Skunks are common in Newmarket. These furry little troublemakers love to den under decks and sheds in residential neighbourhoods. At night, they come out and feed on grubs, vegetable gardens, and garbage. Although they might look adorable, skunks have powerful sprays that will stink up the neighbourhood for days. A single spray can be smelt over 5km away. It is so powerful that even bears know to stay away from skunks. If there is a skunk living on your property, it is best that you evict it soon. Call us for safe and humane skunk removal in Newmarket.
Skunks are medium-sized mammals native to North America. There are 12 species out there and all of them are black and white. Each species is very similar, with similar markings and behaviours. The most common species is the striped skunk, which has two white stripes on its back and a white stripe in its tail. This skunk measures between 55 and 77cm in length and weighs somewhere between 1.8 and 4.5kg. In the wild, it dens in hollow tree and under rocks. Skunks are largely inactive throughout the winter, sleeping for days at a time while food is scarce.
In suburbs, skunks usually den under porches, sheds, and big trees. They might also den in crawlspaces and other enclosed areas. Skunks live low to the ground and use their big claws to dig under these structures and make dens. They make these to withstand the cold in the wintertime or to raise their young in the spring. One can recognize a skunk’s den is by the den’s entrance, which is narrow and a few inches wide. To test, you can plug the opening with a crumpled piece of paper. If the den is active, skunks will remove the piece of paper within a few days.
How to Remove Skunks Safely
Skunks are skittish animals, so you can usually remove them with a little harassment. Simply turn on some talk radio and leave it playing near the den during the day. The voices will keep the skunk from sleeping and it will feel unsafe. Likewise, you can point a flashlight into the den for the same effect. Another alternative is to surround the den with rags soaked in apple cider vinegar or dirty cat litter. The odours will have the skunk believe that there is a predator nearby. Once again, you can check if your harassment is working by plugging the den’s entrance with a piece of paper and waiting a few days.
In some cases, you might need to hire a professional. Wildlife technicians get rid of skunks very effectively by using a one-way door. They install this device right onto the den’s entrance, which forces the animal out. The skunk will simply push its way through the door when it wants to go out, then it will be unable to get back inside. Once out, the technician will return and replace the door with a skunk-proof material. If it is baby season, the technician can confirm this for you and wait until the babies are big enough to get through the door. Call us today for humane, guaranteed skunk removal.