Skunks

Colour: Black with two broad white stripes down length of body.

Size: Length – 20-32”. Weight – 6-15 lbs.

Common den sites: Under decks, sheds, porches, jacuzzi tubs, rocks and debris, window wells and sometimes garages.

Access points may include: High decks, shed gaps, foundation cracks, woodpiles and steps. Due to accessibility skunks will often gain easy access to these areas.

Signs of skunk may include: Strong odour in and around home, digging around lawn and garden areas (looking for grubs), foot prints and hairs. Skunks are nocturnal and are rarely seen during daylight hours.
A skunk can spray up to 10-15 feet with great accuracy from the two ducts located under its tail. Skunks will give fair warning when threatened, by stomping their two front feet and then elevate their backside towards the threat. Skunks are also well adapted to survive in cities.

Solution for humane removal of skunks from decks, sheds and under porches: Once common entry is located, a one way door will be setup within screening, and area around entry must be trenched and screened to prevent further entry. This work will usually consist of digging, removing shrubs, bushes, and fences and/or drilling into foundation to secure screening. Trenching around deck or shed area and laying an “L” skirt piece (90 degree angle) of hardware cloth around perimeter is optimal. Skunks in living spaces or garages can usually be removed by snaring or live trapping.

Baby Season: Skunks can have a litter of 3-7 young (4-6 on average) in Spring. Babies will become mobile after about 6-8 weeks and therefore can vacate through baby door (baby door is usually set in same area as adult one way door). If babies are removed and are not mobile, they are to be placed and secured in an incubator (box) near area of entry and are then usually picked up by their mother the same night as removal.

Diet: Skunks are omnivorous and their diet consists of frogs, snakes, small rodents, berries, mushrooms, grubs, insects and if available garbage.

Hazards: Skunk spray contains Methyl Mercaptan. It is a colorless, highly flammable, foul-smelling gas that is known to be released from decaying animal and vegetable matter and also produced in the intestinal tract of a skunk by the action of bacteria on a variety of proteins known as the albumins. If this spray comes in contact with eyes or skin it can become an irritant and hard to wash out of any clothing or material it may come in contact with.