6 Signs of a Skunk Under the House
We all love having a home because it gives us safety, comfort and a sense of security. There are, however, many creatures, big and small, that we share the planet with, and they tend to seek out the same spaces to provide them with a home.
Among them is the stately skunk. This mammal loves to live around us and eats various food, from fruits and vegetables to insects and eggs. They love a warm shelter and will usually build a den lined with leaves to sleep there during the day because it is at night when they are most active. They often use any space under our homes to make their den, which we don’t want.
Do you suspect that a polecat has taken up residence under your residence? Here are the signs of a skunk under the house.
Sign #1: Tracks
Skunks have tracks visible in mud and fresh snow; you can identify them by their paws. These have five long toes clawed on each of their four feet, with the front paw pads slightly larger than the back ones. The toes are about as long as the pads, so you can tell them apart from other animals.
If you have a garden area near your home, this is where the tracks will be, and with a food source so close by, under your home is ideal for them to live. Consult with a pest control company on the best method to remove the skunks.
Sign #2: Rolled Sod
Another indication of a skunk in the backyard is the sod rolled up. They love to eat scrubs and roots of leafy growth, and by digging into the soil, they gain easy access. As they get leverage underneath the grass, they will pull it up and bunch it together, making a mess that they don’t intend on putting back.
You may notice a small amount of damage from a passing skunk, but if he returns to that area for his meal, he will continue to rip chunks and roll up soil over time.
Sign #3: Shallow Holes Around the Yard
A skunk knows how to find insects, usually at your backyard’s cost. Besides the rolled sod, they may dig shallow holes around the yard by the home where they feed. There can be multiple feeding holes that they come out to visit at night, and they will be near each other, as a skunk is very systematic in their approach.
If these holes are beside your foundation with potential access under the houses, this is a sign of them working on an under-house den.
Sign #4: Faint Odour
Spraying a foul odour is a skunk’s defence mechanism, and they eject this from their anal gland. You know when it happened because the odour can be very strong, but sometimes a lingering scent is always there.
This can be from a resident skunk living under your home that has sprayed somewhere else in his travels. They will often carry some residual scents on them, and while not as intense, they will be detectable. Bottom line: if you can smell the faint scent of a skunk around your home, one is probably living there.
Sign #5: Droppings
Animal dropping is often discovered when you step on them, and a skunk’s contribution will look similar to a cat’s. If you care to have a closer inspection, you may find partially digested insects, berries, nuts and even fur.
A skunk will deposit it is dropping close to where it eats or on the way home, so if you find it near the house consistently, they are living with you.
Sign #6: Other Signs
Skunks will look for an easy place to inhabit, like in a shed, under a deck or an overhang around your home with a low ceiling for them to fit under. You can use some deterrents, like a commercial skunk spray or predator urine. Citrus, ammonia or even kitty little can be effective if put near their under-home dens.
Call an animal pest control company to pick the skunk up if all else fails. They have experience dealing with these animals and can safely trap and relocate them so your wildlife problems are gone. Then make sure to close off access before another animal takes up residence in their place.
Skunks get a bad reputation, but they are just living their life alongside us on this giant blue ball. Knowing what signs to look for will indicate a skunk living under your home, and then you can take steps to have him evicted before he damages vents or contaminates your home with smells that can rise into your home.