Need to get rid of skunks in your home or office space? Baker Wildlife can help! We are a full service nuisance wildlife removal company providing skunk removal to Geneva NY and surrounding Finger Lakes. Professional control, removal, exclusion, and remediation processes involved in solving skunk infestations is one of our specialties. Whether you have just one skunk or a family invading your house we have the knowledge, experience, and skill set to solve any skunk problem.
Skunk Removal Basics
Skunks are usually classified as a pest species due to their odor, and occasionally, digging. The most common complaints include the following:
- Skunk is living under deck or porch
- Skunk has sprayed in the vicinity
- Skunk has sprayed a pet dog
- Skunks are digging holes in yard
- Skunks fell down window well/basement
For these reasons, many people wish to have this nuisance animal trapped and removed. However, trappers must take care to avoid being sprayed.
SKUNK PREVENTION:
Of course, you can help prevent skunks from using your property. They are often drawn to live under decks, porches, sheds and such. You need to install an exclusion barrier around the perimeter of the deck, so that they can’t crawl under. And of course, don’t leave out pet food, or any other food that will attract skunks. If you want to hire a professional wildlife trapper to trap the skunks or install a professional exclusion barrier for you, call Baker Wildlife Control.
SKUNK BEHAVIOR:
Skunks are mostly nocturnal, and forage at night for a variety of foods. The are omnivores, eating both plant and animal matter, but really seem to prefer insects. They sleep during the day, usually in underground dens often dug by other animals. They do not fully hibernate, but activity is very low during the winter. The often communicate via scent marking, and males will often discharge during mating season. Skunks are well-known for their defensive tactic – when threatened, they will arch their back, lift the tail, and discharge a highly odiferous liquid from special glands near the anus. This sulphurous compound is not only offensive to the nose, but it can cause temporary blindness in an attacker. Many animals avoid skunks due to this defensive tactic, and it’s actually often birds like hawks and owls that prey on skunks, since these birds lack a sense of smell.
SKUNK REMOVAL:
Your best bet is to trap the skunks in live cage traps, and relocate them. It’s actually pretty easy to do, and safer and more effective than trying to kill the skunks. You may be worried about the skunk spraying you, but it’s really easy to avoid that. And just so you know, there is absolutely no skunk repellent spray (ironic!) powder, or device that’ll keep them away.
But if you trap them and relocate them at least five miles from your property, that should solve the problem. If the skunk has fallen down a window well or basement, you can have a pro snare if for you, or you can put a wooden board down the window well, and the skunk should be able to climb out.
Contact with Skunks:
Skunks are frequent carriers of rabies. If any contact with a skunks is suspected, the New York State Sanitary Code – Chapter 1, Title 10 is referred to. Directions are to be followed by your local NY County Health Department or family doctor.
SKUNK ODOR REMOVAL:
Throughout the year Baker Wildlife frequently gets calls to deodorize for skunk odor in client homes and offices. Skunks that have taken up residence on the property or even dead skunks are a very common cause of the issue. A skunks spray is its defense mechanism located in glands under their tail.
If they can raise their tail they can spray! Skunks are generally docile creatures and usually only use their spray if they become alarmed. The odor is one of the most powerful scents in nature caused by an oil based mixture of sulfur containing chemicals called mercaptans.
To totally eliminate skunk smell the direct source needs to be removed, and utilize specific deodorizing detergents that break down the chemical components causing the odor. Without removing the actual source air fresheners and deodorizers alone only slightly mask the source. In some cases such as a dead skunk the disturbing smell may last for several months or until fully decomposed.
Our deodorization services utilize the most effective and safe deodorizing chemicals on the market that help eliminate skunk odor fast. Have a skunk odor issue needing to be resolved? Call Baker Wildlife Control today!
Skunks are one of the top five calls we get, and because skunks do not fully hibernate we seem to handle issues with them all year long. The busiest time for skunks is in the fall and the spring. February and early March is mating season for skunks where activity really begins to pick up. Male skunks will have an increased range where they seek out wintering female den sites often found under common structure types on a property. In the month May female skunks give birth to 2 to 10 babies, or kits. Like other ground dwelling animals skunks will often times take up residence and dig under sheds porches, decks and old foundations they have access beneath offering them shelter. Available food sources near the property such as bird feeders, pet food left outside, or unsecured garbage cans, and lawns that carry a lot of grubs are also calling cards for skunks to live nearby and create a perfect scenario for food and shelter.
The most effective way to eliminate skunks from gaining access and digging under structure types is to install in-ground barriers. A small trench may be dug out at the base of the length or perimeter of the affected area where subterranean fencing made of heavy gauge galvanized wire mesh is attached placed deep in the ground minimally 12 inches deep and taper away 12 inches beneath the ground. Where aesthetics are a concern or minor carpentry is necessary for the installation the exclusionary fencing material types are modified to accomodate any application.
We offer a standard one-year repair and installation warranty that is renewable upon annual inspection. If an animal gains access through our repair work, we will remove the problematic animal and fix the original repair work at no charge. Service agreements and warranty details are provided to each client upon inspection. Structures that have building materials becoming of substandard rotten or weak condition may require renovation prior to, or during Baker Wildlife Control processes in order to provide a warranty.