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For those with loose sod, the skunks may simply move or roll it out of the way. To get rid of skunks and keep cats out of your backyard, fill a large pot with tap water and add two sliced jalapenos, one sliced onion, and one tablespoon of cayenne pepper. Bring the spicy mixture to a boil, and immediately turn the heat off and allow it to cool. Spray the solution around your home, garden, and yard to create a barrier and deter skunks from entering, as well as creating an effective homemade raccoon deterrent spray. They are nocturnal animals and usually only come out at night to dig up grubs and larvae and snack in gardens.
Where Do Skunks Live?
I also have a malamute with a very thick coat and thankfully he hasn't had a run in with them yet but that's just dumb luck. Skunks release their infamous toxic-smelling spray as a last resort when they are cornered and feel threatened. Although the smell of their spray is people's biggest complaint about skunks, their spray can also sting when it hits the eyes, causing intense discomfort to people and pets. Keep kids and pets away from areas with skunks, as they may corner the animals, spurring them to release their smelly spray.
Try humane trapping
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. No matter how big or small your outdoor space, you can create a haven for local wildlife. By providing basic needs like water, food and shelter, you can make a difference in your own backyard. You’ve done your research in learning how to keep skunks away and have done your best to keep your property a skunk-free zone.
Baby Skunk Snatches Whipped Cream From Mom Like a Real Kid Would - Parade Pets
Baby Skunk Snatches Whipped Cream From Mom Like a Real Kid Would.
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How to get rid of skunks, step by step
Be sure to regularly treat your lawn or backyard for grubs as well. Your yard could end up looking like a compressed golf course if you have a grub problem. These shallow holes and the scent of skunk musk are the two biggest reasons they’re considered nuisance animals. To get a pet skunk requires some hurdles, as they’re considered an exotic species.
Getting Rid of Skunks in Your Backyard is Simple
Learning how to keep skunks away from your house is straightforward when you understand what odors skunks hate. Before learning how to keep skunks away from your house, you need to understand what has attracted these critters to your residence in the first place. There are several famous attractants homeowners are unaware of that draw skunks. If you have a skunk problem, you must learn how to keep skunks away from your house so they do not have the opportunity to cause any damage. Although skunks are usually elusive, they cause significant problems when they do come around. The dryer’s heat may bake in the skunk smell if it doesn’t come out entirely with washing.
Keeping Skunks Away with Sprays
If you have a skunk problem, don't fret—there are a few ways to safely remove skunks from your property. You will also want to check for and seal off any potential access points under your house. Just make sure there are no kits (baby skunks) in the space before sealing it off if you’re doing so in the spring or early summer. You can install a temporary exclusion device, trap, or other one-way ticket. Just be sure there are no food sources or other incentives for them to stay, and take preventative measures to prevent future visits.
What To Do If You Get Sprayed By A Skunk
Fortunately, there are ways to stop these critters from becoming unofficial members of your family. So, if you want to deter these unwanted visitors, here's how to get rid of a skunk and keep them away from your property. If leaving the skunk alone is not an option, evicting them requires a little strategy and finesse. If it’s a spotted skunk, be especially judicious because their numbers are declining in many places. Often denning skunks are raising their young, or trying to escape the coldest part of winter. “Tolerance is encouraged when it comes to skunks denning,” says Griffin.
What attracts skunks to your yard?
Remove all cat food, dog food, and other pet food sitting outside your home. Always bring your garbage can inside at night if possible or purchase some lids for your trash cans so that they can’t get inside them to eat. These nocturnal animals usually only come out at night so that they can dig up and feast on grubs and larvae, as well as garden beds.
Your gift can help create more humane backyards to protect all animals. Call your local animal control officer, wildlife rehabilitator, health department, or police department for assistance. 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. 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.
If the skunks have sprayed recently, the scent will linger in your yard and let you know these creatures are nearby. Commercial skunk repellents are available for purchase at most home-improvement stores. These repellents are made from all-natural ingredients that don’t harm the skunks. Instead, the smell, taste, and feel of the sprays and granules deter them. Some of the most natural home remedies and skunk deterrents use strong-smelling products to deter them. Much like getting rid of moles, skunks are attracted to your garden for it’s bounteous food sources.
Some natural ways to repel skunks is to clean up debris piled around your yard. Piles of brush, rocks, and wood are all places where skunks take shelter. Ensure all trash cans have secure lids, so the skunks can’t get into the trash. A strong smell might be the first sign that a skunk is lingering around, but there are other things to look out for. Skunks leave holes in lawns and flower beds as they look for grubs. It is nice that they eat insects that harm our plants, like beetles and hornworms, but they are still a nuisance that most gardeners don’t enjoy dealing with.
While citrus smells bright and fresh to us, it is one thing that skunks hate being around. Many of us already have citrus fruits at our houses, and we can quickly turn them into a solution that keeps skunks and other pests away. Skunks are in their largest numbers during the spring, and their quantities dwindle as the season progresses. If you’ve noticed signs of skunks, it’s time to learn how to get rid of skunks using natural solutions. Predator urine can also be unethically harvested, according to Griffin.
Skunks are not adept climbers or jumpers, so installing a barrier around your garden is a practical way of keeping skunks out. Once you’re confident that the skunks have vacated the space, promptly seal the entrance hole to prevent them from returning. Continue applying repellent near the den site for several weeks to deter the skunks from coming back. Squirt the mixture on plants, the garbage can, or wherever you notice skunk activity. Reapply this homemade skunk repellent recipe every three to five days or if it rains. Add keeping skunks away to your list of reasons to mow the lawn more often.
Avoid this unfortunate scenario by giving skunks and skunk burrows a wide berth. Chiana has been at Homes & Gardens for two years, having started her journey in interior journalism as part of the graduate program. She also has a first-class degree in Literature from Lancaster University. It is important to dry the area naturally using a towel or allowing it to air dry as using heat such as from a hair dryer could set any remaining skunk scent into the skin or fur. Recently, a TV infomercial promoting an aerosol spray that eliminates many odors (some quite bad) quickly.
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