Skunks are shy and elusive critters. They’d rather not have a run-in with an unknown creature many times their size, so they do anything they can to avoid contact with humans. Often, homeowners only know they have a skunk on their property when they or their pets catch one off-guard. If you discover a skunk living around your house, contact the experts in Coquitlam skunk removal so that you don’t get sprayed.

Frequently, however, there is little evidence that you have a skunk guest. Not only do they do their best to steer clear of humans, but they are also nocturnal. They’re most active when we are safely tucked away indoors. The biggest evidence of a skunk’s presence is usually their scat, except that it isn’t all that big!

What Does Skunk Scat Look Like?

Skunk droppings are similar to raccoon droppings. Both animals set up residence in human environments. Raccoons are generally more prevalent because they’ve become very well-adapted to living alongside people. If you see scat that doesn’t look quite like your dog Fido’s poop, you may want to inspect it a little more closely to determine whether you have a skunk hanging around or, if, instead, you have a raccoon on your hands.

Like the raccoon, skunks are omnivores. They eat just about anything edible, including human garbage! They aren’t as dexterous as a raccoon, so they can’t open lids that are latched. However, they won’t turn down human leftovers that are easily accessible. Skunks typically eat insects, bird eggs, lizards, larvae, rodents, snakes, voles and frogs, as well as plants and fruit.

Skunk poop often contains evidence of what they eat. You may notice exoskeletons, bits of berries, seeds, fur or feathers. The scat is about the same size as a housecat’s, with a similar shape as well. It’s tubular and may have one blunt end. Racoon droppings are the same shape, often contain the same types of undigested bits in them, but they’re usually quite a bit larger. A skunk dropping is typically between 2.5 to five centimetres, while a raccoon dropping is between five and 7.5.

What Should You Do If You Discover Skunk Droppings?

If you find skunk droppings around your house, there’s a good chance you have a skunk nest around or under your home. Skunk dens can be difficult to discover, and you don’t necessarily want to uncover one with its resident hunkered down inside! These stinky little mammals like to make their homes in out-of-the-way places.

They aren’t very good climbers, so you don’t have to worry about one getting in your attic. Instead, they are more likely to land under your porch or deck. If there is a den that another animal has abandoned, they’ll take over. Otherwise, they use their sharp claws to dig out a nest of their own. They may dig deep, going under a shed or the foundation of your house.

Skunks like to cover their den openings with grass and branches to disguise the entrance. If the den belongs to a mama, you need to take extra care as she’ll be very protective of her little ones! The best thing that you can do if you see droppings is to call for help. Professionals trained in skunk behaviour know what to look for when searching for a skunk’s den and what to do when they find it.

Who Can You Call for Help?

If you suspect a skunk is living under your deck, Skedaddle is here to help! We know how to identify skunk droppings and what their dens look like. If you do have one that has taken up residence on your property, we can safely and humanely remove and relocate it. When little ones are involved, we ensure the kits and mama skunk are reunited in a new den. Contact us today if you need our Coquitlam skunk removal team to investigate your home for unwanted guests.