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skunk living under shed

17 years ago

How can I get a skunk that is living under my shed out and find a new home? I tried putting moth balls around the hole that he dug but he just moved them out of the way.

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Comments (6)

alexis5555
17 years ago
Skunks don't stay in one spot for very long, I have had them on and off either under my shed or under my gazebo , give him a few weeks he will move on. They come out at dusk and home at dawn so we just avoid them til they leave. The only time they stay longer is when nesting but they still move on once babes are on their own, not too long. My dogs have always avoided their burrows.
chris_ont
17 years ago
I had a resident skunk in the old house. There was a burrow under my shed but when I followed the skunk a few times, it usually went into the neighbors' yards and disappeared.

We ended up with a fairly amicable relationship. Since they are nocturnal, I just made sure that I made plenty of noise when taking out the trash after twilight. There was some smell on hot evenings when he was wandering around the yard but I never felt that I had to do something about getting rid of him. Her. Whatever.

However, the neighbors used their patio in the evening and were sometimes bothered about the smell (or perhaps feared that a crazed skunk would coming running at them to hose them down a bit).
In general, if you leave them alone, they'll mind their own business and will help rid your yard of slugs, crickets (to me, a bigger nighttime annoyance) and other bugs.

You can try pouring Lysol or something into the entrance, keeping in mind that this will contaminate the soil. Blocking the entrance may work but be sure that he's not in there when you do that and don't do it when there are babies! Pouring water in there will make his nest uncomfortable but, again, make sure he's not home at the time :)
If you must relocated it, it's probably best to call a professional pest control company.
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Today we removed some of the rocks around the shed's bottom and discovered a hole that seemed to go straight down. it's pretty hard to see under there, but there wasn't a lot of dirt piled up so we dont' think it could be much of a tunnel yet. We also have thoroughly checked within a 50 feet radius of the shed and are sure there is no other entrance. We tried putting a hose down the hole and running it for quite a while. Didn't see any water come out anywhere, but no groundhog either. We threw a bunch of mothballs and some dog droppings under the shed, but I think since the hog has nowhere to go but out into the fenced garden he is staying entrenched. I think your suggestion of a professional exterminator is unfortunately our next step. Hopefully they guarantee success? If his quote is too high we might try fencing the hog *in* by fencing all around the shed's bottom first. I have some nice 'lopes and watermelons not to mention alot of okra (which the hog appears to enjoy also) still in that garden and I don't want to lose them all. Already I am unable to plant fall stuff lest it just be nipped off as it comes up and I don't want to waste my seed and labor. It is illegal here to move trapped wildlife although recently my kids saw someone letting a groundhog go in a local park. Off the record, animal control officers have hinted that you can move a trapped pest yourself, but that may be because it's a pain for them to repeatedly come out and pick them up. There are times when we catch 'coons night after night (we have chickens). One officer said something about "go about a mile" which I guess would help avoid the danger of moving rabies all over the county. I think it is unlikely that a homeowner would be prosecuted, but we always call animal control to pick up our trapped animals. AC destroys them. Letting a pest go would violate the golden rule by giving someone else our problem. Suburbanites tend to think it's ok to drop off unwanted dogs, cats and wild animals in rural areas where they will supposedly be less likely to bother anyone. But we country farm folks don't appreciate having our fields, gardens and livestock threatened.
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For anyone still checking this post, I talked with wildlife exclusion service; they told me to wait until season where babies go out at night with mother (baby season is summer, so after August or Sept) before trying to rid crawl space. Seal up openings except one that you see tracks or know they use, and do a one way door on that one, like other posters have mentioned. Skunks go out at night. You could do a stake out at night to see, or check during the day (after using a one way door) to see that they are gone. You can buy a "predator scent" to put in the crawl area to keep them away, then seal up all openings. If you trap the mother or seal up an entry points, you could be leaving babies to starve and die. If you have the money, it's best to call a humane service that can do all of the above without trapping. In my area (Sonoma, CA), http://www.awces.com gave me info. You can check out their website just for info. I have no affiliation, I just don't like to hurt animals.
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blue_fastback
Original Author
17 years ago
This skunk has been there 2 months or more. I think there were babies there but dont know if they are still there or not. I have heard of amonia soaked rags might drive him out.
chris_ont
17 years ago
Ammonia would drive anyone out :)
The rags would be far better for the environment than mothballs or Lysol. Wouldn't hurt to try. I suggest pushing them under there with a broomhandle :)
awc1
17 years ago
I trap skunks for a living. It is the best solution to your problem. It amazes me the different chemicals that people try before calling me. Mothballs, gasoline, amonia, etc.
Lysol is a new one on me. Why not motor oil or caro syrup? (I'm joking!)
Call in a professional, have them trapped and removed. Fill in the holes so you don't get new guests!
socks
17 years ago
We have trapped them in humane traps. Just put a towel or piece of cloth over the trap when you set it up. We've never had one spray when in the trap with a towel over it. Maybe because they cannot see us then. We call the Humane Society to come get it.

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