A lot of homes have sheds, which are great for storing things and giving yard tools and equipment a place to stay dry. Skunks, on the other hand, may choose these buildings as good places to hide. For safety, skunks often hide under sheds because of their unique looks and smell. If you find a skunk living under your shed without permission, you need to take care of the problem quickly and correctly. This guide helps you understand how skunks act and gives you steps on how to get them out from under your shed safely.
Figuring Out How Skunks Act
Before we talk about skunk removal, it’s important to know how they act:
- Nature at Night: Skunks are mainly nocturnal animals, which means they are most busy at night. This makes it less likely that you will see them during the day.
- Skunks are opportunistic omnivores, which means they eat a lot of different things. They like living in suburbs and cities because they can eat bugs, small mammals, fruits, veggies, and even human waste.
- Scabbards like to hide under sheds and other buildings, which they do by burrowing and sleeping. In these places, they often build dens to rest, raise their young, and stay safe from the weather.
How to Spot Skunk Residents
Keep an eye out for these signs to be sure that skunks are living under your shed:
- Sightings: Skunks being seen around your shed a lot, especially at night, can be a clear sign.
- Skunk Odour: Skunk spray has a strong smell that can be used to spot it. If you often smell this smell, it means that skunks are close.
- Skunks are known to damage lawns and plants by digging in them to find bugs and grubs. 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 see trash cans on their sides or trash all over the ground near your shed.
Getting rid of Skunk Tenants
Once you know for sure that there are skunks living under your shed, follow these steps to get rid of them safely and effectively:
- Find Den Sites: Look around your shed for possible entry points and places where a den could be built. Skunks normally get in through cracks in the walls or foundation. Skunks can’t get into their home through these holes, so cover them with hardware cloth or heavy-gauge wire mesh.
- Set up lights that turn on when something moves. Skunks are easily scared by quick movements and bright lights. Putting up lights around the shed that turn on when they sense movement can scare them away.
- Make the Area Unwelcoming: Skunks look for safe, comfortable places to live. Get rid of things that could be food sources around your shed, like rotting trash or dropped fruits. This will make the area less appealing. Disturbing their presence can make them want to leave.
- Think About Hiring a Professional: If the skunk problem is tough or widespread, it’s best to talk to a professional animal removal service. They know how to look at your case and give you advice on how to get rid of the animal in a safe and humane way.
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.
- 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, having skunks live under your shed can be a problem. But if you know how they act and how to deal with the problem safely and effectively, you can solve the problem. By following these rules, you can make sure that your shed and these unique animals can live together peacefully 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.