers, skunks can pose serious risks to property and human safety. Their digging and burrowing habits can cause extensive damage to lawns, turfs, and landscaping, putting human and animal lives at risk. Even a minor stumble or fall due to their dig holes could lead to severe injuries.
If skunks inhabit close to your home, especially under it, their spray can infiltrate insulation and HVAC ducts. This smell can costs thousands of dollars to fully correct. Furthermore, they could leave behind flea infestations which might require professional control as well.
However, the danger does not stop there. Skunks can be carriers of serious diseases that can be transmitted to humans and domestic animals. Tularemia, distemper, and rabies are just a few examples of such diseases. Furthermore, skunks are known to spread parasites such as tapeworms, mites, ticks, and fleas, which can further exacerbate the risk they pose. As such, it is essential to take appropriate measures to deal with their presence in human-occupied areas to ensure the health and safety of all involved.
Although most spots where skunks dig for grubs and earthworms are small, larger ones can pose tripping risks, especially in children and the elderly.
Can I Do My Own Skunk Removal?
Untrained individuals should not attempt DIY skunk removal. Skunk spray can cause more than just a bad smell that lingers on for days. Their spray contains chemicals that can cause nausea and vomiting as well as serious pain if it gets in the eyes. More importantly, apart from the other diseases, a skunk bite could mean potential rabies infection and should prompt a visit to a medical facility for rabies prevention treatment.
Leaving skunk removal to the professionals here at Four Seasons Pest Solutions ensures that you and your family remain safe from the dangers associated with trapping nuisance wildlife. Plus, you won’t face the never-ending jokes your friends and family will have!
Can Skunks Be Prevented?
One effective way to prevent skunks from invading your property is to modify their habitat. By reducing their access to food, water, and shelter, it becomes much harder for these animals to survive on your premises. There are many ways to achieve this, and Four Seasons Pest Solutions offers services such as rodent and lawn pest control that can help reduce the available food sources for skunks. By eliminating these food sources, skunks will be forced to look elsewhere to find sustenance. Additionally, we can perform nuisance wildlife exclusions to block off possible den sites to make it nearly impossible for the animals to find shelter on your property.
If you prefer DIY measures, there are several things you can do to reduce the nuisance caused by skunks. For instance, maintaining a lawn that is free of fruits, nuts, and seeds can be helpful. It is also important to keep the lawn and surrounding areas free of wood and brush piles, tall grass, and dense vegetation. Be sure to secure your trash and compost bins properly and avoid leaving free-choice pet food outside. Lastly, it is essential to eliminate moisture and water sources from around your home and property wherever possible. This is because moisture is the leading cause of insect problems, which are a staple in the diet of skunks.
What Can Four Seasons Pest Solutions Do About Skunks?
If you are experiencing a nuisance skunk problem, it is recommended to solicit the assistance of a professional pest removal service such as Four Seasons Pest Solutions. Our company utilizes safe and effective skunk removal techniques to guarantee that your property is free of these bothersome animals. Additionally, we prioritize humane practices and ensure that the skunks are relocated to a more remote location, away from human activity. Furthermore, we offer supplementary services such as skunk damage repair and odor elimination to guarantee that your property is returned to its original state.
For further assistance or to book your skunk removal and prevention plan, contact us right away. Our dedicated staff are ready to help take your property back from nuisance animals so you can continue to live a peaceful and pest-free life!
For Skunk Removal Call
1-877-999-2849
It’s good to have Four Seasons on your side!
Four Seasons Pest Solutions