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
- Remove all sources of food. Skunks love your cat's and dog's food and can live off of garbage like raccoons
- Locate the area where the skunk is staying. Watch it from inside the house or from a distance.
- Do not try to encounter, or surprise the skunk.
- Mix Cayenne (red pepper), Cajun Seasoning, Cinnamon, and any other hot spices you may have around the house.
- Make about 1/4 of a plastic sandwich bag full of the mixture. Mix well in the baggie.
- When the skunk is nowhere around, empty the contents of the bag, in his trail, or in the entrance to his burrow.
- 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.
- 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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