Heres how to keep skunks away from your home and garden.
Skunks are easy to identify by appearanceand smell!
The issue is if they decide to den under your porch or crawlspace.
Credit:Getty Images / Karel Bock
Skunks occasionally eat garbage and carrion.
If given the opportunity, theyll sneak into a chicken coop and eat eggs, too, says Owen.
Getty Images / Karel Bock
What Are Skunks?
Fortunately, skunks are not a huge problem for most homeowners.
But they can carry rabies, so you should not handle them.
Skunks are mammals that are more like weasels than rodents.
Skunks are nocturnal but will occasionally forage in daylight, especially if its a nursing mother.
Another common sign of skunks is the presence of 1- to 3-inch cone-shaped holes all over your lawn.
But the skunks know the insects are there.
Once they make a home in your yard, they may also become territorial.
They accurately target up to 10 feet, but the spray can reach up to 20 feet.
If youor your curious dog get sprayed, flush the eyes immediately with cold water.
While there are commercial products for odor-abatement, you may not have time for a trip to the store.
Its probably going to take repeated applications, says Mengak.
Its not recommended on fabrics because it may discolor them.
Also, keep it out of eyes, noses, and mouths.
you might follow up with regular shampoo on your dog.
It can require repeated attempts.
Does Tomato Juice Get Rid Of Skunk Odor?
This old remedy does not chemically neutralize the odor, says Mengak.
If not treated, skunk smell can linger for months.
Wildlife Center of Virginia.Skunks as Neighbors.
The Humane Society of the United States.What to do about skunks.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Rabies in the United States: Protecting Public Health.
Alabama A&M and Auburn Universities.Don’t Get SkunkedLiving With Our Native Skunks.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension.Removing Skunk Odor.
University of Arkansas Extension.Dealing With Skunks and Odor Abatement.
