FAQ: When do skunks have babies?

How do you get a skunk to leave?

A bright light or a motion sensor flood light will scare skunks away. Most animals, including skunks, dislike the smell of citrus fruits. Place orange or lemon peels around the yard as a natural skunk repellent. Predator urine (dogs, coyotes) can be used to repel a skunk.

How do I get rid of a skunk under my house?

How to Get Rid of Skunk If skunks are under a shed, porch, or house, inspect the structure, and find the entry hole(s). If skunks are under a building the best option is to install an exclusion barrier around the building, and a one-way exclusion door on an opening, or the proper sized cage traps..

What time do skunks come out at night?

Skunks are nocturnal, usually active from early evening through the night. They usually spend their days sleeping in dens, although during the warm months they may bed in vegetation. Dens are usually below ground but may be found in a stream or pond banks, lumber piles, or beneath porches or in crawl spaces.

Do skunks stay in the same area?

From late summer through early spring, skunks will rarely stay at the same den site for more than a few days, so you can simply wait until they move on before sealing off access to the den site. From early spring through summer, females with young may stay at a den site longer.

Will a skunk chase you?

In reality, skunks are shy, docile creatures. They do not want to spray and only do so when there are no escape options available. If a family of skunks takes up residence on your property in the Kitchener-Waterloo area, it warrants prompt skunk removal for various reasons, but there is no reason to fear an attack.

What do skunks hate the most?

It may seem ironic, but skunks hate certain odors (as if they have room to judge). Citrus, ammonia, mothballs and predator urine (dog, coyote, etc) are three smells that can scare off skunks. If you use mothballs or ammonia -soaked cotton balls, be sure to keep them far away from children.

Why would a skunk spray under my house?

Typically, skunk smell deodorization becomes necessary for one of these reasons: Skunks are known to spray under houses — generally wherever their nests are located. • A skunk simply sprayed the outdoors near your house, and the smell seeped in through the HVAC system or cracks found near your home’s doors and windows.

Do coffee grounds repel skunks?

The great smell masks the skunk odor well, especially when combined with the vinegar smell. Once you are skunk -proofed, enjoy your coffee grounds after brewing them, and sleep well. Tip: The de-stinking works by the strong coffee smell, so for some strongly aromatic suggestions, see below.

Will Irish Spring soap keep skunks away?

Does Irish Spring soap keep skunks away? You can buy Irish Spring soap for cheap and cut the bar up into squares. Then place the squares around your trash and other parts of your garden. The smell of the soap may help keep them away..

How small of a hole can a skunk get through?

Since skunks are burrowing animals, they will make homes underneath houses, sheds, decks, and other above-ground structures. Seal them off as well as possible – skunks can fit through holes as small as four inches. Three-foot high wire mesh, like chicken wire, works well; bury it at least one foot deep.

Why do I smell skunk every night?

If you’re smelling a skunk at night, it likely means that there is one closeby who has recently sprayed in defense. The stronger the smell, the closer the skunk is.

What time of year are skunks most active?

Activity: Skunks are nocturnal, so they are most active at night. They do not hibernate, but they tend to be inactive during the coldest months in winter, when many gather in communal dens for warmth. For the remainder of the year, skunks are generally solitary, living and foraging alone.

Will a skunk spray in its den?

Skunks can be a nuisance when they burrow through trash, make their dens under porches and sheds, and of course secrete their foul-smelling spray to ward off threats.

How long can a skunk stay in its den?

Skunks typically have a single litter of four to six babies in May-June; skunks den in old woodchuck burrows, hollow logs, wood or rock piles, or under buildings and stone walls. The young remain in the den for about eight weeks.

Will a skunk leave on its own?

A: Skunks will take advantage of cavities under decks and sheds to raise their young. However, they will leave as soon as the young are old enough. The simplest option is to wait for the skunks to leave on their own, and then seal off their entry hole with hardware cloth if you don’t want skunks to return.