Skunk Removal, Prevention and what to do if you get sprayed!

Skunks are often cute and harmless animals from afar but once they spray, that is never the case; skunks are not the greatest choice of company to have wandering outside of your home and can easily become a nuisance to you, your family, pets and property.

Skunk Spray

Skunks are notorious for their rancid skunk smell. As a means of survival, animals develop defense mechanisms that help them survive in the wild and fend off predators. These methods include camouflaging, poison and the emission of foul odors -including skunk spray.

Skunk odor is a common problem that can be detected far from the targeted area due to its very distinguishable and foul smell. Skunk spray is a blend of sulphurous oils that are released when a skunk feels threatened, in order to fend away any predators. Skunks often spray this as their last defensive resort, because their bodies produce and withhold a limited amount of the skunk oil.

Skunk spray contains the compound known as thiol which is also present in rotting flesh and feces, giving it its strong and putrid scent. The odor is bad enough on its own but can only get worse once combined and reacted with water. This chemical reaction makes all attempts to wash the odor away backfire on a skunk’s threat. It also contains the compound thioacetate, which makes the smell last longer and harder to get rid off.

Skunk Spray and Domestic Pets

In addition to wild animals being sprayed, it is also quite common for skunks to spray domestic house pets as well, so it is important to take precautions for the safety of your pet. If your pet comes home with their fur smelling like skunk, there are a number of odor eliminating methods that you can try at home.

  • Option 1: It can be difficult to remove the pungent skunk odor from thick dog coats but Paul Krebaum’s “baking soda and peroxide” formula can get the job done.

Mix the following ingredients in a bucket:

  • 1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide
  • 1/4 cup of baking soda
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons liquid soap (not detergent)

Wash your pet thoroughly and massage the solution into the fur, letting the solution set for roughly 5 minutes or until the odor is gone. Repeat if necessary. Allowing it to set in the fur gives way for the chemical reactions between the solution and skunk oil compounds to take place; the oxygen molecules from the soapy solution bond to the odor-causing thiols, resulting in a neutralization reaction and the skunk odor finally eliminated!

It is recommended to wash your pet outdoors as soon as the solution is mixed. Moreover, the solution can bring a stinging sensation to the eyes and open cuts, so it is important to be mindful while washing your pet near the eye area and to do so while wearing gloves. Note: for bigger pets, add lukewarm water as needed to obtain full coverage.

 

  • Option 2: There are numerous skunk odor removal products that you can purchase over the counter. Skunk shampoos, deodorants and sprays can be used to rid your pet of the skunk stench and will provide the odor control your pet needs.

Skunks And Pet Health Risks

Skunk smell is horrid and the pungent spray is not only harmful on the nose – it also poses multiple health risks. When a skunk sprays relatively close to an animal’s face, it can bring serious discomfort and in many cases, temporary blindness. If your pet has been sprayed in the face, make sure to flush the eyes and mouth with water immediately. Skunk spray can also cause animals to vomit, squint, drool, sneeze and have seizures.

The thiol component in skunk oil leads to the destruction of red blood cells, resulting in anemia. As a consequence of skunk spray, there have been a few cases of anemia among house pets. A dog was reportedly able to recover through a mild case of anemia. Another dog suffered from a severe case of anemia, and passed away after undergoing a seizure.

If your pet has been a victim of skunk spray, take the extra step forward and inspect the animal’s skin for any possible bite marks, seeing as skunks are one of the most common carriers of rabies. If your pet has been sprayed, the encounter with a rabid skunk is very unlikely. Although healthy skunks are most likely to spray other animals while rabies carrying skunks are more likely to exhibit extremely aggressive or fearless behaviour, it doesn’t hurt to check your pet for any bite marks.

Skunks and Rabies

Rabies is a viral disease among mammals that not only poses a threat to animals but to humans as well. It is transmitted through the spread of saliva, from bites or exposure to open wounds, and affects the central nervous system.

Some rabies symptoms include behavioural changes, loss of appetite, excessive drooling and becoming partially or completely paralyzed. Rabies is quite often fatal at the appearance of clinical signs; the infected can die within 7-10 days after showing symptoms.

In order to reduce the risk of obtaining rabies, have your pet under supervision while wandering outside; do not leave them unattended. Also, common rabies carriers (skunks, raccoons and foxes) are most active at night so try to let your pets out during the day as much as possible.

