Why Should I Keep Skunks Out of My Yard?

Critter-Repellent.com Staff • December 18, 2019

There are reasons to get rid of skunks that go beyond their stink!

A Skunk in the Wild

 Skunks: The notoriously smelly, yet strangely adorable creatures that plague much of North America’s undeveloped habitats. While it is rare for skunks to take up residency in a home, they do often move in under porches and sheds. These pests may be relatively low risk to your family members and pets, the stench of a skunk’s natural defenses can be near impossible to clean off of a household member.

Rancid stench aside, skunks are a nuisance for many reasons. Nocturnal creatures by nature, skunks are likely to rummage through garbage cans, raid any outdoor animal feed, and help themselves to garden spaces in the search for grubs and other insects. While most skunks are docile, the risk of being confronted by a hungry skunk is as high as most any other wild animal and deserves to be taken seriously.

As skunks find a reliable food source, much like raccoons, they won’t hesitate to build nests closer to that food source. The initial signs of skunk activity include flower beds being dug up, leaving 3 inch-deep holes in the dirt. As a skunk more frequently visits your property, you’re likely to notice their smell - If you’re regularly smelling a skunk in the vicinity of your property, chances are good that the creature has nested nearby and may be harder to be rid of. In the spring, when females birth their kits, the need for food will sharply increase while the kits wean. The defensive nature of the mother skunk will also increase during this time.

On top of digging up yards and flowerbeds, skunks will also eat low-hanging fruits and vegetables. Most frequently affected are corn crops, but skunks tend to not be picky. If gardens and crops are not protected, they will be at risk of consumption.

Perhaps the largest risk presented by skunks is their aptitude to carry the rabies virus. According to the Humane Society, skunks are one of four primary rabies carriers in North American wildlife. A rabid skunk would be easy to spot, as they are naturally nocturnal; seeing a skunk active during the day should prompt suspicion on sight. Other signals of a skunk carrying rabies will be foaming at the mouth, an avoidance of water, and staggered movement. While relatively easy to notice, if a household member encounters a rabid skunk and has even a minor interaction with the animal, immediate treatment will be needed to assure a healthy recovery.

While the acrid smell of a skunk is often enough to convince people to keep the critters from their yards, skunks do present other risks to both landscaping and household members. These nocturnal creatures are best kept away from your property, and Critter Repellent can help! If you’ve experienced a skunk problem, consider Critter Repellent’s Shake-Away Skunk Repellent to keep your land skunk-free! Available here

https://www.critter-repellent.com/skunk-repellent

Have other pest issues? Feel free to reach out to us via our contact page! We have natural pest solutions for many common creatures and professional advice on mitigating the impacts of most wildlife nuisances.

Critter Repellent All Natural Animal Repellent Blog

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