Skunks generally aren’t aggressive, but when they feel threatened, they release a spray with an unpleasant odor that lingers. Fortunately, there are a few simple strategies that you can use to keep skunks out of the yard at your Connecticut home.
Remove Potential Food Sources
One reason why skunks wander into yards is to find food. If you feed a pet outside, the food can attract skunks and other forms of wildlife. That doesn’t mean that you can’t feed your pet outdoors, but you should only leave food out for a limited amount of time and bring any leftovers inside before nightfall. That’s when skunks are likely to be out searching for food.
Leaving trash outside can also attract skunks. Tie bags shut and make sure that the lids are securely attached to the garbage cans. Put the cans by the curb as close as possible to pickup time. At other times, keep them in your garage or another secure location where skunks won’t have an opportunity to dig through them.
Cover Holes Where Skunks Might Want to Live
Skunks often seek shelter in people’s yards. They sometimes move into nests that other animals have abandoned, but they also look for openings in building foundations and then burrow inside. Check your house, garage, and shed for any gaps or cracks and cover them with wire mesh to keep skunks and other types of wildlife out. Bury the mesh several inches underground to keep animals from simply digging underneath it.
Use Unpleasant Smells to Keep Skunks Away
Scattering citrus peels in your yard can deter skunks, since they find the smell of citrus fruits unpleasant. Another option is to soak cotton balls in ammonia, then place them around the yard.
The odor of urine from a fox or a dog can also help keep skunks out of your yard. Those are natural predators, and skunks will want to avoid them. You can buy fox or dog urine to use as a skunk deterrent.
Use Light or Water to Encourage Skunks to Leave
Setting up motion-activated lights or sprinklers can be another effective strategy. If a skunk enters your yard and lights suddenly go on or the animal gets sprayed with water, that might spook it enough to get it to leave your property and stay away in the future.
Get Professional Help Dealing with a Skunk Problem
If skunks are already living in a nest somewhere on your property and you need help getting rid of them, contact Anderson Wildlife Control. We know how to safely and humanely remove skunks and other types of animals. If skunks have gotten into your house or shed, we can find the entry point that they used and seal it off so you won’t have to worry about a repeat of the problem in the future.