Skunks And Property Damage

From their rancid skunk spray to the possible transmissions of rabies, it is clear to see how skunks can pose a threat to you, your family and pets, but these creatures can be problematic towards your property as well. Skunks have a nasty habit of destroying home gardens by eating their way through fresh fruits and vegetables. They sometimes like to scavenge through human trash as well.

Another issue that skunks bring forward to homeowners is physical lawn destruction.  Skunks like to dig 3-4 inch deep holes in the ground while on the search for small insects to eat. They also like to dig burrows under buildings and porches.

How To Avoid Skunks

Despite the many problems that skunks may cause, there are a number of ways to avoid these nuisances and to keep these creatures away from you, your home, your family and your pets.

Skunks are most active at night so to avoid them from sneaking around your property in the dark, consider installing lights in your yard and keep existing lights on to ward these rodents away. Investing in lawn motion detector sprinklers is also an open option to ward off unwanted pests.

Skunks are problematic because of their dietary habits. They dig holes in the ground and eat homegrown gardens, so installing fences and securing trash bins shut can discourage skunks from wandering onto your property!

If you notice signs of wildlife in your house give us a call. At SOS Wildlife Control Inc., we provide wildlife control services for residential, commercial, and industrial clients, guaranteeing effective results every single time. Let us help you solve your wildlife problems. Taking action before it’s too late will help eliminate animal damage repair costs. We are available 24/7, 365 days a year for emergency services, and can easily be reached at 1-800-981-0330. Don’t wait, call us to schedule an appointment for a thorough inspection, removal and prevention to help evacuate all your unwanted wildlife guests in the most humane way possible.

Call SOS Wildlife 1.800.981.0330

 

Can Skunk Removal Can Help You Avoid the Damage & Noise?

Last Updated: June 2016

Let’s just say it. You’ve accepted the facts, you know you have to deal with it, you don’t want to but you know you need to, so you might as well get Toronto Skunk Removal. This can be a chore, for some, to feel like their day is interrupted by the need to call for a Toronto Skunk Removal service and wait until someone comes around to help get rid of the skunk. The alternative? You’re going to need to continue to have to deal with the nuisance of having wildlife indoors. The noises in the house, damage costs you’ll need to face, potential health risks you can get. You can conduct Toronto Skunk Removal yourself, though, right? Technically, you can try – but you probably don’t want to. The number of hazards you put yourself at risk of, potentially harming the animal, yourself or others isn’t the best deal. Perhaps opting for Toronto skunk removal isn’t so bad! It might actually be a great idea, to let a professional wildlife removal service take care of this business for you. Someone trust worthy, an expert with years of experience and conducts a humane practice. We think this is a great idea.

Skunk Removal

Toronto is a great large city, with opportunity at every corner, events to experience, different foods to try and people to meet. The variety of options you have in Toronto is countless, which makes it a fantastic place to live in. Unfortunately, the city also faces the need for wildlife control, specifically, Toronto skunk removal. The concrete jungle, downtown is filled with a whole bunch of nooks and crannies for skunks to hide in and get in through. They’re looking for shelter, food and water for themselves or their young, and if you’re a skunk, the city is a great place to find this. Not only does the core of the city host a population of skunks, but so does the rest of the GTA. More suburban areas, especially places near forestry or grassy areas with water sources as well as older homes or homes that require some maintenance work have their fair share of needing Toronto Skunk Removal.

Skunks

Skunks are interesting animals that are easy to spot. Well, stripe actually. Identifying a skunk is easy, but trying to deal with Toronto skunk removal yourself is not. Skunks come from the family of Mephitidae. They are smaller-medium sized mammals that are most easily identified by their black fur and the thick white stripe that goes along their back. Some skunks also grow fur that is grey, brown or beige in color (although the white stripe doesn’t change!) Another feature of skunks that is well known is the foul odor spray they omit in threatening situations. The spray comes from their anal scent glands and occurs when a skunk is being defensive.

