Smell that? Nope, it’s not the freshly cut grass, spring flowers, or oncoming showers. It’s skunks. Baby skunks are born from April through June and under the right circumstances, your yard may be the site of their nursery. Find out what you can do to help prevent summertime skunks from stinking up your property.

Skunks in the Summertime

You may have caught a whiff of skunks back in February and March during their mating season. Or you may have noticed a small, fluffy baby waddling around your yard in May. But if you’ve missed all of these signs, you could catch a glimpse of a young skunk slinking around this summer. 

When a female skunk is expecting, she’ll look for a dark, secluded spot to nest. This could be under your porch, deck, or shed. You may notice small holes in your garden where she dug for grubs. Or you could see cat-like droppings around your yard. 

Once a skunk gives birth in late spring, she’ll rest quietly with her kits for a little over a month. You won’t notice them until the end of summer when they begin to wander from the den. You’ll be able to smell them even if they don’t spray. Once autumn arrives, they’ll be off to explore the area and probably wander off to the forest, unless you’ve made their stay too comfortable. 

Preventing Skunks in Your Yard

While it’s a good idea to leave skunks alone, there may be a time when they clash with your family. Playful pets and kids can cause an issue at any moment. This is why it’s best to prevent them from staying in your yard and having a professional remove them if they don’t leave quietly. 

If your yard provides skunks with enough food, water, and shelter, there’s a good chance they’ll move in. They’ll likely live under wood, rocks, or brush piles or if there’s open access to a deck, porch, or shed.

Skunks snack on beetles, crickets, worms and grubs and can get lost or wander into uncovered window wells on account of their nearsightedness. They also won’t mind eating any leftovers from your garbage that’s easily accessible. 

You can help prevent them from moving in by:

• Cleaning up yard debris
• Securing trash cans
• Grub control
• Removing easy-to-reach water sources
• Installing barriers to keep them from sheltering around your home.

If a skunk does end up nesting in your yard, they will move on once the babies are old enough. Other than the irritating spray, they don’t pose a threat to humans. They’ll also only spray if they feel threatened and will give you plenty of warning before they do. So the best thing to do if you encounter one is to slowly and quietly move away. 

Professional Skunk Control 

If you’d rather get rid of the summertime skunks than wait for them to move on, doing so takes expert strategy. The easiest way to evict an unwanted pest is to call a professional. They’ll know the ins and outs of how the skunk got in and how to get it out safely. If the skunk has already nested, a professional company will work to remove the mother and babies together. Once the skunk is gone, it’s time to put prevention methods in place to help ensure they won’t return. Contact Cardinal Pest if you suspect a skunk is stinking up your yard. Our specialists can help you enjoy a pest-free season.