August 28, 2007
Need Some Suggestions
Written by Margo Maguire in Jaunty PostI live in an urban setting. My city is small (only about one square mile) and it’s just north of Detroit. We’re close enough to the big city to be more URban than SUBURban - we don’t get deer in our back yards, and we never see hawks or other big birds of prey. We have sidewalks with skateboarders, rollerbladers, joggers. Hoards come through with strollers and scooters. Our neighborhood is small, the houses all different, and most of us know about 50% of the other residents here.
But we’ve got skunks.
Whenever we come into my neighborhood late at night, we can smell them. About ten years ago, we had one nesting under our front porch. The porch is brick, but there was a hole just big enough for him (or maybe them!) to squeeze into. A guy at the hardware store told me to put an ammonia-soaked rag into the hole and wait … the skunk(s) would vacate. He was right. It took about a day and a half. But it doesn’t help that these pesky critters are everywhere else. Sometimes their stink wakes me up at night. My eyes and throat burn, I’m nauseated, and I can’t go back to sleep. I can’t stand it!
Early in the summer, I happened to be in line behind a lady at the grocery store, and we each had a big bag of cat food in our carts. We got to chatting and she mentioned that she didn’t have a cat, but a mother skunk had given birth to a litter of babies in her basement window well. So now she has to feed them. My thought was: WHAT!!!!?? Are you nuts!!!?? And then she told me she lives on the street behind me!
Why didn’t this dingbat call Animal Control? Skunks are not meant to reproduce and thrive in a crowded city! And since they do … What can I do about them? Do any of you have any suggestions? Surely there have been other areas where this has been a problem.
I know that skunks keep the rodent population down, but hey - I’ve got three cats. And they don’t like the whitestriped competition. And my dogs - I hate to think of the mess when one of them gets sprayed. (I just know it’ll be Ranger, the goofball, who gets it).
So help me out here. All suggestions will be taken seriously! I think I’ll draw a name from those who send me usable suggestions, and send out a complimentary copy of A Warrior’s Taking (or the winner’s choice of another one of my books).
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Stefanie D Says:
We don’t have skunks here. But I’ve looked it up abd this is what I’ve found:
- As skunks commonly make their dens in wood or junk piles, it is recommended that these be kept to a minimum.
- Skunks are scavengers and frequently go after garbage. Garbage should be stored in tightly sealed cans.
- Another common method of discouraging skunks is to use a general purpose pesticide on the grounds to reduce the occurrence of the insects upon which skunks feed.
- A fence extending one or two feet into the ground is sufficient to prevent skunks from making a den underneath a house or other structure.
There are also tips for scent removel (you never know
)
- home remedies: vinegar or tomato juice
- A more complex and effective remedy includes application of a mixture containing hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and liquid soap. One quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide, one quarter cup of baking soda, and one teaspoon of liquid soap. Bathe your pet in this solution and rinse with tap water. Krebaum warned that there is no way to store this potion. “If you put the ingredients in a bottle, the whole thing would explode.”
I hope this is useful info!
AndreaW Says:
Margo, my husband uses a product called “liquid fence” and it keeps out all kinds of animals. Works like a charm. And I’ll have to second what Stefanie suggested about killing the bugs that skunks feed on. We had an armadillo problem until we got rid of the bugs and used liquid fence. Good luck to you!
April Says:
You might want to take a look at this site. Lots of ideas on there…
http://www.howtogetridofstuff.com/pest-control/how-to-get-rid-of-skunks/
Personally I’ve used the mothball idea before. You put them out, the skunk eats them, gets sick and stays clear of your yard. Of course if you want the skunk to move on perminantly, you have to make it leave its den which is harder if you dont call someone to do it who is a professional. Still, check the site for more ideas and even a step by step on how to get rid of the pests.
pearl Says:
Ammonia. Soak towels in ammonia and leave them around the area.
Kathryn Says:
What is animal control and what are your city representatives doing about this problem? If the scent is nauseating at night, why isn’t the city taking some action?