Skunks breed late winter to early spring, from the month of February to march and give birth about 8 weeks later. Usually skunks product a batch of 5-6 young and care for them until they are independent. Skunks are omnivorous mammals. They will eat a variety of things from plants, roots and nuts, to smaller birds, rodents, eggs and more. Another thing you should know about skunks are that they are territorial. So coming up to close to a skunk, in her shelter or especially when her young is around, expect her to get defensive. This is one of the main reasons why we do not recommend people to conduct their own “do it yourself” method of Toronto Skunk Removal and recommend them to call for help instead.

Here are a couple interesting facts about skunks!

  • Skunks will not use their spray immediately when threatened. They will show warning signs first
  • Their spray takes time to ‘refill’, which is why they don’t use it sparingly
  • Skunks are extremely adaptable which is why they are found in all sorts of places. They can make a habitat out different types of environments
  • In Ontario, skunks are often one of the main carriers of the rabies virus
  • Skunks are often thought to be nocturnal, when technically they are crepuscular ( they come out during dawn or night)

SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated, Toronto Skunk Removal

When being faced for deal with Toronto skunk removal, you don’t need to be concerned with SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated taking care of it. Our technicians are licensed, trained, have years of experience when dealing with all sorts of wildlife control whether you need skunk removal to squirrel removal. In some cases, we have found situations where people have tried but were unsuccessful in evicting the skunk from their home themselves. Skunk removal requires professional service. Do it yourself methods have the potential to hurt somebody, hurt the skunk, damage your property further and it makes people at risk to more health concerns and disease. Skunks are one of the main carriers of the rabies virus in Canada. With skunks also being very territorial, they will put on an aggressive side and protect their family/shelter if they need to. If it is absolutely necessary to conduct skunk removal yourself, the City of Toronto has guidelines on how to do it. Another thing to be aware of are baby skunks. When baby skunks are involved the process of Toronto skunk removal requires the need of more care and gentle precautions as to not harm the baby skunk and to keep them with their mother. SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated has the proper knowledge and technique required to keep everybody safe, including the skunks, while being effective.

If you notice signs of wildlife in your house give us a call. At SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated, we provide superior skunk removal services for residential, commercial, and industrial clients. Let us help you solve your wildlife problems. Taking action before it’s too late will help eliminate animal damage repair costs. We can easily be reached at 1-800-981-0330. Don’t wait and call us to schedule an appointment for a thorough inspection to help evacuate all your unwanted wildlife guests in the most humane way possible.

Call SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated 1.800.981.0330 for Skunk Removal!

Recognizing, Preventing and Getting Rid of Skunks

Last Updated: May 2016

Being well informed is a great way to keep you and your family away from having to deal with getting rid of skunks throughout the year. Now, with the colder weather upon us, wildlife is more likely to make a habitat out of your property, either under your porches, beneath the sheds, around a wood pile etc. Unfortunately, getting rid of skunks can be tricky. Although not poisonous, their foul defensive spray is something that most people would like to avoid being hit by. This spray leaves victims feeling uncomfortable with a terrible stench that is difficult to remove and may cause burning sensation if sprayed into your eye.

Getting rid of skunks effectively means having to know a little bit about them and their behavior here in Ontario. Here are a couple things you should know about skunks:

Skunk Facts

  • A skunk’s main habitat are grassy areas, but they are known to be extremely adaptable and are found in urban areas, making a home out of places like under buildings, porches etc.
  • Skunks, more specifically the striped skunk, are found in North America and can be seen all over Ontario
  • Skunks produce and excrete a foul smelling spray when threatened. Warnings are given out first to deter from using their spray, as it takes time to “refill”
  • A skunk will give out a warning by raising their tail. They may also stomp in circles or omit a hissing noise before they spray
  • These mammals breed around February/March and have a gestation period of about 8 weeks. Skunks produce a litter of 4-7 baby skunks at a time
  • Skunks are omnivorous, they eat both plant and meat. Their diet often consists of smaller rodents, larvae, earthworms, berries, nuts and more
  • Skunks are nocturnal. They become more active at night which makes getting rid of skunks easier in the day

To avoid hosting and having a potential skunk problems there are a couple things that you can do, such as keeping your yard clean and free from garbage or pet foods. When skunks recognize this as a food source, they are likely to return make a habitat out of a space nearby.  Grub and larvae come out of grassy areas or lawns in or after heavy rain or watering. Skunks also see this as food source, so avoid over-watering or keep an eye out during wet weather conditions.

