Coexisting with Skunks
Despite their poor reputation, skunks are docile creatures that can benefit your property if managed correctly.
Skunks are highly beneficial to farmers, gardeners, and landowners because they feed on large numbers of agricultural and garden pests. They prey on field mice, voles, cutworms, grasshoppers, and other rodents and insects that cause damage to lawns, crops, or hay. Visiting skunks generally do not pose a threat to your property and a skunk or two in your area can keep pests at bay.
Although skunks are important providers of pest control, they can become a nuisance when:
-
Burrowing under porches or buildings
-
Disturbing garbage or stealing pet food
-
Digging holes in lawns and gardens
-
Occasionally, skunks may feed on the lowest corn ears, kill poultry or eat eggs, although very little of their diet is made up of items that are economically valuable to people.
-
Skunks may raid beehives. Honey producers can stop skunks from raiding beehives by installing and maintaining an electric fence perimeter and/or placing beehives on stands 1 metre off the ground.
Skunks are also capable of carrying rabies, although the last incident of a rabid skunk in Alberta was in 1994. Any skunk that is active in the daytime, unusually aggressive, or approaches people or animals may be ill and should be treated with caution. Report suspicious behavior to Fish and Wildlife. Pet vaccinations should also be kept up to date.
If threatened, skunks can spray their stinky musk in self-defense. However, because the musk takes time to produce and spraying leaves them without defense for a time, skunks are generally hesitant to spray and will first attempt to warn off the threat by stamping their feet, growling or hissing, and raising the tail. Respond to this warning by quietly and slowly backing away and making no sudden or aggressive movements.
Discouraging skunks from your property.
Because of their benefits to agriculture, as well as their role in the ecosystem, skunks should not be needlessly destroyed. Generally, skunks should be left alone until they move on of their own accord and can be safely encouraged to leave an area if not wanted.
Skunks can be encouraged to move on by removing food sources and denning areas. To encourage a skunk to leave:
-
Clear out brush piles, stacked lumber and debris piles that skunks can use as cover.
-
Close off spaces under sheds, porches, decks and crawlspaces using ½ inch hardware cloth. Ensure there are no skunks inside when closing off these spaces.
-
Store garbage and recycling in containers with tight-fitting lids and replace old garbage cans that are in poor repair.
-
Store pet food indoors.
If a Skunk has moved in.
Encourage them to move to an alternative location if they have moved in by:
-
Getting a light to shine in the den until they move on – skunks like dark areas, and this will make them feel like the area isn’t safe.
-
Using deterrents – skunks do not like the smell of citrus or ammonia. Placing rags soaked in vinegar or citrus juice will make the area less appealing.
Trapping
If a nuisance skunk is still present after food and shelter sources have been removed, you may have to remove the skunk. Skunks can be hunted or trapped during all seasons by the owner or occupant of land, by a person authorized by the owner or occupant, or by the holder of a license authorizing the trapping of fur-bearing animals.
Agricultural Services rents out live, plastic traps. Any captured skunks must be re-located or destroyed humanely. For more information, visit Wildlife - Parkland County or contact agricultural services at 780-968-8888 ext. 8467.
Sources:
Contact Us
Parkland County Centre
53109A HWY 779, Parkland County, AB T7Z 1R1
General Office: 780-968-8888
Toll Free: 1-888-880-0858
After hours: 780-968-8400
Email: hello@parklandcounty.com
