What To Do If You Have A Skunk On Your Premises

> Be sure to eliminate all food sources such as pet foods or birdseed. If food must be left outside, then remove all food at night.

> Use metal or heavy plastic trash containers. Keep the lids securely fastened to prevent odors from escaping. You can attach lids with wire, rope or bungee cords; if needed.

> Keep BBQ grills clean or stored in a secure place, such as a garage, shed, etc.

> Remove large woodpiles or junk piles to prevent skunks from building a den beneath them. Completely cover wood or compost piles with a heavy tarp.

> Cover your window wells to prevent curiosity-seeking animals from falling into them and becoming trapped.

> Don't leave your pets outdoors at night, especially dogs. Skunks are quite docile and can easily be killed by a dog. If attacked, the skunk will spray your pet, leaving behind a vile odor. Fighting with a skunk can expose your pet to rabies as well.

> Harvest your garden vegetables as soon as they ripen. Install motion-detection lights to discourage midnight snacking raids by these animals. A solution of hot pepper and water sprayed on fruits and vegetables still in the garden will effectively deter skunks and other pesky invaders.

> If you encounter a skunk, especially during the day, do not approach or harass the animal. Leave the animal alone and it should depart, most likely during the evening or night. If the animal remains out in the open during the day for more than a day, it may be ill or injured and Animal Control should be called immediately. Never handle a sick or injured wild animal; always call for professional assistance.

What To Do If You Have Skunks In a Den

> Use the "Hot Pepper Repellent Recipe" as the first line of action.

> Spray the repellant all around the den area. Also, spray around the entry and just a few inches into the hole. Don't spray deep into the hole or the skunk may reciprocate!!!

> The next day, cover the entry. Wadded up newspaper stuffed into the entry hole works great or if there is dirt around the entry, you can cover the entry area with loose dirt. Do not pack the dirt down.

> Observe the hole for a few days. If the newspaper or the dirt does not move, the skunk is gone. If it has been moved, the skunk is still there.

> The skunk will usually move on the first or the second night. If it doesn't, repeat the process.

Or try this:
> Roll rags into a tight ball and tie with twine. These should be the size of a tennis ball or smaller. Soak these in ammonia until thoroughly saturated.

> Using a piece of stiff wire, such as an opened clothes hanger, put the rag balls into the burrow as far as you can and cover the hole lightly with dirt or wadded newspaper.

> Observe the hole for a few days. Re-cover the hole whenever you see it open. When the hole has not been uncovered for a few days, the skunk is out. If, after 4 days, the skunk has not moved, then on the 5th day, repeat the process from the beginning, including new rags and ammonia. The skunk will usually move out on the first or the second night.

> After the skunk is gone, skunk-proof the area to prevent reoccurrence.

Or try a one-way door:
Use only if ammonia rags don't work. If a skunk is in a crawl space or under a wood flooring there may be too much open air space for the ammonia rags to work.

To construct your own one-way door use the following directions:
1. Start with a 10-in. x 8-in. piece of 1/2 -in. plywood.
2. Measure in 2-in. from all four sides and draw a line.
3. With a jigsaw, cut the middle out of the plywood. You now have a frame that is 2-in. wide on each side and a piece of plywood that measures 8-in. x 6-in.
4. On the 8-in. x 6-in. piece, measure in 1-in. from all four sides and draw a line.
5. Using a jigsaw cut the middle out and discard.
6. The 8-in. x 6-in. piece should fit inside the 10-in. x 8-in. piece of plywood. This is the door and frame.
7. Mount the door, with hinges or wire, to the 10-in. side of the frame.
8. You may have to sand the door, if it doesn't fit flush inside the frame.
9. Attach a piece of hardware cloth, with holes no larger than 1-in. x 2-in., to the door with nails or staples.
10. Attach a small piece of wood across the bottom corners of the frame so that the door will only open one way.
11. Get a piece of hardware cloth or welded wire; with holes no larger than 1-in. x 2-in., which is 2-ft. x 3-ft. long. The size will vary depending on the size of the skunk entrance.
12. Cut a hole in the middle of the wire or hardware cloth 8-in. x 6-in. and attach it to the frame and door.
13. Attach the whole assembly to the skunk entrance, using nails or stakes.
14. You want the door to be at ground level and be sure that the door is opening to the outside, away from the skunk entrance.
15. Bend the hardware cloth or wire out away from the entrance and bury it so the skunk cannot dig under the door.
16. When the skunk is out you can then block the entrance or skunk proof it.

How to tell if the skunk is out:

> There should be some scraping or digging around the one way door. This means that the skunk is out and can't get back in.

> Put a layer of flour on the inside and outside of the door after the one-way door has been installed for 1-2 nights. Any footprints in the flour should be outside the door with none inside. This means the skunk is out.

> If you have any doubt, then smooth out the dirt on both sides of the door with your hand or a tool, reapply the flour and observe. Once a couple of days have gone by with no footprints, the skunk is probably gone.

> Another way to check is to open the door and shove a few pieces of wadded up newspaper into the skunk den's entrance. If the paper stays in place for 2-3 nights, then the skunk is gone.

> NOTE: You may want to skunk proof around the affected area first so when the skunk is blocked out it won't be able to dig a new entryway.

