Skunk Removal
If you have trouble with skunks and don’t know what to do, look no further! Here at Magic Touch Extermination and Wildlife Control, we provide raccoon removal services to all citizens of New York City and the Long Island area. Call us for an inspection, and we’ll get right to work!
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We all know skunks – those black and white furry creatures that release the most obnoxious, upsetting stench in the world to keep you away. Talk about intimacy issues – skunks are known to actually spray you with a foul-smelling, vomit-inducing spray if they feel you’re getting too close for comfort.
On top of that, they’re notorious scavengers and generally not something you want on your property. This is where our professional skunk removal services come in at Magic Touch Exterminating and Wildlife Control.
In this article, we’ll talk about the most common signs of a skunk infestation, the dangers a skunk poses to you and yours, and of course, our skunk removal services. So, here’s all you need to know about skunk removal!
First things first, what are the signs of a skunk infestation?
Before you call in a professional wildlife removal service, it’d be nice if you knew what you were dealing with. Now, a professional removal service won’t give you any grief for making a mistake, but the clearer the picture, the easier removal is. So here are some common warning signs that you may have a skunk on your property:
- Tracks. Skunks can easily be recognized by the tell-tale tracks they leave behind when scuttling about on your property. Fortunately, skunk tracks are fairly easy to tell apart from those of other animals, since the front paws and hind paws look completely different. While the front paws resemble those of a cat, the hind paws are more like baby feet.
- Smell. Skunks are well-known for the unpleasant smell they give off, so if you’re regularly smelling skunk spray, it’s a good sign that you’ve got a skunk on your hands.
- Droppings. Skunk droppings are similar to those of any household pet in size and appearance, with one notable difference. Skunk droppings often contain bits of undigested food; such as seeds or berries.
- Digging. Skunks will dig in your yard, looking for food, so if you come across little raised bumps in the ground, it may be a sign of a skunk infestation.
What are the dangers of a skunk infestation?
The first and most obvious danger posed by a skunk is the smell. Skunks are known to spray a highly irritating (and potentially blinding) spray if they feel you or your pet are coming too close. Generally, skunks spray less than we give them credit for, as they require some charging time for their spray (during which they’re unprotected). Still, skunk spray is highly offensive.
Another big issue with skunks is that they are carriers of disease (such as salmonella or histoplasmosis), which poses a serious risk for you, your family, and your pets. That being said, the diseases can be contracted through their feces or by touch, but very rarely through skunk bites (since they don’t normally do that).
Skunk Removal Services
In some cases, people attempt to handle a wildlife pest themselves, to some degree of success, even. But for obvious reasons, you probably won’t want to get too close to a skunk on your property. DIY removal can be inefficient and even pose a threat to you and yours, so your best bet is to call in a professional skunk removal service.
The first thing we’ll do is assess the situation. In order to understand what to do next, we first need to establish the location of the skunks, the number of skunks present, and so on. During this initial inspection, we’ll also take note of the entry point they used to get inside your property and take notes on the existing damage.
Depending on what we find, we’ll then proceed to remove the skunk(s) from your property. In order to do this, we use a live trapping method that secures the skunk, without harming it. Sure, you could opt for the traditional fatal trapping of the animal or resort to poisons or other such methods, but we find these are cruel and largely unnecessary.
Live trapping allows us to capture the skunk and remove it from your property, then transport it to a safe location where it no longer poses a threat.
Repair and Cleaning
After the skunk has been safely captured and removed, we’ll proceed to clean any damage caused by the animal. As we mentioned earlier, skunk feces and urine are common breeding grounds for a wide range of diseases, so they need to be professionally removed, and the area thoroughly cleaned.
We will also aim to repair any damage caused by the skunks on your property. This includes identifying its entry point and sealing it tightly. Otherwise, you’re just looking at another infestation in a few weeks’ time.
Skunk removal isn’t an overly difficult or intrusive process, and you could be rid of your skunk problem within a few short hours from calling us! So why not get rid of those skunks today?
How to Keep Skunks Out Of Your Garden
Skunks get a bit of a bad reputation, what with all the stench and everything associated with them. Now technically, skunks aren’t as bad as we’ve been led to believe. Yes, the stench they give off can be excruciating, which is why they have remarkably few enemies in the animal world. Visit howtogetridofskunk.com to learn more about how to get rid of skunks.
However, it’s worth keeping in mind that a skunk is less likely to spray you than you think, since it only has a limited amount of spray at its disposal. Wasting it on you would leave the skunk defenseless, and so vulnerable to other wild predators out there.
Still, it’s a good idea to take steps to protect your property against skunks, and in this article, we’ll talk about those steps in detail.
