Skunk Under the Deck: How to Get It Out and Keep It Out

Short answer

A skunk under your deck can be moved out humanely with a one-way exclusion door, then kept out by burying hardware cloth around the deck edge. Confirm the skunk is gone, check for babies in spring, and seal the space before another animal moves in. Never block the hole while a skunk is still inside.

Why do skunks live under decks and sheds?

Skunks live under decks and sheds because those spaces are dry, dark and safe from predators. In Gillette, striped skunks look for shelter in the fall and winter and for a place to raise young in spring. A deck with open sides next to a lawn full of grubs is a perfect home.

Pet food left outside, bird seed on the ground, open trash cans and chicken feed draw skunks even closer. Homes near creek bottoms and prairie edges see the most activity.

What are the signs of a skunk under your deck?

The signs of a skunk under your deck are a strong musky smell, a hole about 4 to 6 inches wide along the deck edge, small cone-shaped holes in the lawn where it digs for grubs, and tracks with five toes. Skunks are most active at dusk and night.

• Musky odor that is strongest in the evening
• A fresh burrow or worn path at the deck edge
• Small holes dug in the lawn overnight
• Dogs barking at or getting sprayed near the deck
• Tracks in snow or mud leading under the structure

How does a one-way exclusion door work?

A one-way exclusion door is a small mesh door placed over the skunk’s main hole. It lets the skunk push out at night to feed but blocks it from getting back in. Every other gap is sealed first, so the door is the only way out.

1. Find the main entry and any other holes around the deck.
2. Seal all other gaps with buried hardware cloth.
3. Mount the one-way door over the main hole.
4. Sprinkle flour at the exit to check for tracks going out.
5. After two or three nights with no activity, remove the door and seal the hole.

In late spring, a mother skunk may have babies under the deck. If you seal her out, the young are trapped. A pro checks for young and times the work so the whole family leaves together.

How do you keep skunks out for good?

Keep skunks out for good by skirting the deck or shed with hardware cloth that runs at least 12 inches into the ground and bends outward in an L shape. Skunks dig straight down at the edge, hit the mesh and give up.

• Use galvanized half-inch hardware cloth, not chicken wire
• Bury it 12 inches deep with a 12-inch outward bend
• Bring pet food and bird seed in at night
• Use trash cans with locking lids
• Treat lawn grubs if skunks keep digging

What if your dog gets sprayed?

If your dog gets sprayed, keep it outside and check its eyes. Mix one quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide, a quarter cup of baking soda and a teaspoon of dish soap. Wash the dog with it, avoiding the eyes, then rinse well. Do not store the mix in a closed container. If the dog was bitten, call your vet, since skunks can carry rabies.

What time of year is best to remove a skunk?

The best time to remove a skunk is late summer through early winter, or very early spring before babies are born. In Gillette, skunks usually have young in May and June. Excluding a mother then can trap the kits under the deck.

If you notice a skunk in late spring, wait until you see the young following her out at night, usually by midsummer. Then the whole family can be moved out with a one-way door at once. If the skunk is causing a real problem, like spraying pets every night or digging into a crawl space, a pro can use other humane methods and handle the young properly.

When should you call a wildlife pro?

Call a wildlife pro when you cannot find all the holes, when it is spring and babies may be present, when the skunk is under a slab or in a crawl space, or when you also have raccoons or other animals. A wildlife removal Gillette WY provider handles the removal and the sealing in one job, following Wyoming rules. Homes in pest control Sheridan along Goose Creek see a lot of skunk and raccoon calls. If mice are also moving in, pair it with rodent control Gillette WY.

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