Skunks are naturally burrowing animals, and they like to make their dens under safe and protective spaces, like your barn or shed, or even under your patio or deck! While this might sound cute, a skunk living in your property is a big, and not to mention stinky, problem! You can commonly spot when there is a skunk in your territory by observing the following:
Obviously, if you find medium-sized holes in your lawn that you’re sure you didn’t do yourself, then you probably have a wild animal nearby.
Skunks are notorious for their odor, so I think it’s best to confirm that you do have a skunk if you smell something really horrible.
Unlike other wild animals, skunk tracks are very unique and easy to distinguish from others. They have five toes on each foot, and they have long, sharp claws that they use to dig into the earth. If you see track marks in your lawn or garden, keep an eye out for other signs as well.
One way to see if a skunk hole is active is by filling the hole with leaves and loose dirt. Just enough to cover the hole, but easy enough to dig into. If the hole is reopened over the next few days, then it’s confirmed that you do have a skunk in your area. Like most wildlife animals, skunks like digging their shelter under things that they consider as safe and protective. This can be fallen logs, stumps, hollow trees, and even urban spaces like sheds, garages, and under your deck or patio. These kinds of skunk holes will be about 8 inches in diameter, and it will be deep enough that you cannot see the bottom of the hole. Sometimes, skunks can even dig as deep as a foot underground, due to their very sharp and strong claws.
If you decide to close a skunk hole, make sure that you check for kits (skunk babies!). It is very important to allow the kits to escape the hole before you permanently block or cover the area. Make sure to contact your local wildlife control company to know more on the safest ways to remove the skunks from your property.
To block off or close a skunk hole or possible skunk hole, you can do any of the following:
Install a low fence of about 3 to 5 feet to prevent non-climbing wildlife from entering your property.
Make sure to dig at least a foot under your fence so that they can’t get in.
For extra protection and security, surround your underground fence with wire mesh so that they can’t get in. Remember, skunks can fit into holes as small as 4 inches, so buy a wire mesh with smaller squares than 4 inches.
You can also make fences made of wood, metal, or concrete.
Another way to prevent skunks digging through your foundation is to slide mesh flat on the ground. This prevents them from digging under and possibly hitting important foundations. Place a few rocks or bricks along the wire mesh’s sides to prevent them from moving it.
Purchase bird netting (also called fruit tree netting) from your local garden shop and lay the netting on the ground. Try to bunch up the edges like you are building up “valleys” on the sides of the net. This will discourage skunks from even stepping into them, since they think it is dangerous.
Go back to the Beaver County wildlife removal home page.