Skunks are known for their unique looks and strong smell, but they are also thought to eat plants in gardens. Skunks can be a problem for people who love their gardens because they have a strong sense of smell and can’t get enough bugs, fruits, and veggies. To keep these curious animals out of your yard, you need to know how they act and take effective steps to keep them out.
Figuring Out How Skunks Act
Skunks eat a lot of different things because they are greedy omnivores. Bugs, small mammals, fruits, veggies, and even human waste are some of the things they eat. Because they like these foods, skunks like gardens and grounds because they have lots of possible food sources.
Skunks are mainly nocturnal, which means they are most busy at night. This behaviour makes it less likely that you will see them during the day. They also like to hide by digging holes and building dens. They often do this under porches, decks, sheds, and other buildings.
Signs That a Skunk Is Looking for Food
If you think skunks are eating your garden, keep an eye out for these signs:
- Holes They Dig: Skunks are very good at digging, and they will make lots of small holes in your garden bed or yard to find bugs and grubs.
- Upturned Soil: Skunks may have turned the soil in your yard upside down as they look for their next meal.
- Fruits and veggies Gone: If you wake up to find that ripe fruits and veggies are gone from your garden, it could be because skunks took them.
- Scattered Trash: Skunks are drawn to trash that people leave behind. Skunks may be to blame if you find trash lying around in your yard or trash cans that have been knocked over.
Stopping skunks from foraging
If you want to keep skunks from coming into your yard, try these things:
- Skunk-Proof Fencing: Put up a wall around your yard, like a strong fence. Skunks will not be able to dig under the fence if you bury it at least a foot deep.
- Lights that turn on when something moves: Skunks are wary of quick movements and bright lights. Put lights around your yard that turn on when they sense movement to scare them away.
- Repellents: You can use skunk repellents that you can buy in stores on your yard. Skunks don’t like the smells in these items, which can keep them from coming near.
- yard Maintenance: Get rid of pests that are eating grubs in your yard to keep skunks from getting too many of them. Taking away this food source might make your house less appealing to them.
- Animal-Proof Trash Cans: To keep skunks from digging through your trash, use animal-proof trash cans with lids that close tightly.
Promoting Living Together
Watching out for your yard is important, but getting along with skunks is also very important. These animals help keep insect populations in check in urban environments, and they’re usually not mean. You might want to teach people in your community more about living with skunks and understanding their role in keeping pests away.
In conclusion, keeping skunks out of your yard requires both taking precautions and encouraging them to get along with each other. By learning how skunks act and noticing signs that they are looking for food, and using these tips, you can keep your garden growing and avoid problems with these curious animals.
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.