Skunks make themselves at home in many environments, including in and around people’s homes. If you’ve got these unwelcome guests in your yard and you’d like to keep them out without risking harm to your pets, change the environment to make it less comfortable and less accessible for skunks. They’re more likely to go elsewhere than to visit a yard that is hard to get to and has no food, leaving the environment safe for your pets and skunk-free. Show Remove the Temptations
Remove Hiding Places
Use the Radio
Fence Them Out
Skunks are infamous producers of an odor so powerful that it quickly and easily communicates a clear message: “Don’t mess with me.” Although known mostly for its robust smell, the chemical can also cause intense discomfort if it gets into a person's or animal’s eyes. Fortunately, the skunk’s characteristic black and white coloring is so recognizable that most potential victims have fair warning. Though blending into the landscape is a more common form of protection in the wild, being so distinguishable is generally beneficial to skunks because it can dissuade many wild animals, and the occasional dog with more than half a brain, from attacking. Common conflicts and solutions You may find small, shallow holes in the lawn, similar to those made by squirrels, which are a result of a skunk foraging for grubs. Occasionally you may also find plants knocked over or damage to the lower leaves or ears of ripening garden crops, including corn. Occasionally a skunk will wander into an open garage or shed, a compelling reason to secure all outbuildings. Skunk encounters Warning signs to heed Spotted skunks will even contort into a characteristic handstand, rump in the air with eyes still fixed on the threat. Move away slowly and quietly. By nature, dogs tend to ignore these warnings, so it is important they be restrained for their own good. Tolerance How many skunks are killed each year simply because of fear is not known, but it is surely a large number. This is unfortunate because it is common knowledge among those who work closely with these animals, that it actually takes a lot to get sprayed. The nocturnal habits of skunks, their unaggressive nature , and the generally beneficial role they play in nature by consuming insects and rodents are all good reasons to leave them alone until they have moved on their own accord (which they readily do) or can safely be harassed away from an area where they are not wanted. Protecting your yard Preventive measures, such as removing attractants around houses, will decrease the likelihood of an unpleasant skunk encounter. This includes securing trash, feeding pets indoors, or if fed outdoors, removing food immediately after pets eat. Skunks also dig for grubs in lawns when wet soil conditions push grubs close to the surface. When the soil dries, the grubs move deeper, so the problem can generally be stopped or prevented in the first place by not overwatering lawns. Preventing denning (exclusion) A suspected skunk den should first be checked to determine if it has a current resident. This may be done by loosely filling the hole (or holes) with soil, leaves, straw, crumpled paper, or similar material. If a skunk is present, the animal will easily push his way out overnight and reopen the hole. If the plug remains undisturbed for two or three nights (and it is not winter, when the skunk may be inactive for long periods), it is safe to assume that the hole is unoccupied and can be filled. Permanently exclude skunks (and other den-seeking creatures) with an L-shaped footer of welded wire or similar barriers. If a skunk is using the den, either harassment or eviction using a one-way door system is recommended. It is imperative to be sure that dependent young are not present. When in doubt, assume they are and consider using the door after they start following their mother to forage. Leave the door in place for two or three nights to a week to be sure the skunk has left. Harassment This can be as simple as loosely repacking the den hole with leaves or straw or other material to see if the skunk gets the message and moves elsewhere. A couple of hours before dusk, adding light and noise to make an attractive (dark, quiet) space unattractive may help as well. Make sure the skunk is not close by before placing the disturbing stimulus. About repellants Some repellents that are advertised and sold to deter skunks from yards are predator urine products that we believe are inhumane and inappropriate for use. Others, such as the powerful capsaicin-based “hot sauces,” must be used with extreme care because of the consequences for both people and pets who may inadvertently come into contact with them. Skunk in garage It is important to make sure the skunk has not been coming and going for long enough to have established a den and given birth, and that any accessible foods (bags of bird seed, for example) have been moved and secured in tightly sealed containers. Removal from a window well Place a rough board (or one with cleats, carpet, toweling, chicken wire, or other material to give the animal traction) that is long enough to serve as a ramp out of the well. Skunks are poor climbers, so the board should lean no steeper than a 45-degree angle. Trying to stay out of sight of the skunk, slowly and carefully lower the board. If possible, a second person with a vantage point high enough to see the skunk (perhaps from an upstairs window) can warn of any signs of agitation. Another method of placing the board is to tie it to the end of a long pole and lower it by holding the opposite end of the pole. Once the board is placed, keep people and pets away from the area until nightfall, when the skunk should leave. If the skunk cannot climb out due to the well’s depth or steepness, the Connecticut Wildlife Rehabilitators Association recommends a technique it uses that involves a plastic rectangular garbage can and smelly cheese. Place the cheese at the bottom of the can and lower it on its side with the open end facing the skunk. Once the skunk enters and begins to dine, carefully tilt the can up a bit, raising it elevator style out of the window well, then gently tip it on its side again so the skunk can amble out. Regardless of how you end up getting the skunk out, prevent the situation from recurring by installing covers over window wells. Is that skunk rabid?
