Skunk Control and Removal

Skunk Info: Skunks are easy to recognize with their bold black and white coloring.
While most animals prefer camouflage, a skunk's distinctive coloration serves as a
warning of its potent attack. Using special glands below the tail, skunks can spray
their powerful scent up to 15 feet. This scent burns an attacker's eyes, and causes
temporary blindness. Of course, the stench is too much for most animals to bear, and
serves as a strong warning against future attacks. Adult skunks grow to about 22-30
inches and 8-12 pounds. Skunks are primarily nocturnal. Skunks are omnivores, and
will feed on almost anything, including small rodents, worms, insects, grubs, carrion,
fruit, garbage, and pet food left outdoors.

Nuisance concerns: Skunks are well known for their strong
odor. People can often detect a single roadkilled skunk for
miles. No homeowner appreciates this scent under their
deck. Furthermore, a skunk in the area poses a constant
threat to nosey pets. I've cleaned dogs that have been sprayed before, and believe
me the scent does not come off easily. Of course, no person wants to risk being
sprayed by a startled skunk. Skunks frequently choose to live under human structures
such as sheds, decks, or crawl spaces. They often discharge their scent in these
places. Skunks are also common carriers of rabies.

Wondering how to get rid of skunks? There is no magic spray or device that you
can use to make them go away. Some people try to sell predator urine, such as
coyote or fox urine to get rid of skunks, but that doesn't work. They also try to sell
ultrasonic sound emitters. These devices are worthless at eliminating skunks. Some
old wive's tales recommend the use of mothballs or ammonia-soaked rags to make
them leave, but I've been to countless homes where these techniques failed -
biologists know that these attempts won't work. The
ONE AND ONLY WAY to take
care of your problem is with trapping and removal of the animals.  
YARD DAMAGE