You’ve probably heard that skunks are nocturnal animals who prefer to live in dark, secluded spaces. Given these facts, it might surprise you to learn that many homeowners frequently encounter skunks under their houses. It’s not uncommon for skunks to take up residence under homes with crawl spaces because they offer the perfect shelter: abundant rodent food, dry ground, and plenty of hidden areas. However, if you have a skunk living under your house and don’t want them there, here’s why they do it and advice on how to help them find somewhere else to live instead. In this blog post, you will discover why skunks spray under houses, what causes them to do so, and how you can keep these secretive creatures away from your home without harming them.
Why do skunks spray under house?
Because they cannot see you. The place we normally investigate and spray – under the house, cars, sheds – are usually never a place we can see, reach or get anyone to hear us. If you have been there, you know what I’m talking about. Noise and movement only aggravate the situation of a skunk that is afraid and cornered with no apparent way out. The animal (not knowing which way to go) is likely to spray for its safety. So why do skunks spray under the house? Because they cannot see you.
Why Do Skunks Spray Under Houses?
1. Skunks are naturally afraid of humans.
If you know anything about skunks, then you know they are naturally afraid of humans and will try to avoid contact with them at all costs. These animals will only spray if they feel threatened, which is why it is so important to make sure that you don’t corner them under your house or in your backyard.
2. Skunks like to eat mice and other rodents.
Skunks are often found under houses because they enjoy eating mice and other rodents that make their way into the crawl spaces underneath homes. They will actually dig a tunnel from underneath the house towards the nearest opening so that they can easily escape when a homeowner comes around looking for them.
3. Skunks have poor eyesight and hearing but an excellent sense of smell.
The main reason that skunks are often seen under houses is that their eyesight is not very good but their sense of smell is excellent, which means that if you walk by a skunk’s nest without seeing it or hearing it, it will still notice its presence due to its strong odor. This causes the skunk to panic and sprays in order to protect itself from what it thinks is a threat.
4. Skunks are nocturnal animals.
Skunks are nocturnal creatures, which means that they are active at night and sleep during the day. They will often find a place to rest under the house or in a shed, garage, or other location where they feel secure. This is why you often find skunk spray under houses – because they are hiding there and you didn’t see them come in there. If a skunk is spraying due to your presence, it is usually because of your noise level rather than your actual presence. The most common time for skunks to spray is between dusk and dawn when they wake up and begin to get ready for the night ahead of them.
How To Repel Skunks From Under Your House?
1. Clean up your yard.
The best thing that you can do in order to keep skunks away from your home is to make sure that your yard is clean. If there are any rodents or insects living on your property, then the skunk will feel right at home and will not be as likely to leave. You should also make sure that there are no holes in your fence or walls, as this can allow rodents to get onto your property and then attract skunks as a result.
2. Keep your pets inside at night.
If you have pets such as cats, dogs, or rabbits that are allowed outside at night time, then you should keep them inside the house so they don’t attract a skunk’s attention. This will help to prevent problems in the future because once a skunk gets used to living on or around your property it will be harder for you to get rid of it completely.
3. Remove any nests or dens.
If you find a skunk den on your property, then you should remove it using gloves and a shovel so that the skunk does not return. If the skunk is there because it has made a home under your house or shed, then you should seal the entrance in order to prevent them from returning to the same spot again. Skunks will often use abandoned animal holes as their homes and dens, so if you find one of these on your property it may be best to fill it up in order to prevent any problems with skunks later on.
4. Use repellents.
If you have tried everything else and still have a problem with skunks on your property, then you can try using a repellent to keep them away from your home. You can purchase this from most pet stores or garden centers, but it is best to check the label first to make sure that it is safe for use around your pets and children. You should also be careful not to spray the repellent directly toward any pets or humans, as it could cause them some harm due to the strong smell of the product.
5. Call a professional.
If all else fails, then you should consider calling an animal control service in order to get rid of the skunk once and for all. These companies will be able to come out and trap the animal so that they can relocate it far away from your property. This will work as a more permanent solution than trying to repel them yourself with sprays or other products because they will not be able to return once they are removed by an animal control service professional.
Tips For Keeping Skunks Away From Your House
1. Use A Motion Activated Sprinkler.
You can purchase a motion-activated sprinkler or hose that will spray water whenever it detects movement that could be caused by a skunk trying to approach your property. This will help to keep them away from your house and yard without harming the animal since they do not like being sprayed with water.
2. Try Using A Dog.
If you have a dog that is kept outside in your yard during the night, then you should consider using it as an additional way to keep skunks away from your house. Dogs can be very effective at scaring off skunks and other small animals that may be approaching your house because they are very territorial animals and do not like to have other animals living on their land or coming close to their territory.
3. Keep The Grass Mowed Short.
Skunks prefer to live in tall grasses, so if you want to prevent them from living on or near your property then it is best to keep the grass short so that they cannot hide there during the daytime hours when people are around and would notice them more easily. Skunks do not like being seen by humans, so if they know that there is no place for them to hide then they will move somewhere else in order for you not to see them anymore.
4. Use Moth Balls Or Peppermint Oil
If you prefer not to use any chemicals around your home then you could try using moth balls or peppermint oil as an alternative solution to keeping skunks away. The smell of these products will make the skunk think that there is a dangerous animal living on your property and they will stay away from it.
Conclusion
The skunk is a unique and interesting animal that has the ability to be both fascinating and frightening all at the same time. It can be difficult to keep them away from your property, but there are many things that you can do in order to discourage them from approaching your home and they will not give you any trouble.
