QA

Quick Answer: How To Get Rid Of Skunks In Backyard

Citrus, ammonia, mothballs and predator urine (dog, coyote, etc) are three smells that can scare off skunks. If you use mothballs or ammonia-soaked cotton balls, be sure to keep them far away from children.

How do you keep skunks out of your yard at night?

Skunks are nocturnal and their eyes are very light sensitive. A bright light or a motion sensor flood light will scare skunks away. Most animals, including skunks, dislike the smell of citrus fruits. Place orange or lemon peels around the yard as a natural skunk repellent.

How do you get skunks to leave?

To get a skunk to leave, try using a flashlight to scare it off. Just shine the bright light on the skunk, which should stop it from coming any closer. You can also try shouting or stomping your feet to scare it off. If you have access to a hose, spray some water near the skunk until it runs away.

How do I rid my yard of skunks?

So if you want to know how to get rid of skunks effectively and humanely, read on! Install a motion detection sprinkler. Install an ultrasonic skunk repellent. Sprinkle skunk repellent granules around the yard. Build a (electric) fence around your property. Install night lights in your yard. Remove ALL food sources.

What home remedy will get rid of skunks?

Boil a chopped onion, a chopped jalapeno, and 1 tablespoon of cayenne pepper in 2 quarts of water for about 20 minutes. Strain the liquid into a spray bottle and squirt plants to make skunks steer clear. Each dose should last up to five days. Skunks are nocturnal, foraging at night, and are scared of bright lights.

What’s the best skunk repellent?

Top 5 Best Skunk Repellents Peppermint Essential Oil. BONIDE PRODUCTS INC (BND2361 Animal Repellent Granules) Safer Brand Critter Ridder Animal Repellent. Lulu Home Ultrasonic Animal Repeller. Natural Armor Animal & Rodent Repellent Spray.

What attracts skunks to your property?

Skunks are opportunists at heart — they’re mainly attracted to low-hanging fruit like garbage and pet food left out at night, as well as convenient denning sites, such as wood and rock piles, elevated sheds, openings under concrete slabs and porches and crawl spaces.

What do skunks hate?

It may seem ironic, but skunks hate certain odors (as if they have room to judge). Citrus, ammonia, mothballs and predator urine (dog, coyote, etc) are three smells that can scare off skunks. If you use mothballs or ammonia-soaked cotton balls, be sure to keep them far away from children.

Do coffee grounds repel skunks?

Coffee grounds have a bitter scent that, unlike black pepper and capsaicin (or chili peppers), do not irritate the sinuses of skunks but still do deter them. Use coffee grounds in your garden to not only keep skunks away but to nourish your garden and keep other rodent-like creatures out of the way, as well.

Where do skunks go during the day?

Even though skunks are the most active during the night, they are also active during the day. Skunks will, however, spend the most of the day in hiding. They will be leaving their dens, but they will als hide from plain sight.

How long do skunks stay in one place?

Skunks typically have a single litter of four to six babies in May-June; skunks den in old woodchuck burrows, hollow logs, wood or rock piles, or under buildings and stone walls. The young remain in the den for about eight weeks.

Does vinegar keep skunks away?

The extremely strong scent of vinegar, specifically white vinegar, will deter skunks by irritating their sinus cavities.

Will a skunk spray if you shoot it?

A skunk will almost always spray when it is killed and your best bet for not getting sprayed is of course, for you to be a good distance away. This is why a lot of people opt to shoot, but by all means, do this only if it is safe to. The best method still remains to live trap the skunk and relocate it somewhere else.

Why is a skunk digging in my yard?

Skunks mainly dig in the ground to look for food or shelter. If you see huge grass chunks that look like they’ve been pulled from the dirt, it could be as a result of skunks eating grubs found underneath the ground. These animals pull the grass to try and access the grubs that are on the dirt’s top layer.

What animal eats skunks?

Coyotes, foxes, dogs, bobcats, mountain lions, badgers and big owls can all eat skunks but rarely do. Gehrt’s research shows that less than 5 percent of skunk mortality is caused by predators.

What is a natural way to repel skunks?

Homemade Skunk Repellent Spray (a mixture of hot peppers, onion, jalepeno, cayenne pepper, and water, boiled for a few minutes and strained.) Predator Urine (even the urine of your own pets can work if you’re somehow able to collect it, or you can purchase predator urine at a variety of outdoor stores in your area.).

How do you use peppermint oil to get rid of skunks?

Peppermint Essential Oil Skunk Repellent Mix the peppermint oil and water in a clean spray bottle, and apply the solution to plants and other areas with frequent skunk activity or for getting rid of feral cats who like to hang around your home. Reapply every few days or if it rains.