Skunks, which have a unique look and strong smell, often hide in places that are hard to find, like porches, sheds, and decks. Skunks may look innocent from a distance, but if you have an infestation, you need to get rid of them right away to avoid problems. To safely and humanely get rid of skunks from their hiding places, it’s important to know how they act, watch out for signs of their presence, and follow best practices for removal.
Figuring Out How Skunks Act
Before you start the cleaning process, it’s important to know how skunks 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 often look for cover under porches, sheds, decks, and even in animal burrows that have been left empty. In these places, they build dens to rest, raise their young, and stay safe from the weather.
- How to Tell If a Skunk Is Around
Look for these signs to know that skunks are in their hiding places:
- Scavenging: Skunks that are often seen near buildings like sheds or porches, especially at night, can be a clear sign.
- Skunk Odour: Skunk spray has a strong smell that can be used to spot it. Since the smell is often present, it’s possible that skunks live nearby.
- Skunks are known to dig up things to find bugs and grubs, which can damage property. If your yard or garden has damage like soil that has been turned over or small holes, it may have been caused by skunks.
- Disturbance to Trash: Skunks are drawn to human trash. Skunks may be looking for food if you find trash cans on their sides or trash all over the place near your hiding places.
The Best Ways to Get Rid of Skunks
Consider the following best methods when you want to get rid of skunks from their hiding places:
- Find Entry and Exit Points: Look at the building for holes that skunks could be using to get into their den. Skunks often get in through cracks in the base, walls, or vents. Skunks can’t get in or out of these holes, so cover them with hardware cloth or heavy-gauge wire mesh.
- Install a One-Way Door: A one-way door is a gentle way to get rid of skunks because it lets them leave but not come back in. Put the one-way door over the entrance and make sure it opens outward so the skunks can get out without any problems.
- Set up a trail camera: To keep an eye on the skunks, use a motion-activated trail camera. This lets you know when the skunks have left the den, so you can seal the hole they used to get in.
- Close Off the Entry Point: Once you’re sure the skunks have gone, close off the entry point so they can’t come back. You should only do this if you are sure the skunks are 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 come across skunks while clearing out the area, 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.
- Techniques for Deodorizing: If skunks hit you, your pet, or your property, there are a number of things you can do at home to get rid of the smell. 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 skunks yourself.
To sum up, getting skunks out of their hiding places requires knowing how they act, spotting the signs that they are there, and following the best methods for getting rid of them. By following these tips, you can make sure that any problems with skunks are handled in a safe and humane way, so you can live peacefully with these unique animals in your neighbourhood 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.