Like other animals, skunks need shelter. They need a place to stay for protection from predators, adverse weather, or just a place to lie low during the day. As they are mostly nocturnal, it's hard to see a skunk during the day. There are however some signs that will convince you that you have a skunk problem. When on your property, skunks can dig holes or upturn garden soil with their strong claws. They can scatter your garbage in an attempt to look for food. However, the best way to know if a skunk is around is the foul odor that announces its presence.
It is not uncommon to find a skunk in your attic or basement. Skunks often dig their way into the basement from the outside using powerful claws and teeth. They can also take up residence in the attic while trying to stay out of trouble. If a skunk is in your home, there might be a good chance that it has sprayed its pungent spray there. This becomes a problem as the smell will quickly seep to the other rooms of the house and cause great discomfort.
Skunk spray can be very irritating and long lasting. It causes discomfort to humans and pets alike. As skunks are very elusive animals that prefer to avoid any kind of confrontations, they may stay in your home for quite some time before you begin to notice it. While inside the home, the attic and basement are two of the skunk's favorite options because they are mostly abandoned, which means they won't be bothered. They can get shelter there whenever they return from hunting, mate, or even use the place to raise their babies.
As peaceful as skunks can be, they are wild animals and are not supposed to be living with you in your home. Once they are spotted or you see, smell, or hear them, it becomes important to get them out of the house. You need to first confirm if you indeed have a skunk problem by going up to the attic or down to the basement to get visual confirmation. Be careful not to startle the animal though as it may spray you in fear. Once you have confirmed that you indeed have a skunk problem, the next thing to do is find a way to get them out.
How to get rid of skunks in your attic or basement
The best way to remove skunks from your attic or basement is to live trap them and remove them. To trap, you can make use of an exclusion trap. First you need to locate the entry and exit point of the skunk into your home. Once you have this figured out, purchase a one-way exclusion funnel. This trap works by disallowing the skunk to regain access to its starting point once it has left. The one-way exclusion trap is attached to the entry point of the skunk into your basement or attic. Once the skunk goes into the funnel, it is unable to go back. It can then be relocated to a safer place far away from your property.
This task may however seem complex for you as skunks have been known to spray when trapped or frightened. You can employ the services of professional wildlife removers if need be. They will ensure that all the skunks on your property are removed without any spraying or biting incidents. You should also thoroughly clean out your attic and basement once the skunks have been removed and block off all access points to discourage other skunks from moving right in.
Go back to the Ascension Parish wildlife removal home page.