Neutralizing odors The traditional remedy for a “skunking” is a tomato juice bath. To neutralize the smell, however, the chemicals in the spray must be changed into a different type of molecule, and tomato juice does not do that. Tomato juice can, along with vinegar, and any other mildly acidic solution, wash off the oily spray to at least reduce the smell. Recommendations for removing odor Commercial products are available from veterinary and pet supply outlets, but for a home remedy that will neutralize skunk spray odor on dogs, skin (not eyes), and some clothes, mix: 1 quart of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide 1/4 cup baking soda 1 teaspoon liquid soap (laundry or dishwashing soap) Wearing rubber gloves, use immediately, and outdoors, if at all possible, to keep the volatile skunk spray out of your house. Rinse after five minutes and repeat if needed. Warning: Do not store this mixture—use it immediately after mixing. If left in a closed container, the oxygen gas released could make the container burst. This mixture can bleach fur and hair color. Clothes or other fabric items sprayed directly may be best thrown away. Fabric that picked up the smell indirectly, as well as buildings and similar surfaces, can be washed with one cup of liquid laundry bleach per gallon of water. (This may bleach colors.) Commercial products containing neutroleum alpha will also neutralize the odor. It is best to consult your physician for treatment if you are sprayed in the eyes. But you can ease the discomfort by liberally flushing eyes with cold water. Skunk odors inside are usually caused by occupancy beneath the house or a discharge outside an open window. During courtship, skunks may be more prone to lose control, of their normal scent management patterns. There are odor neutralizers on the market that work with amazing effectiveness to eliminate the stray skunk smells that might need occasional attention. The problem with lethal control People will go to extreme lengths to avoid getting sprayed by a skunk, even those who bill themselves as wildlife-control professionals. To stay outside the range of spray, the latter will sometimes kill skunks by injecting chemical solvents, such as acetone (aka fingernail polish remover), into the animal’s chest using a very long pole syringe. How solvents kill skunks is not known, but common sense suggests that it most likely causes significant pain and distress. Skunks are at particular risk for all sorts of unacceptable killing methods, including drowning, because people’s desire to avoid getting sprayed overrides every other concern. We strictly advise that unless veterinary science has studied and validated a killing method as humane, it should not be used in dispatching any animal, domestic or wild. Public health concerns The skunk is one of four wild animals (including the fox, raccoon, and bat) considered to be primary carriers of the rabies virus and is, therefore, classified as a rabies vector species. Skunks have also been known to carry leptospirosis. Resources
via The Humane Society of the United States. How do I keep skunks away from my pet safe?How to Keep Skunks Away. Spray a mixture of castor oil and dish-washing detergent diluted in water. ... . Probably the best skunk repellent is a light. ... . Most animals, including skunks, dislike the smell of citrus fruits. ... . Predator urine (dogs, coyotes) can be used to repel a skunk.. How do I get rid of skunks without harming my dog?Here's a particularly effective remedy that's safe for dogs and cats, as well as humans: Mix together: 1 quart of 3-percent hydrogen peroxide (available at any pharmacy) 1/4 cup baking soda.
What scent will keep skunks away?Use Skunk Repellents
It may seem ironic, but skunks hate certain odors (as if they have room to judge). Citrus, ammonia, mothballs and predator urine (dog, coyote, etc) are three smells that can scare off skunks. If you use mothballs or ammonia-soaked cotton balls, be sure to keep them far away from children.
How do you get rid of skunks but not cats?Here are some strategies you can use to get rid of skunks that will not harm your pets.. Remove Food Sources from Your Yard. Skunks come into yards looking for food. ... . Get Rid of Potential Hiding Places. ... . Use a Radio to Get Rid of Skunks. ... . Use a Fence to Keep Skunks out of Your Yard. ... . Call Anderson Wildlife Control.. |