How to Keep Skunks Away

Need skunk removal in your hometown? We service over 500 USA locations! Click here to hire us in your town and check prices - updated for year 2020.




Are you thinking that you may have skunks visiting your yard quite frequently and turning it into a mess? Well, there’s a few ways that you can tell and the most obvious one is the smell. A skunk has an intense smell unlike anything you’ve ever smelled before. Also, you may notice their droppings which can be up to 4 inches long and at least1/2 inch round. You will easily recognize them due to the seeds and animal hair that is inside of them. A skunk is known for digging up a person’s lawn in their attempt to find larvae. Look for tracks near the area that has been dug up. If you notice five paw prints with nail imprints attached to each one on a regular basis, you may have a skunk problem. Do you want to know how to keep them from nesting and digging up your yard? If so, keep reading!

Remove Their Food Sources
If you want to repel skunks, you have to keep the yummies out of the yard that’s attracting them. Use lids on your garbage cans that are not easy to get off, yet will cover the entire trash can. Always tie the trash before placing the lid on and never ever leave pet food outdoors. Not only will you attract skunks, but you’ll attract other animals as well. The next thing you know, you’ll be feeding an entire neighborhood of hungry animals. Checking under your porches, sheds, patios and crawl spaces for openings that need to be sealed can keep skunks from coming into your home in search of food as well. If you have trees or bushes that harvest fruits, berries or nuts, check your yard often in search of those that have fallen on the ground and remove them. Remove all water sources that skunks can easily access as well.

Light
Because skunks are nocturnal animals, they prefer to come out and search for food at night. Light has been known to frighten them and send them elsewhere to look for food. By using a bright light in your yard at night, you can keep them from coming in your yard and digging up their supper. Does this really work? It could probably work for a little while, but imagine the money you’d have to spend on your electric bill just to light your entire yard. Not to mention, your neighbors probably won’t be too fond of a bright light being on all night long. Motion detector lights could work; however, animals become immune to specific things after a certain period of time, just as we humans have a tendency to do. You may find yourself looking for another repellant before you have a chance to actually get rid of your little friend.

Hot Pepper Recipe
You could certainly make your own repellant without having to spend so much money on store brand repellants. With a yellow onion that is chopped, chopped jalapenos and a tbsp of Cheyenne pepper all mixed into 2 quarts of water for at least 20 minutes, you can have your own repellant. After the ingredients have finished boiling, use a cheese cloth to strain the liquid. Afterwards, just throw it into a spray bottle and spray it on anything that you don’t want the skunks taking a bite out of. This recipe has been known to produce effective results, but it only lasts about 3-5 days before you have to reapply it again.

Automated Sprinklers
Automated Sprinklers also known as the scarecrow sprinklers are also a common way to deter skunks. The automated sprinklers have motion sensors that come on and squirt the skunk or any other animal that comes within so many feet of it. The skunk then associates this frightening experience with your yard, and decides to never return. You can place these sprinklers anywhere in your yard near the area you want the skunk to stay away from. If you want them to stay away from your yard completely, you may have to invest in more than one which can be expensive. It can certainly kick your water bill up a few notches as well.

Barriers
When it comes to barriers, this just might work. Skunks are horrible climbers and even worse at jumping so a barrier just might do the trick. However, they are excellent diggers and can squeeze themselves into holes that are about 4 inches wide. Keeping them out with barriers require that you seal up any holes and ditches. Enclose areas that are open and large with mesh wire of about 3 feet high and 1 foot deep. There’s no need to dig a really deep hole because skunks won’t even attempt to dig under the fence unless they are able to see an opening on the other side. It’s also important to make sure that you seal off any openings under your home, sheds and decks.

More in-detail how-to skunk removal articles:

Information about skunk trapping - analysis and methods for how to trap.
Information about how to kill a skunk - with fumigants or poison.
Information about skunk repellent - does it work?
Information about how to catch a skunk - remove one stuck in the house.

Learn about skunk Mating Habits, where they predominately live, and what to do if a skunk gets inside your house. I can let you know if it's safe to handle skunks with Bare Hands, and how to use One Way Exclusion Funnels to Remove Skunks. Find out if a skunk can climb a fence, if you should feed a found baby skunk, and what equipment is needed to trap a skunk. I can teach you about the diseases skunks carry, why skunks Dig, and the skunk's natural diet. See if there is any truth to the rumor that skunks kill chickens and read about what you should do with a skunk After you Catch it. I can let you know the Best Bait to use to trap a skunk, and what to do with you run into a Nest of Baby Skunks in Your Home. Read my best advice on how to keep skunks away from your property, and all about Yard Intrusions by Skunks and Ways of Killing Them.

Find out if skunks hibernate in the winter and how to get skunks out of a window well. Learn the signs that skunks may be Living Under Your Shed and what kind of Damage Skunks Cause Under a House. I can show you how to keep skunks out of your Garbage Cans, if it's Legal For You to Trap a Skunk, and how to identify skunk tracks. Learn if a skunk can spray more than once at a time and how to Protect Yourself from a Spraying Skunk. Find out about the Ineffectiveness of Using Poison on Skunks, the symptoms of a sick skunk, and how to get rid of skunks from Under a Shed or Porch. I can let you know if a Pest Control Company will remove a skunk, where you should Relocate a Trapped Skunk, and what wildlife rehabilitators do with skunks. Find out if a skunk that is active during the daytime is rabid, and if you should Hire A Pro, Or Remove The Skunk Yourself. Read more about how to Remove Skunk Odor , if a high pitch sound deterrent machine will work against skunks, and what you should do if you find an orphaned baby skunk wandering about.


This site is intended to provide skunk education and information about how to keep skunks away, so that you can make an informed decision if you need to deal with a skunk problem. This site provides many skunk control articles and strategies, if you wish to attempt to solve the problem yourself. If you are unable to do so, which is likely with many cases of skunk removal, please go to the home page and click the USA map, where I have wildlife removal experts listed in over 500 cites and towns, who can properly help you with your nuisance skunk.