Skunks do not mean any harm for no reason. When they attack, they are simply being defensive for either their own protection, the protection of their young or their territory. This is why getting rid of skunks is more difficult than preventing them from coming on to your property in the first place. Therefore, it’s best to take measures earlier than later. But in the event of a skunk already living on your property, this is what you can do.

Getting Rid of Skunks on Your Property

Please do not face a skunk head on. We do not recommend taking DIY approaches to facing a skunk, always seek out a professional technician to do this. These measures below are only to be conducted when the skunk is clearly out of site.

  1. Look for the entrance to their den. It is often a dark cornered area. Keep a look out for spaces beneath the porch or holes around the shed.
  2. Once found, fill the entrance with a temporary barrier (balled up paper) that can be broken out of.
    • If the barrier remains intact for 4-5 days and there are no longer any sign of a skunk living there, the entrance can be sealed permanently
    • If the barrier is disturbed, a skunk or other wildlife may be living there. Do not seal the entrance permanently.
  3. If the skunk is still living in that space, encourage it to leave by keeping on bright lights, making noises or install a one-way door to keep it from coming in (keep a look out for young skunks, as a one-way door should not be installed if a skunk is caring for her young in that space. In the event where you are faced with baby skunks, call a professional wildlife removal company to assist you).
  4. Once gone, permanently seal the entrance and look for other spaces where a skunk could relocate.

If you are having trouble getting rid of skunks, hopefully these steps can help you be skunk-free. In any event, if you are still experiencing difficulty with them, give us a call and we’ll assist you in safe, humane skunk removal. At SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated, we provide superior wildlife removal services for residential, commercial, and industrial clients. Let us help you solve your wildlife problems. Taking action before it’s too late will help eliminate animal damage repair costs. We can easily be reached at 1-800-981-0330. Call us to schedule an appointment for a thorough inspection to help evacuate all your unwanted wildlife guests in the most humane way possible.

Call SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated 1.800.981.0330 for Wildlife Control!

 

 

Skunk Problem

Last Updated: May 2016

Skunks are extremely well known for their horrible smelling, predator deterrent sprays. For that, residents of the City of Toronto and the GTA have been struggling skunk problems.

The Main Skunk Problem – Smell

One of the main problem skunks cause is their ability to spray a disastrous mist that can travel as far as ten feet. The scent from a skunk’s spray can linger for hours, days, sometimes months. The smell is one of the main indicators you have skunk problem. Skunks usually use their sprays to deter their predators or when they feel threatened from noise, weather conditions etc.

Aside from their presence being a nuisance in or around one’s neighborhood, skunks’ adaptability to different habitats can make them satisfied guests. Skunk under porches, skunk under decking, skunk inside sheds and skunk between structures/walls are all common skunk problem ‘s. Skunk control is hard work as getting rid of skunks would definitely require professional services. In the interim, these stripy animals can dig holes in your lawn, damage and contaminate crop in agricultural settings, and general skunk odor which could seep into fabrics and surfaces. While the odorous surfaces may need as much as complete replacement, the actual skunk removal or skunk family removal is only a job for the professionals. As we do with all other wildlife removal needs, we take a humane approach with skunks. Our professionally trained technicians can inspect and understand the behavior of a skunk, detect their entry and exit points, close their entry points using mesh and traps. Our technicians take the skunks to a safe, natural environment, a reasonable distance from your property to avoid re-denning and a return of your skunk problem.

Controlling a Skunk Problem

As with most other wildlife, there are certain things you can do to avoid skunk infestation. Keeping inside and outside of your residential or commercial property clean, tidy, and organized is key. Because of their superior digging skills, and long, strong nails, skunks can cause damage and cut through garbage and compost bins without hassle and get to food remnants. Preventative measures can be key in skunk control. Feed all domestic pets indoors, keep pet food contained. It is a dangerous and uncomfortable experience for pets to get sprayed by skunks. The odor and the chemicals from the spray that the skunk generates can burn pets’ eyes, and the odor stays on their fur and skin for long periods of time. There are home remedies to provide instant relief to pets in case of a skunk confrontation. Be wary of structural issues like holes, cracks, which could provide easy entrance and exit points for skunks. Sealing any structural entry points is the number one preventative measure to a skunk problem.

