Skunk Removal Chester County
We offer skunk removal services for Chester County. Whether you have a skunk living on your property, or you want to limit the amount of skunks in your area, we can help. To properly provide skunk removal services, we have to know why the skunks are being a nuisance. Let’s look at some common ways humans, pets, and skunks come into contact with one another.
Skunk Spray
Skunks are small, furry mammals found in Chester County and throughout all of Pennsylvania. They are most known for the foul odor that follows from a spray when they feel threatened. This spray is oil based making it very difficult to simply wash out.
Here is a recipe that Penn State lists to help remove the odor from a skunk spray.
- 1 Qt of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide
- 1 Teaspoon Liquid Soap
- 1/4 Cup Baking Soda
- Mix Together
- Apply with a rag, spray bottle, or rinse
Many of the skunk removal calls we get are due to skunks spraying a pet. Pets, mostly dogs, are curious about a new animal on or near their property. The dog often doesn’t recognize the warning signs that the skunk is about to spray. After the spray, the dog may run into the house and contaminate the entire house with that very recognizable odor.
Skunk Biology
Skunks breed in late January through March and can give birth in May through June. On average, skunks will produce 4-6 young. Adult skunks may travel up to 5 miles seeking a mate. It is not uncommon to see more skunks and roadkill skunks during their mating season. You may even see this nocturnal animal during daylight hours.
Skunks and Rabies
Skunks are known carriers of the rabies virus. This deadly virus can cause the animal to be seen during the daylight hours. Rabies can cause the skunk to become aggressive or lethargic. Never approach a sick looking wild animal. Always contact an experienced wildlife removal company when dealing with a potential rabid animal. Chester County has some great information on rabies that can be found here.
Skunk Living on your Property
It can be fairly obvious if you have a skunk that is living on your property. Skunks create dens underground. They will create a hole that is approximately. 6-8 inches in diameter. Often these dens are dug under porches, decks, and sheds. Sometimes you may find a den created along a field line, under a tree, or out in the open.
Skunk removal in Chester County is pretty simple when the skunk is living on the property. Trapping is the most effective method to capture and remove a resident skunk. We provide some excellent trapping techniques in the section below.
Skunk Not Living on your Property
Skunks that are not living on your property but are being a nuisance are a little more difficult to remove. This is mostly due to the reason the skunk is passing through your property. With a skunk that is living on your property, they are there because they made a home. When a skunk is passing through your property, it is because they are mating, or there is a food source.
Skunks that are mating will travel great distances to find a mate. Trapping can be difficult because the skunk may have just passed through your property and may never be seen again. Skunks that travel great distances also have a high likelihood of being killed by cars. When this happens, they are no longer a problem for your property.
Skunks on your property for a food source
Skunks are omnivores, which means they will eat both plant and meat materials. By removing food sources from your property, you can lessen the chances that a skunk will find your property appealing. Some common skunk food sources on a property include:
- Trash and garbage
- Cat Food
- Bird Seed
- Grubs in the soil
- Gardens
Some of these food sources are easily removed. By securing trash cans, you can lessen the chance that a skunk can get to the food. Grub treatments in the spring and summer can greatly reduce the amount of grubs in the soil. Trapping can capture and remove a skunk that is passing through your property. It is more difficult to know whether you have successfully captured the nuisance skunk when it is not living on your property.
Skunk Trapping and Removal
Trapping is the most common method of skunk removal in Chester County. Live capturing and removing a resident skunk is the surest way to resolve your skunk problem. Using a medium sized live trap, place the trap opening directly in front of the den entrance. Ensure that the trap has some sort of covering over it. This covering will aid in keeping the trapping animal calm as the trap is approached after a successful capture.
I create a path from the den entrance to the trap opening. This path funnels the skunk directly into the trap. When doing this method, the use of bait is probably unnecessary as the skunk has nowhere to go except inside of the trap. Make sure to eliminate all other den openings so that the skunk has to enter the trap.
For skunk removal in Chester County where the skunk is not living on the property, trapping must include the use of baits. Great baits for luring skunks include cat food, sardines, and marshmallows. Again, make sure the trap is covered and place in a path where you suspect the skunk will travel. Due to the type of bait used, other species such as cats, opossum, and raccoons will also be attracted. We always check the traps daily so that we can minimize non-target catches.
Skunk is trapped, now what?
If Prudential Pest Solutions is your wildlife removal professional, then you don’t have to do anything. We have permits through the Pennsylvania Game Commission so you know that all animals we trap and remove are handled in a humane and professional manner. Traps are always checked daily so that the trapped animal is not suffering in the trap for too long.
If you are a DIY’er and have trapped a skunk either on purpose or by accident, we can help. Prudential Pest Solutions wildlife division will take the trapped animal and remove it from your property.
Skunk Removal Chester County
Skunk removal in Chester County is only a call or message away. If you have a skunk issue, we can help. Our professional wildlife staff has the experience and knowledge to successfully resolve your skunk problem.
Give us a call or send us a message to get skunk free today!