Skunk Identification & Prevention

What are skunks?

Skunks are nocturnal wild animals known for the foul-smelling oily substance they spray from glands at the base of their tail. Skunks use their potent spray as a means of defense.

Skunks are about the size of your average housecat, and their bodies have a coat of black fur with white markings (stripes, spots, or swirls). Their white and black coloring acts as a warning to other animals. Skunks live solitary lives, typically only gathering in groups during mating season.

Are skunks dangerous?

Skunks are wild animals, and though they have become comfortable living near people, we should never be comfortable sharing our outdoor spaces with them.

There are many threats that skunks pose to people and our properties:

• Skunks carry and spread disease-causing pathogens, including rabies.

• Skunks introduce onto our properties parasites like fleas and ticks.

• Skunks are destructive. They will dig through trash and gardens and tear up our yards while searching for insects to eat.

Furthermore, being sprayed by a startled skunk is a very unpleasant experience. If you own pets and share your yard with a skunk, it's only a matter of time until you have to deal with a smelly cat or dog.

If a skunk ever sprays your pet, the best remedy is to mix a quart of hydrogen peroxide, a teaspoon of Dawn or another dish detergent, and a quarter cup of baking soda. Lather your pet's fur with the mixture and rinse thoroughly. Make sure not to get any in their eyes and use all the mixture immediately; you cannot store it!

Why do I have a skunk problem?

Like many other wild animals, skunks have had to adapt to living with people as we have expanded into their natural habitats. These opportunistic pests have learned that there is likely easy access to food wherever people live.

Things like gardens, outdoor pet feeding stations, chicken coops, compost, and unsecured trash cans will quickly attract the attention of skunks. Once skunks discover your property offers food sources, they will return each evening to see what is available to fill their hungry bellies.

Professional skunk control is the best solution to any skunk problem!

Where will I find skunks?

Skunks can become a problem in urban areas, suburban neighborhoods, and rural areas. Properties near a water source, wooded areas, or large open fields are most likely to experience problems with these pests.

Skunks will create dens under sheds, patios, decks, building foundations, woodpiles, brush piles, and construction debris.

Because skunks are nocturnal, it means they are most active just after dusk through the nighttime hours. After, and with full stomachs, the skunks happily retreat to their dens in the early morning hours. While skunks don't hibernate, during the winter months, they do spend most of their time in their dens.

How do I get rid of skunks?

Skunks are more than a nuisance wildlife problem; they pose serious threats to people, pets, and properties. Skunk removal should always be handled by an experienced professional. Trust D&K Pest Control to quickly and completely remove skunks from your Illinois property. After contacting us, our professionals will come to your property to identify where skunks are living, place traps, and help you take the steps necessary to stop them from coming back. For the best pest control in Aurora, please call now.

How can I prevent skunks?

Skunks are smelly, dangerous pests; taking the time to make your property less attractive to them is essential.

• Never leave trash bags outside; always place trash in containers with locking lids. 

• Maintain gardens by regularly harvesting fruit and vegetables. If you own chickens, collect their eggs daily. 

• Get rid of bird and wild animal feeders from your property.

• Avoid feeding pets outside.

• Remove brush and other yard debris from your property.

• Store firewood a distance away from the outside walls of your house.

• Install fencing under decks and sheds to keep skunks out.

If skunks are comfortable on your property, immediately contact the wildlife experts at D&K Pest Control for local pest control near you.