Skunks are one of the most iconic creatures that roam suburban areas across the US, easily identifiable by their distinctive black and white-colored fur which acts as a warning for anyone to stay away.

But more than this, skunks are well known for being able to discharge an incredibly potent odor when threatened over a distance as big as 15 feet. Not only is it foul-smelling, but the fluid can also even burn the eyes of its predators, and they do not necessarily only spray it when confronted. Sometimes they may spray it whilst mating, or even without an obvious reason, meaning they are generally best left alone, even though they are not a naturally aggressive species.

Despite this, skunks can be a nuisance to have around the home, and not just because of their foul smell. Skunks can carry diseases like rabies which can be harmful to you and your pets, and they can also do damage to your property by digging burrows underneath porches and decks. Also, skunks tend to eat almost anything, which may result in them ripping through garbage bags or tipping over bins. Not only will this cause a mess, but it may also attract other pests like insects or other vermin.

Despite this, skunks can be a nuisance to have around the home, and not just because of their foul smell. Skunks can carry diseases like rabies which can be harmful to you and your pets, and they can also do damage to your property by digging burrows underneath porches and decks. Also, skunks tend to eat almost anything, which may result in them ripping through garbage bags or tipping over bins. Not only will this cause a mess, but it may also attract other pests like insects or other vermin.

For DIY skunk removal, it is generally best to avoid using traps, as without expert knowledge you may cause harm to yourself or the skunk. Instead, there are a number of exclusion and prevention methods you can employ:

• Like with all household pests, start by inspecting your home for signs of skunk burrows or gaps allowing them to enter your home. Fortunately, skunks are not good climbers, so you generally will not need to worry too much about the roof.
• Set up one-way exclusion doors along their main pathways into your home to stop them from getting back inside, and then seal them up only once you are sure all the skunks have left.

• For decks or porches, you will likely need to set up excluding barriers around the whole thing due to their high clearance and multiple entry points. These should extend at least one-foot underground to catch any skunks that try to dig under it.
• You could also consider using repellents to discourage the skunks from returning to your home, which should be placed around your home to drive the skunks away. An alternative to this is a motion-sensing sprinkler system which, when activated, will scare the skunks through a combination of noise and the spray of water.
• Make sure all your garbage is sealed correctly to make it impossible for skunks to reach it. Also, skunks are not picky eaters, so if you have an infestation of other rodents or insects be sure to get them removed too.

Skunk Prevention

Wondering how to keep skunks away? At Mighty Men Pest Control, we have years of experience removing and preventing skunks. We have a few practical tips that any homeowner can take to lower the chances of finding a skunk in the yard. It helps to know exactly what is going to attract skunks. That way, you can effectively keep them away.

What Attracts Skunks?

Skunks are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and animals. They eat a lot of insects, larvae, worms, and grubs. They also eat small rodents, lizards, frogs, birds, eggs, fruits, nuts, grasses, fungi, and nuts. Around the house, it’s common to find skunks scavenging trash and pet food. Also, visit skunkpestcontrol.com to learn more about skunk control.

Skunks live in dens that they usually dig themselves. They have powerful front limbs with strong claws that make digging easy. Male and female skunks do not typically den together. Each animal will dig its own den, with the female typically digging a den to give birth in late spring.

At Mighty Men Pest Control, when we get a call about skunks, the cause is overwhelmingly one of these two reasons – the property either has an abundance of food or some very attractive den sites.

How to Prevent Skunks

To prevent skunks from coming onto your property, there are plenty of easy steps you can take. Most of them can be done without much time or money spent, but it depends on how bad the problem is.

Seal Up Your Home

The first thing to look for is any holes or gaps in the foundation of your home. Since skunks live in dens, they will likely see these as excellent places to make a home. You should securely seal any holes you find – just make sure there are no skunks inside before you do.

Install Steel Mesh

If you find that skunks are getting through your fencing, you can try to secure it with some steel mesh. The animals will not be able to chew or claw through this material. If you see evidence that skunks are burrowing to gain access to specific areas, you can install steel mesh in the ground. We recommend digging the mesh down at least afoot to keep the animal from being able to easily dig under it.

Eliminate Possible Den Sites

Skunks will burrow underground to create a den, but they don’t always need to dig – sometimes, they get lucky and find a natural den that’s already in place. We’re talking about things like rock piles, brush, fallen trees, old cars, and lawn fixtures.

Now, you don’t need to clear everything out of your yard, but it pays to keep it clean and clear. Get rid of any debris, piles of sticks, and fallen trees on your property – and don’t forget about that junk behind your shed.

Remove Food Sources

Skunks are omnivores and are known to eat a wide range of foods. That makes it difficult to pinpoint just one food source. That said, at Mighty Men Pest Control we’ve found that there are a few common things skunks prefer above others.

In terms of natural food sources, skunks love bugs and rodents. It can be tricky to remove these food sources, but once again it pays to keep your property clean and clear of debris.

It also pays to secure your trash cans with bungee straps so skunks can’t get inside them. You can also simply move the cans inside your shed or garage, but make sure the skunks can’t get inside these locations!

If you have a garden, a skunk will likely see it as a tasty buffet. Skunks love to eat fruits, nuts, leaves, and grasses. At Mighty Men Pest Control, we suggest using the steel mesh fencing we mentioned above to secure your garden. Make sure to dig it down at least afoot for the best effect.

If you have pets, you should feed them indoors if you suspect a skunk problem. Not only will this reduce the risk of your pets being sprayed, but it will keep the skunk from getting an easy meal from the scraps your pet dropped.

Install Skunk Deterrents

Skunk deterrents come in all types and not all of them are effective. That said, if you combine a few of them you’ll increase your chances of success.

Motion lights are a good tactic to scare skunks away. You can also try using motion-activated noise machines to scare skunks. A motion-activated sprinkler might also help.

There are plenty of natural skunk repellents out there but again, their effectiveness isn’t really that great. You can try castor oil, citrus oils, predator urine, or a hot pepper solution. If those fail, try a store-bought chemical repellant or soak a rag in ammonia and leave it close to where you suspect skunks are hanging out.