I have used the ammonia and the mothballs, but those solutions only take care of your yard and the scent carries. Perhaps a neighbourhood meeting to encourage as many as possible to use these methods and to bug city hall until they help you out with humane traps or something.
Maureen Says:
Skunks are nocturnal so leaving outside lights on could discourage them from your house.
Haven Rich Says:
Maureen, sadly, lights don’t discourage skunks. It does work on most possums though
The best you can do for your private property is the above advice. I highly recommend getting several cans of tomato juice, just in case.
And I really recommend what Kathryn advised. If you had a small party or something (if ya’ll don’t have the neighborhood meetings) where all your neighbors could visit, you could mention it. Or you could make flyers and post them on doors and such of each person.
I highly doubt your neighbors are over joyed these critters are there. So if you could work together, then you might have a better shot.
Good luck!!
Ps. You could always have Jaunty take care of the problem!
Helen Says:
I wish I could help Margo the problem sounds awful but we don’t have skunks here in Australia so I don’t know much about them I hope you find a solution I think a neighberhood meeting might come up with a solution.
Helen
catslady Says:
My only added comment would be to never leave any cat or dog food dishes outside - I feed ferals and that’s when the other wildlife shows up. Luckily (for my ferals but not my wallet) my cats just stand aside and let them eat and they go on their way. Then of course the cats want more food lol. I was amazed to see the cats less than a foot away from raccoons, possums and skunks.
Margo Maguire Says:
Wow - I see a lot of good suggestions here. Gonna have to try some of these!
Shana Says:
I don’t have any suggestions, Margo. I rarely see skunks around here. We have lots of squirrels and possums, but I like having those around. Good luck!
Christy H. Says:
I live in a rural farm area and we have skunks also. Live traps are always an option, but then you have to deal with actually moving and relocating the skunks without getting sprayed.
A neighbor of mine uses this concoction and swears by it: Mix 8 oz. Murphy’s oil soap with 4 oz. of
castor oil and 1 oz. (a shot glass) of human urine into 1 gallon of water.
Spray this mixture on your entire yard.
Margo Maguire Says:
Christy - I love this! Just wait until I tell my husband!
ladydawgfan Says:
Is there an extension service at a local college in your area? They might have a suggestion for you to try. Also, what are the laws in MI re relocating wild animals that have been caught should you go with a Have-a-Heart trap? I know that some states forbid you to remove the animal from the area unless it is destroyed first. I don’t know about MI, but this is probably something to find out before you decide what to do.
RE what might be drawing the skunks, the only thing I clearly remember from my Girl Scout and camping days is that one of their favorite foods is chicken, so if you have a compost pile or outdoor garbage cans, make sure that you dispose of chicken bones and remains in a way that skunks cannot detect them. Try pouring 1/4 cup of a strong smelling cleaner like Lestoil or Murphy’s oil soap in the bottom of your trash bags or garbage can to mask odors and discourage foraging.
Good luck with this one.
Margo Maguire Says:
Good suggestions … but we don’t keep any compost, and our trash is in a covered container. Some of my neighbors had compost in the past, but most everyone has quit that because of a rodent problem. Which might also be a draw.
I think I’m going to have to start going to city council meetings again. Maybe if enough people demand that something be done …
Millie Bullock Says:
Since the problem here is neighborhood wide, I think the suggestions about animal control and city council may be the best idea. The neighbor who is feeding those babies is almost certainly violating fish and game regulations and you also might want to call them.
Personally, I like Haven’s suggestion of using Jaunty. Anne could dress him up in his best diplomat’s costume and he could go reason with the skunks, explain that you need a pleasing environment to write your next book.
Rainy Says:
I did a search and mostly came up with products that you shake or throw about where the skunks are, lots of them seemed to have some kind of wild animal urine in it.
One answer that seemed possible was checking into your local humane society and see if you can get a few non-harming traps from them where you would put food in and trap the skunks.
Mothballs seemed to be a recurring method for keeping them out.
Good luck.