Skunks are the last thing you want wandering into your yard. They dig up lawns, make dens under houses and, as we all know, they stink.
If you see one on your property, don’t panic. Skunks only spray if they have to. Here’s everything you need to know about these smelly creatures, including their behavior, what causes them to spray and what draws them to your home.
If skunks invade your property, don’t hesitate to get professional help. Pest control specialists have the tools and skills to manage skunk populations and deter them from your home. They can also address other pest issues, like how to get rid of rodents in the attic.
Here’s Everything to Know About Skunk Behavior
In cartoons, we see skunks spraying stink clouds whenever they can. However, that’s far from their real-life behavior. Spraying is a last resort for them, and they only do it when they’ve exhausted other defense tactics.
A skunk’s black and white fur coat is protection in itself. Animals who have experienced a skunk spray remember the experience and use the colors as a warning to stay away. But if an animal dares to threaten them, it’s a skunk’s first instinct to run. If that doesn’t work, they will turn around and try to scare away their enemy. If that’s still ineffective, they will have no choice but to spray.
These mammals don’t have unlimited sprays. That’s why they only do it when it’s necessary. So, how many times can a skunk spray? They produce enough odorous liquid to spray up to five or six times. After using their reserve, their glands will need eight to 10 days to replenish. What’s impressive about skunks is their aim, spraying targets 12 to 15 feet away. Their spray can even reach as far as 20 feet if there’s wind to help. They rely a lot on their spraying abilities because they’re poor runners. They are unable to cover more than 10 miles in an hour.
A skunk’s anal glands have two protruding nipples for spraying. These animals can control their sphincter muscles and get their nipples to spray in whichever direction they want. They can even control the size of the openings to adjust the spraying consistency. If a skunk knows what and where its attacker is, it will produce a stream aimed directly at its face. But if unsure, it creates a fine mist of pungent liquid that covers its attacker. A skunk spray is so potent it can cause temporary blindness and vomiting.
You don’t have to worry about getting sprayed if you leave skunks alone. You’re unlikely to cross paths anyway because they are nocturnal and nomadic. However, you’ll have to be careful if you have dogs. They tend to run toward skunks without a second thought, startling and provoking them. If you don’t want your dogs to get sprayed, make some noise at night before you let them out in your yard. That way, skunks can have time to scramble out of your property.
If you do run into an agitated skunk, here are some warning signs they are about to spray and that you should back off:
- Stamping its feet
- Clicking its teeth
- Raising its tail
- Charging forward
- Looking over its shoulder and hissing
- Turning around and aiming its rear toward you
If skunks are causing you unnecessary stress, let wildlife control specialists take over. They know how to keep these foul-smelling creatures from entering your property and stinking it up. In addition, they can come in for regular checks to ensure there are no skunk dens hiding around. These professionals can also address other pest questions, like how high rats can jump.
How Do You Stop a Skunk From Spraying?
When a skunk decides to spray, there’s no changing its mind. During a skunk encounter, the best thing to do is to back away slowly and avoid making sudden noises or movements. That signals that you’re not a threat and not worth wasting their odorous liquid on.
The good news is skunks are generally easy-going and won’t intentionally bother you. Unless you actively go after a skunk and ignore its warning signs, you don’t have to worry about getting sprayed. However, that doesn’t mean they won’t stink up your yard. Even if you don’t see them, you’re likely to smell them if they’ve taken up residence on your property. You might have a skunk neighbor if you detect a persistent musky odor wafting from under a woodpile or your house.
Baby skunks start emitting musk as early as eight days old. When females reach adulthood, they attract males by producing a cloud of musk containing thioacetates and thiols. These compounds have sulfur, so don’t be surprised if you smell rotten eggs. Remember, skunks don’t need to spray to cause unpleasant odors.
If skunks are making your property smell horrible, these tips can help keep them away.
Use Underground Fencing
Skunks have impressive digging skills and burrow under porches, decks and sheds to make their nests. You can prevent skunk dens by placing underground fencing around the structures on your property. That will deter skunks from digging and denning.
Remove Food Sources
Do you feed your furry loved ones outside? Or maybe you have a neighbor who feeds the feral cats in the neighborhood? If there’s a consistent food supply on or near your property, that could be why you have skunks around. Feed your pets inside and secure garbage cans to eliminate possible food sources. In addition, avoid placing meat and fish in your compost bins.
Tidy Up Your Yard
Skunks love to cozy up under rock piles and woodpiles. If you don’t want these creatures to feel at home on your property, tidy up your yard regularly.
Install Motion Sensor Lights
Because skunks are nocturnal and usually wander around at night, having motion sensor lights in your yard may help scare them off. However, they are confident in their spraying abilities, so they might not always be afraid of lights.
Call in a Pro
The most effective way to keep skunks away is to call in wildlife control specialists. These experts will find any hidden skunk dens on your property. They can also put measures in place to prevent these creatures from spreading their offensive musky scent around your property. In addition, they can identify other pests that could be lurking around and wreaking havoc.
What Attracts Skunks to Your Yard?
Despite their bad reputation, skunks play an essential role in the ecosystem. For one, they hunt pests that destroy crops and garden plants. However, that doesn’t mean homeowners want them in their yards. If you’re wondering why these foul-smelling animals are on your property, these two things could be attracting them.
Food
Food is the number one reason skunks are drawn to your property. These omnivores aren’t picky and will eat just about anything. Their diet consists mainly of fruits, insects, nuts and plants, but they also have a penchant for wasps, bees and their larvae. Skunks are opportunistic hunters, too, and will go for mice, toads and other small prey they might encounter. Controlling the pests on your property will help manage the skunk population in the area. A pest control specialist can help with this.
You might also be unknowingly providing skunks with food sources. If you feed your pets outside, clean up after them immediately. That way, you’re not leaving food scraps for skunks to munch on. In addition, seal your garbage cans and compost bins properly to keep skunks from getting into them and consuming the contents. It also helps to eliminate any stagnant water around your property so skunks don’t have anything to quench their thirst.
Shelter
Another reason female skunks might seek shelter on your property is to keep their babies safe and warm. These burrowing creatures construct their nests by digging holes underneath sturdy structures and objects. That includes porches, decks and sheds. Even woodpiles and rock piles provide enough protection for them. You can keep them from digging by installing underground fences or planting hedges in your yard.
Contact a pest control specialist if there are already skunk dens on your property.
Let the Pros Handle Your Pest Problems
How many times can a skunk spray? How do you differentiate between possums versus opossums? Leave these questions to wildlife control specialists. You don’t have to deal with creatures on your own. These experts can identify the animals on your property and provide the most effective solution to manage them.
ABC Can Handle Your Skunk Problem
There are too many risks involved in handling a skunk problem on your own: skunks could spray, you could be skirting the law and you might not be able to get rid of all of the skunks on your property on your own. For effective skunk removal and prevention, turn to the wildlife control experts. Homeowners trust the team at ABC Home & Commercial Services to remove skunks and take the necessary steps to prevent future infestations.