When it comes to a skunk problem, we don’t recommend any DIY options. Although there are ways one could prevent a skunk problem becoming an infestation, it’s very difficult to actually remove them from one’s property. Ministry of Natural Resources protect wildlife and if body gripping traps or poison are used during the capture of skunks, one can be charged up to $5000 and face criminal charges for animal cruelty. Diseases like rabies, leptospirosis, and distemper can be a few of the diseases that could easily be transmitted to humans and pets during the removal process, not to mention the everlasting odor of the skunk spray. Humans who have been sprayed by skunks have been noted to be discomforted by the smell for up to 4 months.

Skunk Facts:

Aside from being known for their smelly sprays and unique stripy appearances, there are actually so much more to know about these problematic members of the wildlife.

  • They are predominantly inhabitants of North America
  • They are extremely adaptable and can survive in different habitats given there is food and shelter
  • They are omnivores, consuming a diet of both plant and insects/grubs. They are opportunistic eaters so they are flexible with their diets as seasons change
  • They can survive throughout the year, from the most extreme weather conditions to the least. Although not extremely active, they seek shelter under porches
  • Much like raccoons, skunks are nocturnal, conducting most of their activities at nighttime
  • They have extremely strong forefeet and long nails, making them great diggers. They are known to dig holes in lawns, gardens, parks, golf courses etc.
  • Although the most powerful, spraying is not the first method of defense for skunks. They tend to growl, spit, fluff its fur, and stomp the ground
  • Compared to their friends in the wild, skunks are shy and they don’t like to fight other animals
  • Skunks live between 2-3 years
  • Skunks are very smart, they will roll a furry caterpillar on the ground to get rid of its hair before eating it
  • Skunks’ stripes point to the anal gland where they spray from
  • Before spraying their predators, skunks do a warning dance which include stomping on the ground and hissing
  • Skunk spray is highly flammable
  • Skunks don’t like altercation, if proper measures are followed, skunk control can easily be maintained
  • Many wildlife control companies in Ontario prefer not to provide skunk removal services

At SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated, we provide superior skunk removal services for residential, commercial, and industrial clients. Let us help you solve your skunk problem ‘s. We  can easily be reached at 1-800-981-0330. Don’t wait and call us to schedule an appointment for a thorough inspection to help evacuate all your unwanted wildlife problems.

Call SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated 1.800.981.0330 for your skunk problem

Skunk Under Decking

Last Updated: May 2016

Do you have a Skunk Under Decking?

What do you do if you find a skunk under decking, or a skunk under a porch or even anywhere on your property? First step is to keep a safe distance as a skunk can spray up to 10 ft. The smell is vile and it is difficult to remove.

A skunk under decking is very common as it is a nice isolated area for them to make their home, but it’s important for you to remove them as they will keep returning to that den. You may first realize you have a skunk by it’s smell, its very potent, or you may see it entering and leaving at night, either way it’s best to call a professional for skunk removal.

How to know you have a Skunk Under Decking

Four ways to identify if you have a Skunk Under Decking is sight, damage or odor.

Sight

The easiest way to know you have a skunk is to spot it. You may see it entering or leaving however this could be rare as they are very skilled at staying hidden. Skunks are nocturnal and they enter and leave mainly at night.

Damage

You can also identify a skunk problem by the damage they cause. They often will destroy things that gets in their way in their search for food. They will knock over garbage cans, break glass, and destroy property. The longer you have a Skunk Under Decking the more damage they will cause. Having a skunk for two weeks will cause a lot of damage to your property.

What to do if you have a Skunk Under Decking?

Eliminate Attractants

Other ways you can resolve a skunk problem without trapping the animal is to eliminate whatever is attracting the skunk to your property – garbage, pet food, assess your house for weak points where they may enter.

There are several risks when conducting do-it-yourself skunk removal and you may spend a lot of time and money on gimmicks that work only temporarily. We really do highly recommend hiring someone to remove skunks professionally. We do not advise you to try live trapping.

Read our Skunk removal page to learn how we professional remove skunks. The most humane way is using a one-way door as there is little to no human-wildlife interaction.

Prevent future Skunk Under Decking

To prevent future animals entering your home, SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated provides wildlife prevention for your home. Wildlife Prevention will help keep them out and is a long term solution. Read our Wildlife Prevention page for more information.

Call SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated for Skunk Removal

647-994-9453

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