Get Rid of Skunks

Identifying Infestation Signs

Skunks are often nocturnal and elusive, but certain signs can help you identify their presence.

Common Signs of a Skunk Infestation:

• Strong Odour: Skunks emit a distinct musky scent even when they haven’t sprayed directly. This lingering smell could be more noticeable next to crawl spaces, burrows, or access points.
• Lawn and Garden Damage: Skunks dig small, shallow holes in search of grubs and insects. Their presence is clearly indicated by these cone-shaped perforations.
• Tracks and Droppings: Skunk footprints resemble those of small dogs but with distinctive claw marks. Their droppings are typically tubular and may contain insect parts.
• Noises at Night: If you hear scratching, digging, or rustling sounds after dark, a skunk may be active nearby.
• Burrows and Nests: Skunks may create tunnel-like openings under decks, sheds, or foundations. Freshly dug soil around these areas is a telltale sign.

If you suspect skunks are residing on your property, it’s crucial to contact a professional skunk exterminator company like Ridall Pest Control to assess the situation. Attempting to handle skunks without proper knowledge can result in unwanted spraying, which is both unpleasant and difficult to remove.

For effective solutions, trusted skunk exterminator services can safely remove pests while preventing their return. Property owners searching for skunks near me should rely on experienced professionals to ensure their homes or businesses are protected from these odorous invaders.

Feeding – What Do Skunks Eat? 

Skunks are opportunistic omnivores, meaning they’ll eat both plant and animal matter, depending on what’s available. Their diet shifts with the seasons, but common food sources include:

• Insects and Grubs – Beetles, crickets, and larvae are skunk favourites, especially during warmer months when insects are abundant.
• Small Animals – Skunks may prey on mice, birds, or eggs, particularly if they find easy access to nests or burrows.
• Fruits and Vegetables – Skunks will happily raid gardens, feeding on berries, corn, and other crops.
• Garbage and Pet Food – In urban areas, skunks are notorious for rummaging through trash bins and feeding on pet food left outside.

Skunks are robust because of their versatile diet, which enables them to live happily in both urban and rural settings. If you’ve noticed overturned garbage cans or disturbed garden beds, you may need skunk removal services to address the issue.

Potential Dangers of Skunks 

While skunks are often recognized for their distinctive black-and-white fur and infamous spray, these seemingly harmless creatures can pose serious risks to both health and property. Many homeowners underestimate the problems skunks can create, assuming their presence is only a minor nuisance. However, letting skunks hang around your home can cause serious problems that are expensive and time-consuming to fix. From spreading disease to causing structural damage, skunks can be far more troublesome than their small size suggests.

Health Risks:

• Rabies Carriers: Skunks are one of the most common carriers of rabies in North America. If bitten or scratched, humans and pets are at risk of contracting the virus.
• Spray Exposure: Skunk spray contains sulfur compounds that can cause nausea, headaches, and even temporary blindness if it gets into the eyes.
• Contaminated Areas: Skunk droppings can carry harmful parasites like roundworms, which pose health risks to pets and humans.

Property Damage:

• Lawn Destruction: Skunks frequently dig up lawns and gardens while searching for grubs, leaving unsightly holes and damaged turf.

• Structural Damage: Skunks are known to burrow under sheds, decks, and porches, weakening foundations and causing costly repairs.
• Odour Problems: Skunks that spray near homes or under structures can create a lingering odour that’s difficult to eliminate.

To protect your home, contacting a trusted skunk exterminator company – Ridall Pest Control is the most effective way to manage the issue before it escalates.

Skunk Removal Process

Dealing with skunks requires a strategic and humane approach to ensure the problem is fully resolved. Here’s how professional skunk exterminator services typically handle the process:

• Inspection and Assessment:

A specialist will inspect your property to find skunk burrows, feeding areas, and access ways.  Determining the infestation’s extent aids in customizing the elimination strategy.

• Trapping and Removal:

Humane traps or one-way doors are commonly used to remove skunks safely. Once the skunks are humanely removed, a follow-up visit is made to remove the one-way door and ensure that there are no more skunks in the den.  If there are no further signs of skunks, professionals will move on to the exclusion stage.

• Exclusion Techniques:

Once the skunks are removed, sealing off entry points like gaps under decks or porches is crucial. Skunks are kept out of the area by installing a combination of galvanized hardware cloth and stainless-steel fasteners. 

• Odour Control and Cleanup:

Skunk spray can linger, especially in enclosed spaces. Professionals may use specialized deodorizers to neutralize strong odours. In order to lower health hazards, it can also be necessary to remove polluted soil or nesting materials.

• Prevention Tips:

Skunk experts often provide helpful advice, such as securing trash bins, removing outdoor pet food, and trimming vegetation to reduce hiding spots.

For long-term protection, contacting a skunk removal company is your best bet. Professionals can handle the situation securely and with the least amount of stress for you and the animal.  To stop the issue from getting worse, don’t be afraid to contact a skunk exterminator if you see any indications of skunks on your property.