Rid Skunks Without Killing Them

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Skunks are animals that are best known for their distinctive white stripe and the foul smell that they can produce when threatened, and while in many areas they are very rare, in some places they can be quite common and are likely to cause a nuisance. Skunks are naturally found in areas where there are a variety of food sources, with woodlands being a particularly good habitat for these creatures. However, as the country has become more urbanized, there are increasing numbers of skunks that find themselves having to make their homes in urban and suburban areas.



Problems Caused By Skunks

There are a range of problems that the skunk can cause, and one of the most common of these is when they spray a pet, who will then bring this foul smell into the rooms of a domestic property. It isn’t just the smell that is a problem that skunks can cause, as they are opportunistic feeders and will make a real mess when they are scavenging for food. This can range from shredding garbage bags and pet food sacks to get at the food inside, through to digging holes in a lawn in order to get to the insects beneath the surface, so it is common to want to get rid of skunks once they are present.

Trapping And Removing A Skunk

The best way to deal with a skunk is to trap and remove the animal to an area well away from your property, and for this you will need a sturdy cage trap that is suitable for animals of around this size. When it comes to finding the right spot to place the trap, if they are coming into your garden or yard look for the route they usually use in, and place the trap near here, or if the skunk is a regular digging on the lawn, this area will also be a good option for locating the trap. When it comes to bait, there are several foods that can be used successfully to catch a skunk, with peanut butter and canned cat food both good options.

How To Avoid Being Sprayed By A Skunk

Once you have caught the skunk, the trick is to try and move the skunk to a location where it can be released without getting sprayed. For this purpose, it can be worth putting some kind of waterproof cover or blanket over the trap before you catch the skunk, or at least after it has been caught in the trap. When it comes to moving the skunk, try to avoid giving it any opportunity to spray you, and approach from the side where it cannot see you. In case the skunk does spray, if you have access to one use a flatbed truck to transport the skunk as you will not want the scent to be released inside your car.

Skunk Exclusion Methods

If the skunk is regularly coming back to your garden, an alternative way to deal with it is simply to exclude it by making it too difficult for the skunk to get into your garden. Skunks are not prolific climbers, so a fence of about three feet high will usually be sufficient to keep the skunk out of your yard or garden. One good tip is when you are installing the fence, dig a little trench of around six inches deep into which you will install the fence, as skunks are very good diggers, so having the fence embedded into the ground will prevent them from being able to dig underneath the fence.
For more information, you may want to click on one of these guides that I wrote:
How much does skunk removal cost? - get the lowdown on prices.
How to get rid of skunks - my main skunk removal info guide.