Hooded skunk removal and control is a service that should be preformed by a professional pest animal removal company, when these animals get irritated they will spray and often times the entire area must be deodorized, You can locate a professional hooded skunk removal company by, clicking on the locate a pro tab at the top of this page, choose your state and the closest applicable city. This will be the hooded skunk removal company we recommend.

Hood Skunk information

Hood skunks are found in dry, hilly areas of southernmost Texas and New Mexico, but are found mainly in Mexico. In the US, they live side-by-side with two other species of skunks: the common striped skunk, and the hog-nosed skunk. While the hog-nosed skunk prefers lower elevations, the hooded skunk stays up higher, in intermediate elevations above the desert in scrubs, riparian areas, and grasslands. However, as urban and suburban areas expand into previously wild areas, hooded skunks are increasingly found on residential property.
Hooded skunks are one of the smaller species of skunks, with a smaller nose and longer fur than the hog-nosed skunk. Hooded skunks have one of two main color patterns: one pattern is a completely white back with a black or dark brown underbody; the other pattern is two lateral white stripes which do not converge on the head in a V like with striped skunks. Their trademark is a halo of longer fur on their necks.
The hooded skunk uses burrows or entangled vegetation on the streamside, rocky edges, and stream courses as its cover for shelter and protection. It is normally nocturnal. Its diet is mostly insects and vegetation, particularly prickly pear, but like other skunks it is omnivorous: it will eat other small animals if its main food isn’t bountiful enough. Skunk removal and Control information
Skunks only spray as a last resort. If threatened, a skunk will first face its attacker, arch its tail, chatter its teeth, and stomp its feet. This is when the threatening person or animal needs to leave. If the threat does not go away, then the skunk will turn around and spray.
Their love of insects will draw hooded skunks to the large numbers of ground dwelling insects found under dead leaves and foliage. Other attractants include easily accessible water sources such as landscaping ponds, and bird feeders spills, and accessible gardens. Occasionally they’ll also go through residential garbage containers, and will rip apart garbage bags left in the open.

The Problem with Hooded Skunks

Hooded skunks are attracted to pet food and may find their way into garages, basements, or residential yards as a result. Skunks will sometimes enter homes through pet doors. Since they’re primary carriers of the rabies virus (as well as distemper – deadly to dogs – and fleas, ticks, and mites), skunks pose a threat to both people and domestic pets. This needs to be followed up upon immediately by a qualified professional; do not approach a live skunk on your own. Governmental animal control agencies are good with domestic animals such as dogs, and large animals like deer, elk, and cougars, but not small nuisance wild animals like skunks. Your best bet, if you suspect skunks, is to call in a pest removal company experienced with skunk removal. We also get calls for hooded skunks under houses

How to get rid of Hooded Skunks

There are several things you can do to make your property less inviting to skunks.
· Since skunks are burrowing animals, they will make homes underneath houses, sheds, decks, and other above-ground structures. Seal them off as well as possible - skunks can fit through holes as small as four inches. Three-foot high wire mesh, like chicken wire, works well; bury it at least one foot deep. Fill in holes and ditches as well.
· Fence off gardens, keep bird feeder spills cleaned up, seal off pet doors, and do not leave pet food bowls outside. Remove scrap piles and elevate wood piles.
· Chemical repellents are reported to not be very effective, and need to be reapplied every few days. Poisons are not recommended; no one wants a dead skunk rotting under their house or under their steps.

Trapping Hooded Skunks

Often, people are tempted to try to trap skunks on their own. Be aware, however, that skunks have great confidence in defending themselves against other animals, including humans, and are not likely to back away from a conflict. They’ll spray and bite humans without hesitation (remember about skunks being a major carrier of rabies?). A homeowner may successfully trap and kill an adult skunk, only to end up with baby skunk carcasses rotting under their house or business. It can take between one and two years, depending on the size, for a skunk’s body to decompose, and even longer for the odor to dissipate.
If you suspect that you have hooded skunks on your property: leave skunk trapping and removal to the specialists. A trapped skunk in an angry skunk, after all the major defense of a skunk is to spray a intruder with its potents aroma, tounderstand why do skunks spray you can vist this page. A qualified animal control company will also have the chemicals to clean up the smells left behind by skunks, can make recommendations on how to keep the skunks from returning, and are familiar with any local laws regarding the trapping and removal of the animals. Reputable companies will have all required state and local licensing, and will carry insurance. Some of the other types of skunks we have information on their removal and control are Stripped Skunk, Spotted Skunks and the Hog Nosed Skunk We also have added several more pages that deal with the removal of baby skunks.