Striped skunk removal is a very dilicate problem that should be treated with extreme care! If you do not have ALL the right equipment to deal with this animal, call a professional Skunk Trapper! Now on to the skunk information!
Striped Skunk
We’re all familiar with the striped skunk’s appearance: two white stripes that converge at the head, with bushy black tails usually tipped with white. Their range extends throughout Canada and the US, into the northernmost part of Mexico. Striped skunks can be found in suburban areas, open woods, grassy fields, and parks, never far from water. They’re mostly nocturnal, and their vision is poor. They get to be as big as the average house cat. Striped skunks nest in burrows; males will usually den alone, while several females will share a multichambered den. They’ll often use an old burrow dug by a woodchuck or fox, or build one in an old log or under a building. Gaps in a home’s foundation, as well as underneath wood or scrap piles, are also potential homes. Skunks use their scent to mark their territory, and the smell can permeate a home after a short time. They do not hibernate, but do become less active in cold weather.
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.
Striped skunks will eat a number of types of insects, including ants, bees, wasps, earthworms, millipedes, centipedes, crayfish, snails, and slugs. They also eat frogs and small mammals including voles, mice, moles, poultry, rats and squirrels, and bird eggs. Not surprisingly, skunks have few natural predators. Owls are one of the few animals to prey on skunks, due to the birds’ weak sense of smell. Their love of insects will draw striped 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 Striped Skunks
Striped 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 or get under house's. 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 skunk removal company experienced with skunk removal.
How to Deal With Striped Skunks
There are several things you can do to make your property less inviting to skunks.
· Striped skunks are nocturnal and hate bright lights; flood lights attached to motion sensors will discourage them, at least for a time. This is only a temporary fix, though, as the skunk can get used to the light.
· 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 under their steps.
Trapping Striped 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. We also have some information on trapping baby skunks located here.
If you suspect that you have striped skunks on your property, leave skunk trapping and removal to the specialists. A trapped skunk in an angry skunk, after all. 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, we can also help you understand why do skunks spray The companies we list 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. More information on other types of skunks on our skunk removal page.
Some of the areas we service and some of the services we offer are Fairfax Skunk Removal, Alexandria Skunk Removal, Atlanta Skunk Removal