The front claws of skunks give them perfect tools for digging. Skunks will build burrows and tunnels under buildings, sheds, decks, and concrete foundations. These burrows can threaten the structural integrity of homes and businesses, but they also can provide access inside.
How do you identify a skunk burrow?
To obtain these treats, skunks dig small, round, cone-shaped holes in your yard or garden. These holes measure around 3 to 5 inches across. Skunk feeding holes look distinctively circular from the surface. Close up, you may notice that they start wide and taper inward as the skunk digs deeper into the ground.
Skunks generally live in dens that they dig with their strong front claws. These dens will be holes that you find in your yard. Or they may find and live in an abandoned den built by other animals, such as a foxes or woodchucks.
How deep do skunks burrow underground?
Skunks have short, stubby legs which give them power to dig under foundation of at least 2 feet deep to access crawl spaces. Don’t be surprised, even though you don’t smell a skunk, a skunk lives on your property.
Skunks dig up the turf looking for grubs. They move around at night and dig in grassy areas, making distinct 3- to 4-inch deep holes.
How do you get rid of a skunk burrow?
Search your property for dens, and apply the repellents around the opening. Predator urine in particular, is great at driving skunks out of their den, but they’ll soon return. You’ll have to close the hole up once you’re certain that it’s empty, and continue applying repellents around the opening of the den.
How do you know if you have a skunk nest?
If your flowerbed, garden or lawn has lots of holes in it, this could be a sign that a skunk den is nearby and that skunks have been looking for grub in your yard. A skunk hole is similar to a hole made by squirrels in that it’s small and shallow.
Why is a skunk digging in my yard?
Skunks mainly dig in the ground to look for food or shelter. If you see huge grass chunks that look like they’ve been pulled from the dirt, it could be as a result of skunks eating grubs found underneath the ground. These animals pull the grass to try and access the grubs that are on the dirt’s top layer.
How big is a skunk burrow?
Common Conflicts with People. Den under Building: The openings to skunk dens are usually about four to six inches wide, and smell faintly like skunk.
Do skunks burrow under concrete?
Skunks have large, strong claws with long nails on their forefeet that are tailor-made for digging. Over time, skunks burrowing under concrete slabs, decks, porches, or other residential structures can cause structural damage, not to mention ruin lawns.
How many skunks live in a den?
As many as 20 skunks have been found in one den, but the number is typically much fewer. Usually the mother and young den together, entering the den when the temperature reaches about 0° C. Males are active until the temperature reaches about -10° C and may join their own family, other males, or may den alone.
What is the best skunk repellent?
What is this? Pure peppermint oil is another home remedy you can use as one of the best skunk repellent products. Simply mix peppermint oil with water in a spray bottle and spray this solution around your home, on trash cans, along porches and decks, and anywhere else you want to decrease skunk activity.
How do you get a skunk to leave?
Repellants may also be effective in skunk deterrence. Mild repellents, such as used kitty litter, can be placed near or inside the den to one side so the skunk has to pass them to get out; commercial or homemade capsaicin or castor oil repellents may also be tried.
What is digging holes in my mulch at night?
They’re looking for worms, grubs, snails, frogs and spiders using their sharp claws to dig shallow holes in the soil and mulch. These critters are known to roll back sod and grassy areas looking for their dinner, and can be quite destructive. Tracks are an easy way to identify visiting vermin.
Do coffee grounds repel skunks?
Yes, spent coffee grounds can actually repel skunks! Similar to how coffee grounds repel deer, the bitter scent of coffee grounds may inform skunks that humans are nearby and thus, keep them away from your property.
Do skunks stay in the same area?
From late summer through early spring, skunks will rarely stay at the same den site for more than a few days, so you can simply wait until they move on before sealing off access to the den site. From early spring through summer, females with young may stay at a den site longer.
Can skunks climb fences?
Skunks have sharp teeth and long claws for digging. They are nearsighted, but have a keen sense of smell and hearing. The striped skunk is not a good climber. Although it can climb up wire mesh, fences, and boards, it seldom climbs trees ” the long nails are a definite handicap in climbing.
Do skunks come back to the same place?
This is because skunks are good in locating their food sources and their dwellings. For that reason, if you relocate them to a place within your vicinity you will still live to deal with skunks problem as they will definitely come back to take their place in your property or garden.
What do skunks hate?
It may seem ironic, but skunks hate certain odors (as if they have room to judge). Citrus, ammonia, mothballs and predator urine (dog, coyote, etc) are three smells that can scare off skunks. If you use mothballs or ammonia-soaked cotton balls, be sure to keep them far away from children.
Can skunks squeeze through small openings?
Skunks can squeeze through small openings so all areas need to be secured. Skunks will also take shelter under porches, decks, and just about any other place they can gain access to.
Do skunks leave their den every night?
From early spring until late fall, skunks migrate from den to den every few days or so. Other than possibly digging a few holes in your yard and getting into your trash, damage from skunks is not usually cause for concern. For this reason, the best course of action is to wait out their stay until they move on.
What is the best bait for skunks?
