Skunk Prevention Tips: How To Keep Skunks Away



When most people think of skunks, they picture the horrible, permeating odor these animals release when they are threatened. While this smell is mostly annoying, it can be painful if it gets in your eyes, so it is best to try to keep these black and white mammals off of your property if you can. The good news is that many of the same prevention techniques that work for skunks will also keep other nuisance wildlife off your property, helping you solve multiple problems at once. Here are some simple ways to keep skunks away so you don't have to worry about damage or foul odors.

Fences
Fences that are constructed correctly can effectively keep skunks out of your yard, but you don't want to build just any fencing. Skunks have claws and nails that were designed for digging, which means they can easily dig underneath a standard fence and enter your property that way. To prevent this from happening, make sure your fence extends a minimum of 6 or 8 inches below the ground. You also want to form the fence into an L that faces outward along the base, making sure the leg extends at least 8 or 10 inches. This will prevent the skunks from digging underneath and entering your property.

Home Repairs
If your main concern is skunks entering your home itself, then you can easily prevent this by making some simple home repairs. Skunks don't necessarily climb, so you don't need to focus repairs on the roof or eaves, although repairing these areas is always smart as it prevents other wildlife from entering your attic. Instead, focus on the lower areas of your home, particularly access points to your shed, garage, window wells, and the area under your porch. Seal up any holes or cracks and make sure that the wood is in good shape.

Clean Your Property
One of the methods of skunk prevention is also a great way to make your home look better: keeping your property clean. Skunks are attracted to areas that offer shelter or food so by eliminating these things, you can reduce the risk of skunks making your house their home. Get rid of possible skunk shelters by sealing up the area under your porch or shed. Also cover or remove rock and wood piles and other potential shelters. At the same time, make an effort to remove potential food sources by keeping your garbage secured and pet food inside. Even something simple like not over-watering your lawn can help as doing so pushes grubs closer to the surface, giving skunks an easier food source.

Natural Remedies
There are a number of natural remedies that may help keep skunks out of your yard, but keep in mind that they will not always be effective. In most cases, the skunk will either ignore the repellent or do so when the scent begins to fade, leading to a need for frequent reapplication. You can try making a repellent yourself using citrus fruits or hot peppers as skunks don't like either scent. Be careful when using hot peppers, however, as making it too weak will not be effective, but if it is too strong, it may pose a danger to you, your family, or your pets if you come in contact with it. You can also try using predator urine to deter skunks, but this can be inconvenient to get, require frequent reapplication, and not be very effective.

Chemical Repellents
If you have ammonia in your home, you can try soaking some rags in it and placing this in strategic locations around your yard to deter skunks as they do not like the smell. Like the other repellents, however, it is not always effective and needs to be reapplied if it rains. Ammonia may also pose a danger to pets and other animals. You can also find chemical-based repellents in various stores and these will claim to repel skunks. They are frequently expensive and rarely work. They may also contain harsh or dangerous chemicals that can seep into the soil and water supply or cause other issues. Depending on where you live, it may also be illegal to use certain chemical repellents, so always consult your local ordinances before using this method.

Sprinklers And Lights
Sprinklers and lights qualify as a type of humane and mild harassment to keep skunks away from your yard and they work with varying effects. You can do this by adding noise or light or turning on a sprinkler slightly before dusk to make an area unattractive. Simply keep in mind that you don't want to set up these systems if a skunk is present as you are likely to get sprayed. An alternative is to install a motion-activated sprinkler that will turn on when it senses a skunk approaching.

Read the How to get rid of skunks page for helpful information and to learn more about Skunk Prevention Tips: How To Keep Skunks Away

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