Skunks: Coexisting with Wildlife
Background Information
- Two species of skunks live in the San Diego area, spotted and striped.
- Skunks live in every urban environment and play a role in controlling the population of black widow spiders, rodents and reptiles.
- Skunks typically have their babies from late April to early June in the San Diego area.
- All skunks, including babies, can spray.
- It is important to know that skunks can carry rabies.
- Trapping and relocating skunks is illegal and ineffective. The better solution is to remove resources such as pet food, access to garbage cans, fruit on the ground, grubs in the lawn and excess food falling from the bird feeder.
- Skunks may be found living in openings under your house, decks or wood piles.
Tips for Coexisting with Skunks:
- A persistent, faint skunk odor around a hole leading under a foundation or deck indicates a skunk may be present. To find out, cover the hole with loose dirt, and if a skunk is present, they will dig out during the night. Allow three days for this test — if dirt remains undisturbed, then close the opening with bricks, blocks, boards or hardware cloth.
- Install one-way doors on entrances to skunk dens, allowing the skunk to leave at night but barring them from re-entering. Watch for any new holes. Do not use one-way doors during May through August when babies may be in the den. If the mother cannot return, the babies will starve. This is inhumane and can also cause odor problems.
- Place rags soaked in apple cider vinegar and/or sprinkle cayenne pepper around your yard to discourage digging.
- Start a nontoxic insect control program (especially for grubs) to discourage digging.
- Fences are effective as long as they are buried at least one and a half feet in the ground.
- If a skunk strays into your garage, leave a door to the outside open and let the skunk exit on their own.
- Securely enclose pet chickens in their coop, especially at night. Repair all openings in the coop or fencing. Fencing should extend at least one and a half feet underground to prevent skunks and other animals from digging under.
- Debris and brush piles should be removed or stacked neatly to eliminate potential den sites or hiding places.
- Blow-up or plastic great horned owls may be strategically placed and periodically moved to deter skunks.
- Lighting up any denning sites and placing a portable radio nearby may cause the skunk to leave.
- Keep pet doors closed at night to prevent skunks from entering your home.
- Keep fruit trees picked and don't leave rotting fruit on the ground.
- Stop using birdseed. Skunks are attracted to it and to the birds and rodents that use the feeder.
- If possible, eliminate outdoor sources of water.
- Battery operated flashing lights, recorded human noises, scattered moth balls and vinegar-soaked rags may prevent skunks from entering your yard.
What to do if you find:
Baby Skunks:
Skunks prefer to use underground burrows or dens for their babies but may occasionally use spaces above ground, such as log hollows, crawl spaces, cars, woodpiles, rock crevices and more. Babies are kept inside the burrow until their eyes open and they can keep up with their mom. Skunks often have multiple nest sites in case their nest is damaged or a baby is outside the nest, so mom may just need time relocate her babies. Mom won’t abandon her babies simply because you touched them. However, she will not return if you are too close to the baby or nest, as humans are perceived as threats. Always attempt to renest and reunite healthy young skunks unless mom is found deceased. Please utilize this renesting and reuniting resource for more information.
Adult Skunks
Skunks play an important role in keeping nature in balance. It is important not to harm these animals. If you find one in your yard, don’t disturb them. Eliminate all food, water and shelter resources and they should leave on their own. Below are more helpful tips:
- If a skunk is living under the house, shed or wood pile during "baby season" (April to early June), it is best to wait until the babies have grown.
- It’s important to block access to the area after they have left.
- If a skunk is found to be sick or bleeding, we recommend bringing them to Project Wildlife. If you’re unable to safely contain or transport the skunk, please call San Diego Humane Society’s Humane Law Enforcement at 619-299-7012 option 1 for assistance.
Sprayed by Skunks
If a person or pet surprises a skunk in a situation where they cannot retreat, the skunk will spray in self-defense.
Skunk spray in human eyes is extremely irritating and can cause temporary blindness, but no permanent damage. Flush eyes liberally with cold water to ease irritation. You may be able to save clothing by washing it repeatedly in vinegar water and/or hanging it outside for a month or so before dry-cleaning. For the worst sprays, however, it may be best to throw out the clothing.
When your pet is sprayed, the quicker you take action, the more completely you can remove the odor.
Wash your pet with diluted vinegar to counteract the chemical makeup of the skunk spray. Skunk Off and similar products containing neutroleum alpha, available from some pet stores, are effective.
Skunk Smell Remedy
- You will need: 1 quart 3% peroxide, 1/4 c baking soda, 1 tbsp. liquid hand soap.
- Mix all three ingredients together.
- Shampoo the animal thoroughly keeping the mixture out of their eyes, nose and mouth.
- Let the mixture soak for five minutes.
- Rinse well.