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New England Gardening

How to discourage a skunk

18 years ago

So I've been smelling skunk on and off around my house and under my deck. Not a constant intense smell like it's sprayed, but more like it's passed by recently or is under there at the moment. I havent gone looking under the deck for fear of getting sprayed.

Is there anything I can toss under the deck to discourage the skunk from hanging out there? I'd prefer not to do anything that could poison it or the neighborhood cats....

Thanks!

--Carolyn

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Comments (8)

sparklerghost
18 years ago
You can't put any lattice work around your deck? That's what I have around the outside of my house, and it's good for climbing things too.
Saypoint zone 6 CT
18 years ago
Get a heavy shallow pan that doesn't tip over easily, and pour an inch or so of ammonia in it. Slide it under the deck, you can use a stick if necessary. The smell will drive out the critter, this works great on raccoons, too. Professionals will come out for a raccoon in the chimney and do this and charge you $100 for putting a bowl of ammonia in your fireplace. Or so I'm told.

Unless you can block their entrance to the underside of the deck, you'll have to reapply the ammonia until they figure out it's not a good place to hang out.

Make sure there isn't any food around to encourage it, like cat food left outside.
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ginny12
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cjsmith
Original Author
18 years ago
We are in the process of putting up latticework, though we're going to keep one (invisible) spot open for access. I'll keep the ammonia trick in mind, though. I havent smelled the skunk in a few days, so maybe it was just passing through...

Thanks for the advice!

--Carolyn
crnaskater
18 years ago
It is May and skunk season according to the CT DEP wildlife info....and they must be under my deck too! I had a box of mothball flakes in the closet and threw it down between the boards, but I'm not hopeful. I tried mothballs a few years ago for the critters under my shed and it really didn't help. Just waited till Fall and using wire fencing, bricks, etc. I plugged the perimeter as best I could. Last year the bunnies were my enemy. But the skunks are back.

I could wire all around the deck (after they vacate - am going to try the ammonia trick above) except there is no way I can get the wire fencing to block off the space behind the deck stairs. It's really weird the way they are done on a corner and descend on each side of the corner. Drats!

One site I found talks about fox urine stuff as that is their enemy. Any one have luck with similar products??

At least I am not alone with this scourge - and you can't trap and relocate them in CT by law (or any animal that is rabid prone.)

Doris
Saypoint zone 6 CT
18 years ago
Be careful with the mothballs, if I'm not mistaken, they are poisonous to animals.

The ammonia should work if you keep refreshing it until they give up trying to hang out there.
diggingthedirt
18 years ago
I can't bear thinking about where/how they get predator urine; try the ammonia, it probably works just as well and doesn't use an animal source.
chelone
18 years ago
Don't sic your dog on them, LOL!

I'm always an advocate of apex predators... but in this case, NO!!!

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