How to Safely Repel Skunks From Your Yard Before They Ruin Your Plants

Skunks can be found throughout the United States, typically in woodland areas but they have adapted to living near humans in residential areas.

You’ll probably know if you have a skunk problem by their distinctive, pungent odor, but there are other signs of skunk activity you can look for: Large holes dug under steps, decks, or foundations, tracks and scat, 1- to 3-inch cone-shaped holes or rolled up sod in your lawn, and scattered trash from outdoor trash cans to name a few.

To repel skunks or at least encourage them to move along, we have seven methods to prevent damage to your home and prevent skunk problems.

Remove Food Sources

Skunks are opportunistic feeders and will go for the easiest source of food. Use trash cans that are covered with tight lids that are difficult for an animal to open. Keep pet food and water bowls inside, especially at night. Secure chicken coops so that skunks cannot get inside.

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Install Motion Sensor Lights and Sprinklers

Lights and sprinklers both work to deter skunks. Motion sensor lights startle skunks and send them running. Sprinklers also startle the animal and get it wet, which skunks do not enjoy.

Apply Scent Repellents

Commercial repellents have a variety of ingredients that promise to keep skunks away.

Some contain castor oil or capsaicin (hot peppers) and can be applied to lawns to mask the scent of grubs, worms, and other insects making them hard for the skunk to find. Other products contain predator urine and can be applied to the perimeter of an area to deter the animals from entering the area.

Repellents must be reapplied often after rainstorms or irrigation and will lose their effectiveness once the animal adapts to the odor. They should always be used in conjunction with other management options to further help prevent damage.

Treat Your Lawn for Insects

Since grubs are a delicacy to a skunk, keeping your lawn healthy and grub-free will encourage it to move along. Grubs are the larvae of beetles and there are pesticides that can control the population.

The most effective treatment for grubs is a preventative insecticide applied from late May to early August. If the skunk invasion comes in the fall (late September through late October), it is probably too late for effective treatment.

Create Physical Barriers

Skunks like a dark den and digging under the foundation of a shed, porch, or home creates an ideal spot for them. If you see signs of activity, add concrete, metal sheeting, or heavy-gauge wire to deter them. Whatever barrier you use should be installed several inches deep to prevent the skunk from burrowing deeper.

To determine if the animal has already established a den, sprinkle flour around the hole before dusk. Check for tracks after dark. The hole should not be closed until you are certain the animal or its young are not inside.

Remove Yard Trash and Debris

Keep your yard tidy by getting rid of rotten wood piles, trimming shrubs, removing fallen limbs, and keeping the grass mowed to reduce places for skunks to hide during the day.

Call a Wildlife Control Professional

If you see or smell a skunk or suspect one is living under your house or shed, it is best to call a wildlife control professional. Attempting to trap a skunk will most likely result in a stinky mess and you’ll still have a live skunk to relocate. It also might be illegal depending on your municipality.

Using a professional is especially critical if you see a skunk during daylight hours which may indicate it is ill. Skunks can carry rabies, so always protect your pets and family.