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The photo,  at left, shows why it is a bad idea to feed your pets outdoors.

Scientific Name

• Striped Skunk Mephitis mephitis
• Western spotted skunk Spilogale gracilis
• Eastern spotted skunk Spilogale putorius

Skunk Control

General Skunk Information

Deodorizing

Univ. Publications

Skunk Bibliography

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Biology

A Striped Skunk Skull
Description: Similar to a mink skull but larger.
Photo Credits: Dallas Virchow

Signs

• Smell--although skunks don't emit the odor the way cartoon figure PePe Lepew does, when they spray, everyone knows it!
• 3-4" half moon depression, typically under a porch, deck, or shed.

Damage

• kills poultry and eats their eggs;
• eat garbage, corn;
• makes 3 to 4-inch cone shaped holes in turf,
• damages bee hives;
• odor and disease hazards

Solutions

Habitat Modification

• Cover Window Wells--Skunks become trapped inside uncovered window wells. Prevent this by securing your window-well with a plastic cover. Click thumbnail for larger image.

Rescuing Skunks Trapped in Window Wells

Please note all of these techniques carry risks.

Option 1. Carefully place an 8" wide board, with cleats to allow skunk to climb out. it is critical that the board not be too steep or a skunk won't be able to climb it. Endeavor to make the slope less than a 45 degree angle. Photo by: Dallas Virchow.

Option 2. Carefully place a 7x7x24 covered and baited box-trap into the well. Bait with tuna or chicken.  Once skunk is caught, he can be released on site (around dusk) after the window well has been covered.

Option 3. (professionals only) Use cat grasping tongs to grab hold of skunk and rescue him from the window well.

Repellents

• No known effective repellents

Trapping

Trapping is very effective. There are specially manufactured box traps designed to reduce the risk of being sprayed by skunks.

Skunk plasti-catch cage trap manufactured by Minnesota Plasti-Catch provides a safer way to capture skunks.  Photographer: Dave Purwin, Desert Wildlife Services, Inc.

Cage traps can be covered as the traps below.  

Hooded skunk near covered cage traps. Photo Credits: Critter Control, Inc.

Gravity door cage traps allow for door to drop open when trap is turned upside down.

Shooting

• Shooting is effective but potentially a smelly affair as shot skunks may spray.

Toxicants

• None registered for skunks

Diseases

Skunks suffer from a number of diseases including

• Distemper
• Rabies

Striped Skunk with possible distemper
Photo Credits: U of Nebraska
 

General Skunk Information

How to Release Unwanted Skunks From Cage Traps

Striped Skunks (Mephitis mephitis)--Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Deodorizing Skunk Odor

Ozone Generator Information--EPA  Explains why Ozone Generators may be harmful.

History of Skunk Defensive Secretion Research--Chemical Educator Magazine

Removing Skunk Odor--Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln

University Publications

Removing Skunk Odor--Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln

Coping with Skunks--Colorado State University Cooperative Extension