Introduction: Methods to get rid of skunks

Skunks are problems in places nearby to their dens and are mostly found in Pennsylvania.

A skunk digs circular holes in areas like lawns or gardens or even golf courses, searching for insects or other food forms.

The striped skunk is more popular than the spotted skunk.

Besides leaving holes on lawns, a skunk gives offensive odor from its musk. Though this is for defense from a skunk, it is nonetheless irritating to humans.

A skunk can extend the damage it does to farms too. A skunk is known to damage crops like corn, as it is their most preferred food source. They also feed on poultry, including their eggs, and can cause severe damage to beehives. The direct damage to corn by a skunk is to the lower stalk, leaving the stalk standing.

Skunks are a menace, and this article will show you how to get rid of skunks. Enjoy.

What to know about skunks

Skunks are members of the family Mephitidae, and they are mammals found in North and South America. They are related to polecats and some other members of the weasel family. However, skunks are most closely related to the stink badgers.

A skunk has varied skin coats ranging from brown to black-and-white, ginger to cream-colored, but these coats all have warning coloration.

Physically, a skunk has variations of sizes. It may be anything from 15.6 to 37 in which is 40 to 90 cm long. In terms of weight, it weighs from 1.1 lbs. which is 0.50 kg and unique to a spotted skunk, to 18 lbs. which is 8.2 kg and unique to a hog-nosed skunk.

As mentioned earlier, skunks have various skin coats from brown to black-and-white, ginger to cream-colored, and even grey skin coats. Skunks are omnivorous; they can eat plants and eat animals and include the two in their diets.

Specifically, they eat larvae, earthworms, beetles, crickets, honeybees, frogs, salamanders, rodents, poultry, moles, eggs, and yes, snakes. Their plant diet could be berries, leaves, roots, grasses, nuts, or fungi. Sometimes, they rummage through garbage left by humans in search of their daily bread. They could eat carcasses of poultry and rodents, usually left behind by animals like cats.

Remember I said earlier that they damage beehives too. It is possible, and skunks are known to be primary predators of flying insects. With their thick fur as defense, skunks proceed to scratch the hives and eat up any insect they see therein.

What home-remedy will get rid of skunks?

The primary place where skunks are known to be nuisances is in the home.

First, you need to locate the holes they are digging around your home, after which you proceed to find an effective method you will use to control them. Here are ways to remedy the situation:

• Use of skunk repellents

One way to get rid of skunks is to have skunk repellents or skunk spray as they are useful in eliminating skunks or keeping skunks away from your property.

There are many skunk repellents or spray you may make yourself to get rid of them. They are ammonia, predator urine (you can get predator urine from an outdoor store closeby). Even pet(s) urine like that of a dog can serve as repellents.

If you do not own some pets, you can get one, especially a dog, because it is one of the best ways to drive skunks away and because pets are a cheap way of getting rid of skunks.

One can use homemade skunk repellent spray, a mixture of onion, jalapeno, hot peppers, cayenne pepper, and water. After mixing all the ingredients, you will then boil and strain the mixture.

Make sure that you spray the repellents around your garden, lawn, and other places that need it, like under your shed, for significant results.

• Mothballs in cloth bags

When skunks are sleeping (usually during the day), you may sprinkle flour or chalk dust close to their burrow entrance and wait till the sunsets.

When it does, go back to the burrow’s opening and check for tracks left by them (you can also check for them in areas around the den). When you see the tracks, it means that the skunks are not in the hole anymore, and you can use the opportunity and put the cloth bag of mothballs inside the burrow to keep skunks away from your garden.

• Traps

You can lay a trap about your area to catch them. You may want to lay the trap in your lawns, gardens, and shed.

However, suppose the situation is too much for you to handle alone.

You may call your local animal control to aid you in getting rid of skunks. Employing a professional’s services allows you to avoid being sprayed, as skunk’s scent is hard to remove. If you are sprayed, you will need a professional’s help to eliminate the unpleasant and pungent smell.