Get a Skunk to Leave

So you've discovered you have a skunk living in your yard or under the back steps. How do you get him to leave on his own?

Steps

  1. Remove all sources of food. Skunks love your cat's and dog's food and can live off of garbage like raccoons
  2. Locate the area where the skunk is staying. Watch it from inside the house or from a distance.
  3. Do not try to encounter, or surprise the skunk.
  4. Mix Cayenne (red pepper), Cajun Seasoning, Cinnamon, and any other hot spices you may have around the house.
  5. Make about 1/4 of a plastic sandwich bag full of the mixture. Mix well in the baggie.
  6. When the skunk is nowhere around, empty the contents of the bag, in his trail, or in the entrance to his burrow.
  7. The skunk gets the mixture on his paws, when he eats or cleans himself, and soon, he will no longer be comfortable at your home and will leave.
  8. If you have pets like cats or dogs and you take them outside to do their business, be sure to keep them on a leash so they don't get sprayed.

Tips

  • Because skunks can live off of garbage try putting your garbage can somewhere it can't reach it so you won't have to clean up the mess it might make.
  • If you don't have the time or money to bother with it you could leave a trap out and release it in a forest preserve or perhaps call animal control.
  • Skunks don't like noise or a ton of light, so making noise and turning on a couple of outdoor lights will make it feel uncomfortable and most likely it will move somewhere else.

Warnings

  • Don't pester or try to scare them, they are just as afraid of you as you are of them.
  • Avoid getting hit in the eyes, it can temporarily blind you
  • A skunk must give you a warning before it sprays: It will tap his front paws twice, raise its tail, short forward charges, and even do a handstand (spotted skunk)

Things You'll Need

  • Seasoning & Spices

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