It might make a good story later, but it can be a little terrifying when you look outside your kitchen window and see a small black and white animal with a bushy tail going through your garbage. It might look like a cat at first glance, but then you see that distinctive white stripe down its back and wish you would’ve secured the lid a little tighter.
Skunks are scavengers, quiet, tricky and stinky, able to make messes wherever they wander.
Sometimes they’re on your property and you don’t even know it. The good thing is, if you know what to look for, you can save yourself from a nasty encounter.
What are signs you may have a skunk on your Arizona property?
If you find clumps of fur or droppings that you know aren’t from your dog, you might have a skunk nearby. When they can’t find food in easy garbage cans, they dig, so if you have compost that has been disturbed or grass that has been dug up, you might have a new visitor. Even when they don’t spray, skunks leave a lingering bad scent.
Skunks may be attracted to your property to make a den if you have a place where they can stay hidden, such as under your deck or woodpile. They also like gardens and free meals, so leaving food outside for dogs or cats is like inviting them to dinner.
How Should You Handle an Encounter?
Skunks are nocturnal and have poor eyesight, and if you run into one at night on your property, the best thing to do is slowly back away from it. Try to move out of its line of sight. You don’t want to put it in a position to feel trapped or cornered, and you also don’t want to startle it.
Running away is also a bad idea because your sudden movement could trigger it to feel defensive, which could cause it to spray. The best thing to do is slowly move away without turning your back on it until you’re about 10 feet away because that is about how far their spray goes.
What About an Encounter with Your Pet?
Skunks aren’t typically aggressive animals, but if your pet startles them, chases, or otherwise engages them in a way that makes them defensive, your pet may experience what skunks are infamous for, their foul-smelling spray.
They will stamp their feet, hiss, and raise their tails in warning to your pet, but if they still feel threatened, they will spray.
If at all possible, don’t take your pet inside your home if they have been sprayed. Give him a bath outside and get rid of his collar. Use rubber gloves so you don’t get the spray on yourself and be careful of his eyes and mouth. A combination of dish soap, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide can relieve your furry pet from his misery and help him smell clean and fresh again.
When Should You Call Wildlife Removal?
Unless you see it leave your property, you should call wildlife removal services immediately. They can inspect your property for a den, safely capture and relocate the animal, and keep you and your loved ones safe. An experienced wildlife removal expert will take precautions to deter future invasions.
If you wait for a couple of days to see if it goes away on its own, you risk having it damage your yard and garden, as well as possible encounters. They may be small, but they pack a powerfully smelly punch, and the sooner they are off your property, the safer you’ll be.
Overall
Although there is a lot of negativity surrounding skunks, they play a key ecological role by keeping insect and rodent populations in check and clearing animal carcasses, creating a healthier environment. Skunks just want to live quiet, easy lives, and if they can do this under your porch eating food you put out for neighborhood cats, they will.
Skunk Removal Services in Maricopa County
If you believe you have a skunk who needs to be evicted from your property contact the wildlife professionals at Critter Evictors in Scottsdale for more information.