"Skunks -- my annual project" Topic

I can live with Raccoons, Coyotes, Fox, Cougars, Bears and the neighbor's dogs.

Skunks are another problem altogether. Every fall these fair smelling creatures descend on my deck and shed looking for places to den during the winter. Needless to say, I am rather reluctant to engage these little critters.

This year is no different. My new arrivals are young -- probably a year or less and, as usual, get along just fine with my cats. You would think a cat would be more discriminating in the friends she chooses.

I am generally reduced to making skunk balls and flooding potential dens to combat these black and white invaders [both are a PITA and costly].

Last year my Daughter's boyfriend ran over my more persistent skunk. Highly effective approach to the problem. Brand new car -- stunk like all get out for weeks. Sadly he has moved to Oregon.

Getting a dog skunked is no solution.

Has anyone else figured out a better way to send these odoriferous visitors on their way?

mjc

Feed them so much they can't do handstands anymore?

Stop buying cricket-flavored Crunch-n-Munch. Skunks are primarily insectivores.

Catch them, have them de-glanded, and put them on staff. Nothing puts off unwanted and ignorant visitors quite like having a skunk come to the front door to see who the visitor is…

How do you tell a 'deglanded' skunk from another skunk until its too late?

Plus if you have then descented they still stink. Just not as bad.

mjc

is this your clan?
link

HA!!

Great Photo

Mine are a bit bigger.

mjc

I have had luck with the sonic based electronic pest repellants keeping them from denning, but not visiting.

Depending upon where you live, the standard response is the .22 caliber rifle. You shoot them in the head, they don't have time to spray. Then you use a shovel and a wheelbarrow to dump the corpses far off in the woods.

Culling the skunks was a standard yearly chore for the ranger at Scout camp, when I was a kid.
-Kle.

An alternative to Kle's brutally efficient and fiscally responsible solution you could try trapping them.

My neighbor has the same issue with his shed. Every year he sets traps and cleans house as it were…

First and best line of defense, electric fences. Skunks learn quickly to steer clear. This keeps most skunks away in my experience.

Try to put skunk proof skirts around sheds and other areas where they want to den.

If I get a persistent skunk who can avoid your electric fence and insists on denning up, I terminate with extreme prejudice. I would never recommend this to any one else, skunk hunting around houses can be tricky/dangerous/stinky business.

Skunks are a pain. If you can do not leave out water or pet food if you can. Good luck.

LLC aka Ron

One keeps on trying to hide under my car at night. I think it's the same one that patrols our back yard evey evening around 9 PM.

There are no skunks in Ireland. I had no experience with the little hoors before I moved here. I can't say it's an experience that I'm enjoying.

I'm actually rather fond of the little guys, but then I don't get them in such numbers; just one or two every so often, and they help keep the bugs in check.