How to Get Rid of a Skunk in a Backyard
Getting rid of a skunk is certainly not as simple as your would think. If you accidentally scare a skunk when trying to shoo it away, you may end up getting sprayed, which smells terrible and can cause temporary blindness. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Illuminate your back yard as best as you can without disturbing neighbors or skyrocketing your electric bill. Skunks are nocturnal animals, their eyes are very sensitive to light. By adding some outdoor lighting to your back yard (preferably a motion sensor light so that you don't waste power), you can prevent them from showing up again.
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Place ammonia-soaked rags around your back yard. Placing them around the perimeter of your property will work best. Ammonia is a natural skunk repellent. Resoak the rags often because the ammonia evaporates over time.
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Put your dog's urine to use. Dogs are a skunk's predator, so the smell of your (or a neighbor's) dog's urine will frighten away the skunk. Place the urine in a spray bottle and spray the urine around your back yard. Reapply the urine if it rains.
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Cut up some oranges and use the peels to place around your back yard. Skunks dislike the smell and taste of citrus. Lemon peels or lemon juice will also work if you don't have oranges.
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Clean up any garbage, pet food, bird seed, or fruits and vegetables in your yard. Skunks will eat the food if they have access to it. As long as you have an available food source in your back yard, the skunk will continue trying to come back.
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Get rid of the skunk's shelter or ability to make one. Close up any open space beneath your house, porch or deck. If the skunk dug a hole, make sure the skunk (and its babies, if it has any) is out, then fill it in with dirt or rocks.
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Tips & Warnings
If you are still having trouble getting rid of the skunk after following all of the recommendations, seek a professional to catch and relocate the animal.
Skunks are known to carry rabies, so avoiding getting close to or touching any skunk.
References
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Comments
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Ok, I will def. try all of the tips and warning stated above. Our dog got sprayed twice in one week. We've lived here 5 years and nver had a problem before. I don't want to hurt the Skunk and his/her family, but we can't deal with our dog being to nosy and getting sprayed twice in one week.
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I saw a SKUNK in my backyard last night. I have never seen a SKUNK in my entire life. It totally freaked my out. It walked across the yard like he paid rent. I was told that I overreacted over the SKUNK. I don't think so. For anyone who has never seen a SKUNK, it is not overreacting. It was the size of a large cat. Finding a SKUNK in your yard is more traumatic than finding you first gray hair.