What To Do If You Have A Skunk In A Window Well Or Dumpster

> Provide a ramp made from a rough, wide board that is at least 4-in. wide then staple or nail a heavy piece of cloth or carpet to the board, so the animal can get a good grip. Place the board at an angle, so the animal can crawl out.

> Use a net with at least a 5-ft. pole. Slowly, scoop out the skunk. Gently lay the net on the ground so that the skunk can crawl out.

> Tie a piece of rope to a bucket or pail, then place a small amount of cheese, dried cat food or dried dog food in the bucket. Using the rope, lower the bucket into the window well and lay it on its side. When the skunk goes into the bucket, slowly stand the bucket up, lift it out, and place it on the ground. Immediately back up slowly until you are about 10-15 feet away. Then, use the rope to gently pull the bucket over.

What To Do If You Have A Skunk Under A Mobile Home Or Trailer

> Remove one panel of skirting from each corner; this usually works if the skunk is living above the ground or in articles stored under the trailer.

> If this does not work, then the skunk has probably burrowed under ground and most likely, under a concrete slab under the trailer. In this case keep the corner skirts off and try the ammonia methods mentioned earlier.

What To Do If You Have A Skunk Under A Shed Or Barn

> Use the "Hot Pepper Repellent Recipe" all around and under the edges of the shed.

> Try the ammonia method mentioned earlier. (Often there is too much airspace under sheds or barns for ammonia alone to work.)

> Place a radio tuned to an all talk station in the shed or barn. If you know the area where the skunk is living, place the radio on the floor close to it.

> Any human activity in the barn or shed will also discourage the skunk from staying there.

> Be sure to skunk proof once it is gone.

What To Do If You Have A Skunk Coming Through Your Pet Door

Note: If you live in skunk habitat, a pet door for dogs or cats is not a good idea. If the skunks discover it, they will use it to come into your home in search of food.

> Lock and secure the pet door at night.

> Place a piece of plywood or cardboard outside of the pet door and sprinkle it with a liberal amount of Cayenne pepper. Be sure to lock the pet door that night and remember to do so for several nights. During the day you can remove the repellant so your pets can use the door. Usually, after a couple of visits, the skunk will stay away from the pet door.

> The easiest method is to simply lock your pet door every night at sunset. Normally, after just a few nights, the skunks will stop coming to your pet door. Once the skunk realizes he can't access your pet door for food, he will not want to waste time or energy coming to your house.

How To Remove Skunk Odor From Rooms Or Clothes

> Use Neutroleum Alpha (available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture), Peppermint oil or Spearmint oil. Place on cotton balls or mix with water in a water bottle and use as an aerosol spray.

How To Remove Skunk Odor From Pets

> For pets that have been sprayed, bathe the animal in a mixture of 1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide (from a drug store), 1/4 cup of baking soda and a teaspoon of liquid detergent. After 5 minutes rinse the animal with water. Repeat if necessary. The mixture must be used after mixing and will not work if it is stored for any length of time. Do not store in a closed container - it releases oxygen gas, so it could break the container. CAUTION: This mixture may bleach the pet's hair.

> Use "Nature's Miracle Skunk Odor Remover"; available from veterinarians or pet supply stores.

> Use "Massengil" douche.

> Use vinegar and water, mixed half and half.

> Use tomato juice.

Avoid getting any of these products into your pet's eyes!!!

How To Remove Skunk Odor From Human Skin

> Use soap and water.

> Use carbolic soap.

> Use "Nature's Miracle Skunk Odor Remover".

> Use vinegar and water, mixed half and half.

> Use tomato juice.

Skunk Proofing Around Your Property

For use around concrete slabs, patios, steps or sun decks.

> Dig a trench around the patio or deck that is 1 foot wide and 1 foot deep.

> For concrete slabs, purchase 1-in. x 2-in. welded wire fencing (available at hardware stores) to go around the concrete slab. Try to get welded wire that is 2 feet wide. Bend the welded wire into an L-shape and lay it in the trench so that the wire goes 1 foot down and 1 foot away from the patio. Then fill in the trench.

> For sun decks, purchase 1-in. x 2-in. welded wire fencing, get it in a 3 foot or 4 foot width, depending on how high the deck is above the ground. Measure the distance from the bottom of the frame of the deck to the bottom of the trench that you have dug. Measure out that same distance on your welded wire and at that point, bend the welded wire at a right angle (L-shaped). Be sure that the L-shaped part is 1 foot wide. Trim off the excess if it is wider. Place the welded wire into the trench. Attach the wire to the bottom of the deck and fill in the trench.

Natural History

Hunting And Feeding Habits

Skunks generally eat fruits, vegetables and other plants. They will also eat pet food and garbage when it is accessible.

Skunks usually only come out well after dark.

Mating And Breeding

Skunks usually breed in the spring, from February to May. A second mating may occur later, if the skunk did not find a mate or fails to impregnate.

Birth To Maturity

The young are usually born in May or June with the average litter being 5-8 babies.

Young are weaned at 8 weeks and typically stay with their mother until they are 2 to 4 months old.

Some juveniles will stay with their mothers or siblings until the following spring.

- Information provided by the Colorado Division of Wildlife

- Information also provided by the Urban Wildlife Rescue, Inc.

Animal Control Home | Colorado Div. of Wildlife
Urban Wildlife Rescue | Table Mountain Animal Shelter