How do I get rid of a skunk?

A:

This is a good time to be working on this project, because pregnant female skunks will be delivering young May through June— at which point a denning skunk problem becomes much more complex!

Discouraging skunks

You need to identify where the skunk(s) is/are getting under the house. Skunks are strong diggers, so you'll need to use durable materials such as welded wire mesh ("hardware cloth") buried beneath the surface and extending to block any surface-level entrance you've identified.

Leave the most active entrance open until your final evening of work. When you can assure the skunk(s) is/are out, block that last entrance.

An alternative approach would be to live-trap the skunk(s) in combination with the blocking of the entrances. You might consider contracting with a licensed Wildlife Control Operator who already owns live traps built specifically for skunks (solid walls to contain the spray).

There are no deterrents that will make the skunks "want to go elsewhere", so blocking the entrance to the spaces they've discovered will be your best and most effective short-term and long-term option.

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