Skunks are docile animals but may spray if threatened.
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Hey—what’s that smell? If you think you’ve got a skunk hanging around your yard, it’s time to act. Here’s how to identify and deter skunks from your yard and garden.
What Are Skunks?
Skunks are nocturnal animals that are naturally mild-mannered and non-aggressive; they prefer small animals and insects for dinner instead of your garden. They occasionally visit gardens; if they do, it may be because corn or other plants are close to the ground.
The skunk claims homesteading rights from coast to coast. Four species of skunks are distributed across the country, including the striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) and the spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius). The common striped skunk lives mostly in sparse forests and fields.
Skunks can be very nice to have around because they dig up and feed on the larvae of cutworms, Japanese beetles, hornworms, and other crop-destroying insect life. However, skunks are not only partial to insects; they will eat leaves, buds, grasses, grains, garbage, fruit or berries within reach, and even small game. They also may disturb your plants while digging for these grubs. This is what can make them a bit of a nuisance to gardeners.
Although their nocturnal wanderings around our fields and gardens, lawns, and flower beds cause us occasional inconvenience and uneasiness, these are minor faults that can be readily overlooked by the time the Harvest Moon begins to shine. It is then that the skunk’s appetite for the pests that plague our gardens helps make it possible for that Moon to glow over a cornucopia brimming with plenty.
Why and How Do Skunks Spray?
Skunks are famous for their skunk spray—you can smell an angry skunk from over a mile away. Furthermore, a skunk can “shoot” you from 10 to 12 feet, sideways, up, or down, with little apparent effort. Most gardeners worry more about a skunk spraying in the garden, on the gardener, or on a pet than about a skunk chewing up some veggies.
Under a skunk’s tail are two pouches equipped with a pair of ducts that remain hidden in peacetime but quickly expose themselves when danger threatens. Their foul ammunition is a golden-yellow liquid whose active ingredient is the sulfide mercaptan. Each of the two pouches contains enough ammunition for six rounds. After the supply is exhausted, a week is required to replenish it. This spray means skunk creatures are feared by nearly all animals, including most of mankind.
A skunk’s warfare is purely defensive. When confronted by a menacing man or clamorous dog, skunks try to sidestep by ambling off. If you find a skunk, turn back, and you should be fine. Skunks will turn, face their aggressor, and stamp their forefeet if pursued. This is their first warning. At this point, you should be running!
The second warning comes when their tails, all but the tips, are hoisted. Then, this ultimatum failing to establish peace, the white tip rises and spreads out, and the skunk, snapping into a U-position with snout and rear toward the target, delivers a charge of spray. At this point, it is simply too late, and your dog probably smells foul.
People usually get sprayed when walking through their yards in the dark (if you can’t see a skunk, you can’t run away), or if they disturb a skunk while eating. Those are good reasons to keep skunks out of your yard in the first place—and always carry a flashlight!
How to Identify Skunks in Your Garden
The best way to identify skunks is often—unfortunately—by their odor. Hopefully, you don’t have to deal with the skunk spray in your garden, but you’ll know that you have a skunk as soon as they decide to spray.
The typical striped skunk has prominent white stripes running down its back and black fur on the rest of its body. It is the size of a house cat and is the most abundant species of skunk in the United States. Spotted skunks are smaller and have white spots as well as broken white strikes amid their black fur. Skunks have short legs and proportionately large feet with well-developed claws that are perfect for digging.
Tracks can help identify skunks. Skunks are often mistaken for raccoons because they both have five toes. Sometimes, the fifth toe is hard to see in skunk tracks. Their heels usually are not part of the tracks, and their claw marks are usually somewhat visible. Skunk droppings also often contain undigested insect parts.
Photo Credit: Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Signs of Skunk Damage
If your lawn or flower bed has many holes, you may have a skunk problem. Skunks dig up the turf, looking for grubs. They move around at night and dig in grassy areas, making distinct 3—to 4-inch deep holes. Skunk activity increases in the spring and then lessens naturally, so any problems may stop all on their own.
Skunks sometimes feed on corn, but they tend only to eat the lower ears that they can reach. If a corn stalk has been toppled over, the culprit is more likely a raccoon. Planting taller varieties of corn can minimize this damage.
Of course, skunk spray is a common sign of damage. If your dog smells foul, you probably have a skunk!
How to Keep Skunks Away
- Spray a mixture of castor oil and dish-washing detergent diluted in water. Skunks find the smell offensive. Spray the area at night when the skunk is away foraging.
- Probably the best skunk repellent is light. 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.
- Predator urine (dogs, coyotes) can be used to repel a skunk. These are commercially sold in garden centers. (Note: Use a responsible source for predator urine to make sure that the animals are treated humanely and the brand complies with state and federal regulations.)
- Many readers have found success placing ammonia-soaked rags around the yard; however, these need to be replaced often.
- If the skunks are in a smaller garden patch, put bars of strong-smelling soap or a room deodorizer near your garden. Ironically, skunks hate strong scents.
- If nothing works, there are humane ways for professionals to trap raccoons and skunks and transport them elsewhere. Often, skunk removal by trapping is the only answer, and there just isn’t a lot you can do if it is a skunk. However, be aware that many species of wildlife do not survive when placed in a new territory, and it may not even be legal to trap and relocate wild animals in your area.
