Skunks are nocturnal, which is why they tend to stay away from bright lights.
If you have neighbors close by, they might not appreciate this tactic. Instead, try an ultrasonic skunk repellent that emits a high-pitched noise. Skunks can hear it, but humans can’t.
If you have a compost pile outside, don’t put kitchen scraps in it until the skunks are gone. Leaving kitchen scraps outside is a great way to attract skunks to your yard.
If you store any pet food outside, keep it secure in a plastic bin with a tight-fitting lid.
If you can’t stay on top of cleaning up bird seed around your home, consider taking down your bird feeders until the skunks aren’t a problem anymore.
You can also release nematodes in your lawn, or sprinkle milky spore over your lawn to kill grubs. However, these methods can take years to kill off grubs, so they’re not ideal.
Make sure you aren’t blocking off an area that has skunks in it currently, since trapping them in a small space could kill them. If you’re not sure, put loose dirt or wood shavings into an area and leave it for 2 to 3 days. If the dirt and wood chips aren’t disturbed after 3 days, you can safely assume that no skunks are living there.
Ammonia tends to evaporate quickly. Be sure to replace the rags every day for this technique to be effective. Some people also have success with other strong scents, like soaps and citrus sprays. These aren’t proven by experts to deter skunks, but they can’t hurt, either.
Most skunk repellents are safe to use around animals and children. However, always read the label carefully on your skunk repellent, and follow the safety instructions on the bottle.
To hire a professional trapper, talk to someone from the wildlife department in your state or county. They may advise you to contact a private trapper. [12] X Expert Source Chris ParkerFounder, Parker Eco Pest Control Expert Interview. 15 January 2021. Look into your local laws before attempting to trap and release a skunk. In some states, this is illegal.