Skunk Trapping Tips Good bait for a skunk includes any of the following: honey, molasses, peanut butter on bread, and fish eggs. Old, slightly spoiled meat also makes a good bait. Covering the trap with a tarp or a large piece of plastic is a good idea to help avoid being sprayed by a frightened skunk.
What does a skunk poop look like?
Skunk droppings look similar to those of a cat and are typically found in lawns and gardens. The waste is tubular, has blunt ends, and usually measures about a quarter to half an inch in diameter and one to two inches long. Skunk poop generally contains bits of undigested insects, berry seeds, fur, or feathers.
Do skunks den in pairs?
While most skunks will be solitary outside of the mating season, in colder areas skunks will often share a den so that they can share their warmth during the colder weather, although these groups will usually be made up of one male and one or more females.
Does Pine Sol deter skunks?
To repel Skunks or get them to move from under a building, soak a rag with old fashioned Pine Sol cleaner and stuff it down their burrow or soak a boundary line you don’t want them to cross. You can also staple rolled up towels under your deck and soak them with Pine Sol.
Does vinegar keep skunks away?
You can either create a vinegar-based spray or use cotton balls and rags soaked in vinegar for covering wide areas. Skunks can be repelled by a few other scents as well, such as cayenne pepper, ammonia, putrescent eggs, and predator urine.
Will cayenne pepper deter skunks?
The scent of chili and cayenne pepper is popularly known to repel skunks. They have sensitive noses and react to those smells. The solution for this method is quite simple. Take a spray bottle and mix some chili powder with water, stir it, then get to spraying the yard or areas which the skunks inhabit.
Does kitty litter repel skunks?
The use of repellents can make skunks move from your home and/or garden. Cat litter, also called cat box filler, can work well. Simply put it in or close to the skunks’ den, giving the skunks no option but to travel through or by it. Other suitable repellent options include castor oil and capsaicin.
What is a natural skunk deterrent?
Easy, Low Maintenance DIY Skunk Repellent When you first notice you have a skunk problem, you can try these easy, natural ways to keep skunks away. You can take citrus peels and spread them out around your yard to help keep the skunks away.
How far will a skunk travel to return home?
They do travel as much as a mile a night but seldom venture more than four miles from their den. You can use skunk repellent to get rid of skunks and keep them off your property, but if they continue to cause damage, relocating a problem skunk is quite easy as these are not territorial creatures.
Do skunks dig in mulch?
Skunks are opportunistic feeders, and often dig up mulch and garden plants as they search for insects on which to dine. Ridding your yard of skunks keeps your pets, and your family, safe and free of lingering skunky odors. Clear your yard of wood scraps, lawn debris and fallen logs.
What animal is digging up my plants at night?
Raccoons and skunks are two common grub-eating nocturnal culprits for digging in yards. Skunks tend to make shallow holes with loosened soil, while raccoons can actually use their front paws to pull up chunks of sod and flip them over to find whatever delicious food might lie beneath.
What digs tunnels in mulch?
A number of animals, including rabbits, dogs, cats, chipmunks, skunks, squirrels, muskrats, moles and woodchucks, dig into mulched flowerbeds, spreading mulch all over and damaging contained flowers.
What months are skunks most active?
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich ” Skunks are most active from February into early March. Although a warm day like the one we had Sunday can get them moving, they’re really on the move because they’re looking for a mate. Animal control experts say this is their prime mating season.
What time do skunks come out of their dens?
Most skunk babies, also known as kits, are born in April and May. More often than not, skunks will stay in their burrows or dens until the first stretch of warmer weather in February. These warmer temperatures will draw them out of their dens to look for mates.
What time of night do skunks come out?
Skunks are nocturnal, usually active from early evening through the night. They typically spend their days sleeping in dens, although they may bed in vegetation during the warm months.
Do skunks use the same den every year?
Striped skunks use different den sites at different times of year, so their winter burrow will usually not be the same place where they raised their young. While capable of digging their own winter burrows, skunks are more inclined to seek residency in spaces that belong to someone else.
Can skunks climb chicken wire?
Skunks can climb chicken wire, though they probably won’t climb anything unless they feel threatened. They’re much more likely to chew through chicken wire, with sharp teeth and claws that can take apart the relatively thin metal.
How did a skunk get in my fenced yard?
But skunks can use their snout and climb their way over wood, wire mesh, or chain link fences when they are determined to do so. If there is an object resting against your fence or very close to your fence, then a skunk might climb up that object to get over the fence.
Do skunks eat ground squirrels?
Skunks also eat animals often deemed pests, such as mice, rats, shrews, moles, ground squirrels, and other small mammals.
Do skunks get into houses?
A skunk may get into your house and gain access into your attic, bedroom, kitchen and even bathroom, especially when you leave the door, or window opened. Sometimes, skunks can squeeze their bodies through narrow openings and cracks to gain entrance into the main compartments of the house.
Can skunks move bricks?
First, they are really good diggers and strong too! They’ve moved LARGE stones, bricks, dug as deep as 6-8 inches to get under heavy obstacles and farther than 12 inches to get through our barricades. They could care less about repellents.