Q&A for How to Get Rid of Skunks

Yes, but if you set a trap, you have to make sure to check it every day. If you set a trap and forget about it, the trapped animal is going to suffer.

Remove any food sources that might attract skunks to your house, such as food bushes (like nuts and berries), open trash cans and pet food. Also remove or block off anything that the skunk might view as a good spot to set up house, like piles of wood, large bushes or under the deck or patio. Put structural barriers against holes that lead into the house. All of these precautions will help reduce the likelihood of skunks and other problem animals like snakes and deer, from coming to your house. You can also get a wildlife professional to "skunk-proof" your house.

Mothballs are meant to repel moths. And while over the years, mothballs have been touted as a miracle repellent for every pest animal imaginable, including skunks, they don’t do much to deter skunks for long, certainly not in the quantities you could safely handle. Moreover, mothballs and their ingredient Naphthalene are carcinogenic, meaning they’re highly toxic to you, other humans and animals, and shouldn’t be thrown around the environment. There are much more effective and safer ways to deter skunks.

Yes, there are various types of chemical repellents that you can use to deter skunks. A well-known example is pepper spray, which can be sprayed on trees, around exterior walls and anywhere else you see skunks lingering. Other chemical repellents include fox or dog urine, ammonia and citrus peels, each of which is explained more fully in Part 2 above. Most repellents have to be reapplied every few days, or more frequently if it’s raining a lot.

Skunk odor lasts around 14 to 21 days (2 to 3 weeks) if it is left untreated on skin, hair and fur. It may last even longer if it has permeated fabrics, upholstery or other absorbent materials. It would be fairly difficult to sit around for 2 to 3 weeks waiting for the odor to go away, so it’s in everyone’s best interests to try to remove it as quickly as possible!

Yes, skunks do like to eat grubs, as well as earthworms and insects. If you spot a skunk digging up your lawn, it’s probably looking for grubs to eat. Skunks also like eating plants, leaves, flowers, buds, berries, grains, nuts, etc., as they’re not too particular and this can make them a pest for the gardener. However, they do eat crop-destroying grubs such as cutworm larvae and hornworm larvae, and even small creatures like mice and rabbit kits, so they are beneficial when in balance.

Try using motion-sensor lights that pop on whenever there is movement; skunks won’t like the sudden lighting at night. In the same way, motion activated sprinklers can scare off a skunk trying to run across a lawn space. You can also spray pepper deterrents around your house to discourage the skunk; once it gets the peppery substance on its feet, it’ll be most unhappy and won’t want to stick around. It is not recommended that you chase or go near the skunk to try to scare it away, as you run a high risk of being sprayed.

You have various options to remove skunk odor, each of which will have varying degrees of success depending on how quickly you can treat the odor problem. For example, you can use vinegar, or hydrogen peroxide with baking soda, or bleach (never mix bleach with anything else, to avoid creating a toxic gas). Each of these methods is explained in greater detail in the wikiHow How to Get Skunk Smell Out of the House . Or, you can check out another wikiHow: How to Eliminate Skunk Odor , which covers removal of odor from skin, pets, clothes, as well as from the house.

Skunks are attracted to easy food sources. That can be scavenged insects, fruit, compost, nuts, seeds, etc. Once the food source can't be easily scavenged, they will move on when their needs can't be met.

Do your best to remain calm and give it as much space as possible. You should not have to worry about the skunk spraying you unless it feels threatened.

If you gently place a large black plastic bag over the cage and move slowly while transporting, they do not spray.

You should not attempt to poison a skunk, as it is illegal in most, if not all, states. Additionally, a poisoned skunk may die in an inaccessible area, causing odors from both decay and its scent glands for weeks or months.

There is a difference between animal (domestic) control and wildlife control. Skunks fall under wildlife control. Most licensed wildlife control people charge for animal removal. The prices range widely depending upon many factors. If you can get a removal done for less than $100.00 you are very lucky. All of that being said, some towns or counties have an animal(all) control person on staff that handles everything at tax payer expense but these are few and far between.

Not necessarily. The skunk could be rabid, but it could also be sick. In either case, you shouldn't get too close to it. You should call animal control to get rid of it.

Most likely, yes.

Keep a light on in your shed, and maybe even add brighter lights. They do not like light, as they are nocturnal.

Try orange peels instead. Also, pee in a bucket and pour a long line of it around your boundary.. Human hair from a hairbrush under shrubs should work too.

It will be later in the spring in the north than in the south, usually May to early July. For more precision, it is suggested that you look up the answer to this question online for the area of the country you live in.

Your grass is more than likely being killed by grubs or some other insect. The grubs will attract skunks or other critters that eat these insects for food and in doing so dig up your lawn. Put down a good granular grub and insect control. Get rid of the grubs and insects and hopefully, if the skunks haven't made a home nearby, they'll just go away and look for grubs some other place.

In the late afternoon or early evening, soak some rags in ordinary ammonia, and place these in proximity to the skunk's nesting place. When the skunk comes out after dark to search for food, it will smell the ammonia and sense a predator is nearby. It will find a new nest, and if it has baby skunks in the den, it will relocate them.

Skunks may enter your yard not just for a bowel movement but because they find it suitable for other reasons, like searching for food such as grubs or for potential den sites under structures like sheds or porches. Skunks are nocturnal and shy, so you're unlikely to spot them, and they generally don't pose a threat unless provoked. If you don't have a dog, there's little reason for concern about skunks, as they rarely spray humans and can coexist peacefully.

Mix 1 bottle of peroxide, 1 tablespoon of baking soda, and a little shampoo and use it to wash your hair.

It's hard to tell unless you see the animal coming out of it. It's best to close the hole from one end to prevent the animal from entering your yard. You should leave the other side open so it could get out and relocate.

Cayenne pepper works, as do citrus peels (orange and lemon). Dog urine also works, and so does ammonia (soak rags with ammonia, then place them into a plastic bag with holes in it). A light shone into the den 24 hours per day along with a radio set to talk (or rap) will also drive the skunk away and she will take her babies with her. Note: music will not work. Rap works because it sounds like talking to a skunk.

No, that is not normal and could be a sign of rabies. Make sure to keep your distance if you encounter the skunk again, and/or call animal control.

They are active at night mostly, but they can be active during the day as well.

Politely mention to your neighbors any issues caused by their yard, such as pests or odors. Suggest solutions, like using a compost accelerator to reduce smells, and consider installing a privacy fence to minimize the impact on your yard. Keeping the discussion friendly can help maintain good relations.

Yes. They will come back just like a dog or a cat. The best way I have found is to put the live trap in a rain barrel. If you can't do it find someone who can. Taking them for a long ride is only making your problem someone else's problem. There are a lot of skunks in the world.

Yes. They can spray multiple times in one night.

Avoid trying to relocate the skunks, as it can lead to their death. Once the babies mature, they will likely leave on their own, and the mother will follow. If you don't have a dog, there's little risk. However, to encourage the skunks to leave, you can shine a bright light in the den and play talk radio to make the mother skunk move and take her babies with her.