Skunks are diggers. The animals love making their dens in burrows or holes underground. Why, then, is the animal taking up lodging under your deck? Learning the reason will help you understand how to get rid of skunks from under the structure for good; however, know that patience is often required.

Understanding Why Skunks Live Under Decks

Did you know female skunks are excellent mothers and typically have litters between April and September? If you find a skunk under your deck during these months, you are most likely dealing with a pregnant or nursing mother.

The animal likely sought shelter under your deck because it provides a stable and well-protected space from predators and the weather. She wants her babies to thrive in a covered area without worrying about external threats.

Decks also provide easy access and multiple escape routes, but a skunk will typically favour one access point. You can tell a skunk is on your property if you notice faint odours, perfectly circular holes in the yard, footprints, and rolled-back sod. If you see a skunk wobbling around your yard over several nights, you can also assume it is living on your property.

Learning How To Remove Skunks

Learning how to get rid of skunks under the deck is about knowing your limits and resources. When the animal is already living under your deck, caution is necessary. While skunks are not usually vicious, their one defence is unnerving.

Skunk spray is potent, and while it isn’t lethal, it can make you or your pets sick, especially when ingested. Therefore, the physical removal of a skunk is a no-go.

Remember, a skunk living under your deck from April to September is most likely a mother. You do not want to separate a mother from her young. You have three options for safely removing a skunk and her babies.

1. Do Nothing

Skunks are not long-term residents, and their young are usually independent at the end of summer. By September, the babies will separate from their family group to find suitable dens for the winter. The mother will leave her temporary, makeshift nursery under your deck when the babies are gone. Once the animals vacate the space, you can seal it, ensuring no other wildlife makes it a home.

2. Humane Harassment

Most homeowners don’t want to wait all summer to rid their property of skunks. You can use humane harassment techniques to encourage a mother skunk to move her babies.

Essentially, a mother skunk chooses your deck because it offers a safe, quiet, and dark space for her to raise her young. You can encourage her to seek another shelter by introducing light, sound, and smell.

Placing a bright, fire-safe light outside the den entrance will annoy the mother. Skunks are nocturnal, so a bright light is the last thing they want near their dens.

Also, skunks dislike the sounds of people talking; it makes them feel threatened. Place a radio near the den entrance and tune it to a talk station. You don’t need to keep the volume turned up; just put it at a conversational level.

Finally, you can try to mimic the scent of predators using apple cider vinegar, ammonia, or dirty kitty litter. Place rags soaked in vinegar or ammonia in a bag or fill a bag with dirty kitty litter and poke holes in it. Hang the bag near the den entrance. The odour can encourage the mother skunk to find new shelter.

3. Hire a Professional

The most effective solution for skunk removal in Markham is to hire a professional service. A legitimate service uses trained wildlife technicians to resolve common homeowner problems, like skunks under a deck.

If you think a skunk is living under your deck or another backyard structure, do not hesitate to seek help. Contact Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control.