Because of their unique looks and strong smell, skunks are often drawn to the warm, protected areas under decks. Skunks may look cute from a distance, but having one live under your deck can cause a lot of problems. You should be very careful and knowledgeable when dealing with a skunk that you find under your deck. As you read this guide, you’ll learn about skunk behaviour, how to spot them, and how to get rid of them safely and gently.
Figuring Out How Skunks Act
Before getting professional help to get rid of a skunk, it’s important to know how they act:
- Nocturnal Animals: Skunks are mainly nocturnal, which means they are most active at night. This behaviour makes it less likely that you will meet someone during the day.
- Skunks are opportunistic omnivores, which means they eat a lot of different things. They like living in cities and suburbs because they can eat bugs, small mammals, fruits, veggies, and even human waste.
- Burrowing and Denning: Skunks like to hide under sheds, decks, porches, and even in animal dens that have been left empty. In these places, they build dens to rest, raise their young, and stay safe from the weather.
Figuring Out If There Are Skunks Under Your Deck
If you think there might be a skunk under your deck, look out for these signs:
- Seeings: If you see skunks often near your deck, especially at night, this could be a clear sign.
- Skunk Odour: Skunk spray has a strong smell that can be used to spot it. If you keep smelling that smell, it means there may be a skunk living under your deck.
- Skunks are known to dig up things to find bugs and grubs, which can damage property. Skunk activity may be to blame if you see damage to your yard, like soil that has been turned over or small holes.
- Disturbance to Trash: Skunks are drawn to human trash. Skunks may be looking for food if you see trash cans on their sides or trash all over the ground near your deck.
How to Get Rid of Skunks Under Your Deck the Right Way
Once you know for sure that there is a skunk under your deck, you can get rid of it using one of these professional methods:
- Find Entry and Exit Points: Look over your deck for holes that the skunk could be using to get into its den. Skunks often get in through cracks in the walls or base of the deck. Use hardware cloth or heavy-gauge wire mesh to cover these holes and keep the skunk from getting in or out.
- Install a One-Way Door: A one-way door lets the skunk leave but not come back in. This is a safe way to get rid of the animal. Put the one-way door over the entrance and make sure it opens outward so the skunk can easily get out.
- Set up a trail camera: To keep an eye on the skunk, use a motion-activated trail camera. So, you’ll know when the skunk has left the den and it’s safe to close the entrance.
- Close Off the Entry Point: Once you’re sure the skunk has gone, close off the entry point so it can’t come back. You should only do this if you are sure the skunk is not in the den.
- Professional Help: If there are a lot of skunks in your area or you don’t feel safe getting rid of them yourself, you might want to talk to a wildlife removal service. They have the knowledge and tools to make sure the removal is safe and gentle.
How to Handle Skunk Encounters
If you happen to come across a skunk while removing the plant, it’s important to handle the situation carefully:
- Keep your distance: Skunks are usually not mean, but they may spray if they feel threatened. Don’t get too close, and give them room to leave on their own.
- Deodorization Methods: If a skunk sprays you, your pet, or your property, there are a number of deodorizing methods you can use at home. Some of these are hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and liquid soap mixed together, as well as store-bought skunk odour eliminators.
- Professional Help: If you see a skunk that looks hurt or upset, you should call animal control or a wildlife rescue centre in your area for help. Do not try to handle the skunk yourself.
Finally, if you have a skunk under your deck, professional removal methods can make sure the problem is solved in a safe and humane way. If you know how skunks act, how to spot signs that they are there, and how to get rid of them properly, you can live together happily with these unique animals in your suburban or urban area.
At Skunk Control Barrie,guarantees complete skunk removal using industry-standard methods that have been time-tested on numerous cases before and are approved by the federal and provincial governments.