Skunks are easy to identify by appearance and smell! But these handsome mammals usually mind their own business and are more interested in digging into their dinner than what you’re doing. “They are primarily insectivores, so they provide a useful ecological service by digging up insects from the soil,” says Sheldon Owen, PhD, a wildlife extension specialist at West Virginia University. “The problem is when they decide to go under your porch or crawl space.”

Although skunks prefer insects such as maggots, maggots, wasps, crickets, and beetles, they also eat mice, voles, moles, and other small mammals and will raid beehives. Skunks occasionally eat garbage and carrion. Owen says that if given the opportunity, they will sneak into the chicken coop and eat eggs.

Because homes and gardens can be an attractive environment for some skunks, you may find them visiting yours. Here’s what to do if skunks become a problem in your yard and how to get rid of them.

What Are Skunks?

Fortunately, skunks aren’t a big problem for most homeowners. “They are not aggressive and will squirt at your dog quicker than you,” says Michael Mengak, PhD, Certified Wildlife Biologist and professor at the University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. “But they can carry rabies, so you shouldn’t touch them.”

Skunks are mammals that look more like weasels than rodents. There are two species of skunk in the Southeast: Striped skunk (mefit mephite), weighs about 8 to 10 pounds and is about the size of a cat; and the less common spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius), weighs about 5 or 6 pounds. Mengak says spotted skunks are a species of concern because scientists aren’t sure why their population has declined in recent years.

How to Tell If You Have a Skunk

You may see the animal coming out of its den, or the mother may be walking in your garden with her babies. Or you may smell urine, feces, and musk from underneath your house or shed, Mengak says. Skunks are nocturnal but will occasionally forage during daylight, especially if a nursing mother is present.

Another common sign of skunks is the presence of 1- to 3-inch cone-shaped holes all over your lawn. “Skunks are looking for grubs and worms,” says Clint Waltz, PhD, turfgrass specialist with the University of Georgia Extension Service. “This is an indication that your lawn may have underlying insect problems that may not yet have reached a high enough threshold to cause damage to the grass.” But skunks know the bugs are there.

Why Can Skunks Be a Problem?

While skunks are good at eating insects and other pests in the gardenyou don’t want to attract them or let them settle. In addition to rabies, they can also carry diseases such as distemper and leptospirosis, for which pets are vaccinated. And they can be a nuisance, digging up plants and gardens looking for insects. Once they establish a home in your garden, they can become territorial.

Ways to Keep Skunks Away

Removing potential food sources and removing skunks from the area It is the most effective way to keep them away from your home. But you can also try to make your garden less attractive to them with the following tips:

• With grass damageMake sure it’s a skunk. Waltz says other possible culprits are armadillos or birds. If you’re not sure, set up a game camera.
• Treat your lawn for insects. For example, if you determine that they are eating maggots, You may need to apply grub controlBut that won’t solve the problem if they’re also digging up worms, Waltz says.
• Do not leave your pet’s food bowls outside. Mengak says this is a surefire way to invite not only skunks but also other unwanted guests like opossums.
• Make sure the trash is in a closed bin.
• If you keep bees, raise the beehives off the ground.
• Remove bushes, firewood piles or rock piles, Owen says this could provide homes for nesting or a place to hibernate in the winter.
• Exclude skunks from areas such as under sheds, decks or rigged crawl spaces. Mengak says bury it a few inches underground.
• For pesky skunks living under your home or persistent skunks that won’t stop digging in your yard, you may need to hire a nuisance wildlife expert for removal, says Owen.
• Remember that skunks can carry rabies, so they should never be handled, Mengak says. If you find a skunk that is disoriented, lethargic, or doesn’t seem to be afraid of people or other animals, contact your doctor. state wildlife department.

What Should You Do If You Are Sprayed by a Skunk?

Skunks squirt an oily, musk-like substance at animals and humans when they feel threatened. They aim accurately up to 10 feet, but the spray can reach up to 20 feet. Warning signs that a skunk is ready to spray include jumping, stomping its front feet, arching its back, clicking its teeth, and hissing. Spotted skunks can do a handstand before spraying and smell even worse than striped skunks, but they are less likely to spray and will climb when threatened.

If you or your curious dog— If sprayed, flush eyes immediately with cold water. While there are commercial products available for odor removal, you may not have time to go to the store. Instead, use this recipe created by chemist Paul Krebaum in the early ’90s:

• 1 liter 3 percent hydrogen peroxide
• ¼ cup baking powder
• 1 to 2 teaspoons liquid dish soap, such as Dawn

Mix well in a large, clear container and use immediately while it continues to foam to rinse off the spray, then rinse with clean water. Note: This mixture cannot be stored or stored in a closed container as the chemicals will react and explode. “Repeated applications will probably be required,” Mengak says. It is not recommended as it may discolour the fabrics. Also keep away from eyes, noses and mouths. You can continue with your dog’s regular shampoo. It may require repeated attempts. The University of Arkansas also recommends not using a dryer to blow dry your pet because this can cause any remaining skunk oil to settle into the hair, fur, or skin.

Does Tomato Juice Remove Skunk Odor?

No! This ancient remedy does not chemically neutralize the odor, Mengak says. What actually happens is that the nose blocks the skunk smell, which is called “smell fatigue,” and tricks the nose into smelling tomato juice instead of the skunk smell. If left untreated, skunk odor can last for months.