Skunks are small wild animals that defend themselves by spraying animals or people who threaten them via their anal glands. Skunks can cause problems for pets that get too close to them. As with all unwanted pet problems, prevention is better than removal. You can keep skunks away by using bright lights, ammonia, noises, and one-way doors.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Making Your Property Safe Against Skunks
Step 1. Look for holes in the outer buildings
Sheds, garages, porches, and crawl spaces are susceptible to becoming skunk lairs. If there are openings in the foundations or between the paneling, cover them before a female skunk creates a burrow in them and has a litter.
- It is especially important to check the exterior buildings in the fall. Skunks usually look for dry, safe places when the weather turns cold.
- Create an "L" shaped barrier near arcades and platforms. The lower part will prevent skunks from digging on the porch to access an area suitable for a burrow.
Step 2. Treat the larvae in your garden
If there is an infestation of beetles or other insects on your property, skunks may be looking for grubs in your garden. Water the garden lightly when the larvae are in the worm stage, as wet soil causes the larvae to rise.
- Watch out for skunks when laying fresh soil. Skunks are intelligent, and will move the ground to access the larvae.
- Small holes in the garden can be signs of the presence of skunks.
Step 3. Do not keep bird feeders and pet food outdoors
These can become food sources for a skunk and its pups.
Step 4. Close the compost pile
Put all the garbage in a metal bin. Garbage left in the open air and compost can also become food for skunks.
Part 2 of 3: Discourage Skunks from Building a Den
Step 1. Beware of smells near your home and outside buildings
If you start to smell musky, you may have a fox or skunk nearby.
Step 2. Make buildings safe and remove sources of attraction for skunks
Allow the skunk to move around at night if the smell has been present for less than two days.
Step 3. Find a trapped skunk
If a skunk is trapped in a garage, open the door at dusk and close it late in the evening. Since skunks are nocturnal, you can close the door after she leaves and she will find herself a new home.
- Check your wells. Skunks occasionally fall into pits and can't get out of them.
- You can try to make a ramp of wood and wire mesh and place it at 45 ° in the well. She may have enough traction to go out on her own. If that doesn't work, you should call animal protection right away.
- Don't try to catch a skunk with your hands.
Step 4. Look for skunk burrows
If you notice an acrid, musky smell near an opening in the ground, under a porch, or in another area, you will need to figure out if it is an active skunk den.
- Cover the top of the burrow with leaves during the day when the skunk is probably sleeping. Do not push the leaves too far and do not compact them too much. Don't take the risk of trapping the skunk.
- Come back in the morning and notice any signs of disturbance in the leaves.
Step 5. Make the skunks leave
Increase the noise and lights in the area to disturb the skunks when they try to sleep. Putting a strong light near the hole and turning on the radio can prompt a skunk to move out.
Check the burrow again with the leaf makeup. If they are not disturbed for several days, the skunk is probably gone
Step 6. Soak rags with ammonia and tuck them into the entrance to the skunk burrow
The smell of ammonia will annoy the skunk.
These methods are best suited to a hole. If the skunk lives in a crawl space or a larger area, you should use the one-way door method (see next method)
Step 7. Fill an abandoned lair with dirt
Then, cover the entrance with a wire mesh. If you don't, another animal could take possession of it.
Part 3 of 3: Chasing away a Skunk with a One Way Door
Step 1. Find the entrance used by the skunk in your porch, garage or other building
You will need to place a one-way door at each entrance to ensure the skunk cannot re-enter.
Step 2. Wait for late spring or early summer if a skunk has had pups
You will need to make sure that the mother takes the cubs out of the den, or they will starve on their own. When you see the mother and her cubs coming out of the den in single file, you can place the one-way door in complete safety.
Step 3. Purchase 1 meter of thick, sturdy canvas
If the entrance to the area is larger, you may need to use planks to cover part of it or purchase a larger one-way door from a manufacturer.
Step 4. Secure the thick fabric with screws to the upper entrance support
Make sure the fabric goes far beyond the sides and bottom of the entrance. The fabric must be heavy enough that it cannot be pushed into the door.
You may need to drill a few holes in the fabric before screwing it on
Step 5. Make sure the fabric is flexible enough for the skunk to come out
The cloth, however, should fall to the ground and it should be impossible to dig under or push it into the door.
Choose a one-way door made of wood or plastic. You can buy them on the internet or from animal control services
Step 6. Wait for the skunk to come out of the burrow
Look for signs of digging that indicate it has unsuccessfully tried to reenter.
Step 7. Sprinkle some flour around the one-way door to check if the skunk is still in the area
If you don't see her footprints, she will have walked away.
Advice
- Learn to move in an area where skunks are active. You should make noise and slowly walk away from the skunks.
- Skunks do not usually abandon litters until the fall. Then, they can start looking for a burrow.
Warnings
- Avoid using pepper spray near skunk burrows. It can be very harmful to children and pets.
- Be careful, mother skunks protect their young and may spray with less warning than other skunks.
- Be careful, frightened skunks scratch the ground, plant their paws and turn their hindquarters towards the aggressor. Back off slowly if you notice these signs. Dogs usually don't recognize these warning signs, so you should keep them tied up for their safety.
