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How to get rid of skunks and skunk odor |
If you are trying to get rid of a skunk, close off any holes allowing
them access to their den. April and May is mating season, during these
months you may be closing off a litter of young ones. Mama will dig her way
back under your home, or porch or deck to get to her babies.
Leave bags of mothballs, or cloth bags with ammonia soaked rags inside,
where you suspect a skunk may be lurking. Use a long string and tie the
string outside the opening, so you can easily pull the bag up. To find out
if you have successfully gotten rid of the skunk, leave a layer of clay
litter around the area that was inhabited, and then check daily for
footprints.
The best way to get rid of skunks is to trap them using a Havahart trap.
Your bait should be smelly fish; sardines, mackerel, or anchovies
Before you approach a trapped skunk, be sure to wear old clothes. Have a
dark cloth and a tarp with you, and approach the trap slowly and quietly.
Wear goggles and a surgical mask. Rubber aprons work great. The skunk may be
highly agitated, and they will spray. They first arch their back, shuffle
backward and then stamp their feet. If this happens get away quickly!
Slowly approach the trap and toss the dark cloth over the trap first,
followed by the tarp. Then, unless you are skilled in transporting skunks,
call an expert to come and get rid of the skunk for you.
Most skunks are protected species. You can check with Fish and Game in your
area to find out. Don’t use poisons when getting rid of skunks, because if
you do other animals might suffer, mainly birds of prey.
Skunks are carriers of rabies, so use caution. If you see a skunk during the
daylight hours, stay away from it. Skunks generally come out right at dusk
or late at night. Skunks are wonderful animals, just ask anyone who owns a
de-scented skunk. In the wild, a skunk will only live only 1-2 years, in
captivity a skunk can live for
10 years.
If you have skunks near your home, the scent is a dead-giveaway. Skunks
destroy lawns, moving about looking for harmful insect larvae. They hide in
dark places; under a porch, a deck, a house or an outbuilding.
So how do you get rid of skunks? If you have garbage around, clean up the
garbage. Put dog food and cat food in covered air-tight containers. Leaving
out pet food is an open invitation for skunks. Stack lumber and wood piles
neatly taking away the temptation for skunks to burrow
Skunks are almost as adaptable as raccoons. They will find food and nesting
sites around humans. The best thing to do is to modify your yard and home.
Tightly close all garbage or dog food containers
Close openings in buildings with boards or wire mesh.
To prevent skunks from digging under a structure, dig a trench 1 1/2' deep
and 6" wide along the exterior wall. Place wire mesh vertically so that it
extends 1 1/2" down, and bends at the bottom 6"out at an angle. Back fill
the trench with dirt or cement once the wire is positioned.
Clear your yard of wood and rock piles, elevated sheds, openings under
concrete slabs and porches.
Removing Skunk Odor from a Human
Wash skin with carbolic soap and water, tomato juice or vinegar.
Flush eyes liberally with cold water to ease irritation.
If the clothing is not too saturated with the spray, you can try washing
repeatedly with vinegar water and hanging the clothing outside for a month
or more. If the spray is really bad you may want to burn the clothes as they
will hold the spray for a long time.
Removing Skunk Odor from Pets
The key is to take action quickly.
Wash pet in tomato juice or diluted vinegar. There are also products such as
Skunk Off that contain neutroleum alpha that are available in pet stores or
from wildlife agencies.
Skunk Spray Removal Recipe:
1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide
1/4 cup baking soda
1 teaspoon liquid soap (laundry or dishwashing soap)
Note: Hydrogen peroxide can be harmful in pets eyes and may bleach dark
coated fur.
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