Skunks are best known for one thing: their stink. Before spotting a skunk, you can usually smell it. If you’re experiencing a skunk problem in your home or yard, this foul smell may be disturbing. The truth is, the smell is the least of your worries. Skunks are capable of damaging your home, lawn, and garden. From the experts at Raider Wildlife Control, here’s everything you need to know about skunk damage and how to prevent it:
Skunk Damage
With sturdy claws and strong front legs, skunks make excellent diggers. Here are a few ways these creatures can cause damage around your home:
Holes in the Garden and Lawn. If your flowerbeds look like an upside-down cake, you may have a skunk problem. Skunks feed off of larvae and grub in the ground, and will dig through any patch of grass or soil to get to their prey. Skunks are most active at night, so be on the lookout as soon as the sun goes down.
Foul Odour. Whether you have one skunk, or an entire family of skunks living around your home, one thing’s for sure: you’ll be able to smell them. Skunks are famous for producing a powerful, pungent odour from their anal glands. This smell is released as a defense mechanism, so it’s important not to frighten or corner the animals.
Burrowing Beneath Your Home. The space under your house is the perfect nesting ground for skunks. If you notice signs of digging where the walls of the house meet the ground, you may have a skunk problem. Ensure you scan the perimeter of your home, as skunks often have more than one entry point to their den.
How to Get Rid of Skunks
Dealing with a skunk infestation is risky business; one wrong move and you might get sprayed. Here are a few safe ways to deal with a skunk problem on your property:
Install Lights. Skunks are nocturnal, meaning they feed and travel at night. Like most nocturnal animals, they are deterred by bright light. Set up a motion sensor lighting system in your lawn to deter skunks from burrowing or feeding at night.
Install Sprinklers. Considering installing motion-activated sprinklers across your lawn to prevent skunks from getting too close. It’s best to place these close to the areas you suspect the skunks are burrowing.
Hire a Professional. Dealing with a skunk problem on your own can be difficult (and smelly.) To deal with the infestation efficiently, safely, and humanely, contact your local wildlife control specialists.
Do you have a skunk problem? The experts at Raider Wildlife Control are here to help. We deal with pest problems for residential and commercial clients, every day. Not only do we remove the pest; we ensure protective and preventative measures, so you don’t have to worry about those pesky creatures wandering back. To learn more about our removal services, get in touch with us today!