Photo credit: Tom Friedel, BirdPhotos.com
How to Prevent Skunks
- As skunks love to find lots of grubs in your garden, one of the best preventative methods is to treat your lawn so that you get rid of their favorite snacks. Spray your lawn with milky spore disease or beneficial nematodes. This will also help to control Japanese beetle larvae, so it’s a win-win! Contact your local Cooperative Extension Service for suggestions.
- Fencing may also be a good idea for small areas, such as a garden patch.
- If you don’t want skunks living under your deck or shed, seal these areas with chicken wire. Leave at least one foot of additional wire on the ground extending from the structure to prevent skunks from digging under to enter.
What to Do If You Get Sprayed By a Skunk
Oh no! We can all smell a skunk from miles away, but it’s truly awful to have that smell on you. Clothes can be washed, but the smell may linger on skin and fur. Many people claim that tomato soup will take away the odor, but we prefer this method. If you or your pet gets sprayed by a skunk, try the following:
- Make a mixture of 1 quart 3% hydrogen peroxide (fresher is better), 1/4 cup of baking soda, and 1 to 2 teaspoons of liquid dish soap.
- Using the solution, shampoo only the area sprayed by the skunk. Wet the area and work the solution into the skin or fur with your hands (avoid the eyes). Leave it for about 5 minutes or until the fizzing stops.
- Rinse thoroughly with water.
- If the smell is still present, repeat the process.
- Air dry or towel dry; do not use a hair dryer, as heat can cause any remaining skunk scent to set into the fur or skin.
This remedy may dry out the skin, so use a good-quality crème rinse to replenish moisture once the skunk smell is gone.
Do you have any special remedies that you use for skunk spray? Let us know below!
Catherine Boeckmann
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My 5 year old male tabby and the skunk must have literally came around the corner of my house at the exact same time. He must have only been inches away because he couldn’t open his eyes. They were watering badly, he was drooling, foaming from the mouth and the oil slick on his head was so thick. It’s the most pungent thing I’ve ever smelled in my entire life. We think it’s the nastiest smell ever just driving down the street. We took him to the vet hospital, they checked his eyes gave us drops and a shampoo.
My 5 year old male tabby and the skunk must have literally came around the corner of my house at the exact same time. He must have been only inches away, he couldn’t open his eyes, was drooling, slightly foaming
Try spraying the skin, clothes and fur with Unscented Febreze and see what you think. It must be the unscented version of brand name Febreze. This product has done wonders.
Had a family of skunks take shelter from the winter under my house (no basement). They were so noisy that they would make the dogs bark. That, in turn, made the skunks defensive and odoriferous. Many a 4am I’d have to open windows and doors. I guess we were too noisy for them, they moved on in early spring. Skunks have several nests. This one got sealed off after they left.
Contrary to the article skunks loved my cabbage last year destroying 30 heads. This year they are inside a chicken wire fence.
From your article:
Under a skunk’s tail are two pouches equipped with a pair of ducts that remain hidden in peacetime but quickly expose themselves when danger threatens. Their foul ammunition is a golden-yellow liquid whose active ingredient is the sulfide mercaptan. Each of the two pouches contains enough ammunition for six rounds. After the supply is exhausted, a week is required to replenish it. This spray means skunk creatures are feared by nearly all animals, including most of mankind.
This statement is incorrect "skunk creatures are feared by nearly all animals", my dog lives to chase them!!! Unfortunately he is a house dog who gets a lot of baths!!
When living in Alton NH I had a long 300 foot driveway. One pitch black night I walked the driveway. I sensed something was sharing the driveway with me. Got about 3 feet from a striped animal, there wasn’t any smell but knew what it was. Retreated rather quickly and apparently it didn’t feel threatened, so we both went on our merry ways.
When stationed in the Air Force in OK & TX a few years the natives called them Polecats. But a Polecat is like a weasel, but that was called a skunk. The animals stunk like skunks and looked like them. Geographical naming.
Recently, a TV infomercial promoting an aerosol spray that eliminates many odors (some quite bad) quickly. Might be something to try for Skunk on yourself or animals. Do a search.
Noted some commenters said to use Tomato Juice and some commenters said it didn’t work. I side with those that said it doesn’t work. A better use for Tomato Juice (or Clamato Juice) is to mix it with Vodka on ice and read about Skunks on the OFA articles.
You can tell when spring is here. Many roads are known as Flat Skunk highway. Stinks as you drive along.
Bake Cinnamon Sticks for a couple hours at 250 degrees.
I can't for the life of me figure why skunks are an issue at all. I have a huge garden and there are lots of little holes, but they have never damaged any of my plants. As for the lawn, the grass is, as far as I'm concerned, a shameful thing to care about. It costs money and resources to keep perfect, and cutting it is usually with a gas mower, blower, and edger--hideously pollutant, but also creates a miniature Armageddon for all the creatures chopped up by the blades, not to mention noisy as hell. You use valuable water on a plant that provides no sustenance, and most people don't even spend much time in their yards. And then you begrudge skunks and other animals the right to dig for food in order to protect that wasteful patch of green.
I share my yard with the wildlife, and the skunks and I just mozy about the yard in the evening, doing our own thing. The raccoons are harder to adjust to, but with gentle tactics, we've figured it out. They don't pay me much mind. If you have a dog, keep in mind that the wildlife has more natural right to hang out than your dog does. And as we keep having children and development seems endless, our yards are the only places they can live in. Plant natives that provide food. Leave out fresh water. Keep your yard wild with places to burrow. Protect them or they will be gone.
TOTALLLY agree with you, Tricia. I'm of like mind. They're no problem at all, and if we all just lived and let live, everyone would be better off.