So how can you keep skunks out of your garden?
Well, there are a number of things you can do to deter the black and white miscreants from approaching.
You can (and should) have your property assessed by a professional wildlife control agency.
Many people shy away from having their property professionally assessed, since that tends to cost a pretty penny. However, having a reputed expert like Magic Touch Exterminating and Wildlife Control can help you figure out what you’re doing wrong. Professional wildlife removal will be able to spot weak spots, such as holes in your fence, and other potential entry points. You will need to fix these as soon as possible, otherwise your property will keep attracting wildlife.
They will also spot attraction points, such as food, and advise you on how to deal with your skunk problem effectively.
In many ways, having a professional wildlife removal team assess your property early on can prove more expensive, but can also end up saving you quite a bit of money in the long term.
You can use smell to deter skunks.
We know, it’s ironic, but skunks are actually quite sensitive when it comes to strong scents. A common household technique involves mixing liquid dishwasher with castor oil and spraying it around your garden, or whichever other area of the house is a problem.
Now the downside to that is, you’ll need to make sure you get the mixture out of your vegetables, or whatever you might be growing in your garden. However, castor oil and dishwasher liquid can be an effective way to deter skunks, as well as other wildlife, from approaching, so it’s worth a try!
You can also plant citrus, or use essential oils to keep skunks away, as it’s a well-known fact that skunks aren’t big citrus fans.
Use predator urine.
This is actually a method that’s quite popular for most wildlife intruders – using predator urine to keep them away. You can either attract a predator to your property, or purchase urine at specialty stores and scatter it around your property on a regular basis. This tricks the skunk into thinking there is an actual predator on your property, and will keep it well away.
Common skunk predators include coyotes, dogs, and so on.
Put up a fence.
If your property isn’t fenced already, consider putting up a fence. This will not only deter skunks, but also other wild animals (and in some cases, people) from entering your property against your will.
Treat your soil.
One of the main reasons why skunks are coming to your property is that they are attracted to the grubs in your soil. A good option for you would be to use a special spray to treat the soil against those grubs, thus eliminating the main source of attraction for skunks.
How to Remove the Smell of Skunk?
Skunks are notorious for the extremely awful liquid they spray on attackers or perceived threats. Here is a great resource at skunkpestcontrol.com to learn more about skunks. Skunk spray is an organic substance that smells like rotten egg and secreted in two anal glands under their tail. This awful substance is chemically known as a thiol and can be toxic.
Skunk spray is very powerful and doesn’t go away easily. However, you may be able to eliminate minor skunk odors in the home by proper ventilation, but more powerful skunk odors on your pet’s fur, clothing, or carpets can remain for months, especially if no action is taken right away. The smell of a skunk that has died near or under your house will remain much longer.
The awful smell of skunk can last for several weeks, so if you’re unlucky to have been sprayed, you’ll need to act quickly. Skunk spray has a strong odor, is greasy, and is difficult to remove. Even worse is that it becomes more difficult to neutralize the longer you wait.
So what if you get sprayed by a skunk, how do you remove the awful smell from your clothes, car, or house? Keep reading to find out how.
Ventilate the house
The simplest way to get rid of skunk scent in the house and yard is to open windows and use fans to ventilate the space. Most importantly, keep in mind that dealing with skunk smell as soon as possible might save you days of endless cleaning and frustration. And a single remedy may not be enough to completely eradicate skunk odor the first time. It may require a combination of procedures over time to entirely eliminate the odor.
Wash clothes with baking soda
If you were sprayed by a skunk, you may have to discard the clothing and other objects that were sprayed because fabric can retain skunk smell for a long time. Alternatively, you can soak the clothes with a solution of baking soda in a tub and then wash them at high temperatures using antibacterial detergent. Allow the clothes or fabrics to air dry instead of putting them in the dryer, which may bake in the odor. Rep this procedure until the odor has vanished.
Steam any soft surfaces that can’t be washed in a machine, like carpets, and brush them with a solution of baking soda until the stench is gone.
Thoroughly wash yourself and your pet
If a skunk sprays you or your pet, you should shower or bathe right away. Because skunk spray is both smelly and greasy, make sure you use deodorizing and grease-cutting soap to thoroughly wash your body. And use a lot of shampoo to properly clean your hair. You can also soak for 15 to 20 minutes in a baking soda bath, to make sure that every trace of smell is removed. To do so, dissolve 4 cups of baking soda in hot water and carefully rinse your body.
Keep your pet from roaming the home if they’ve been sprayed. Create a skunk spray remover by combining 1 quart 3 percent hydrogen peroxide, 1 teaspoon of a powerful grease-cutting detergent, and 1/4 cup baking soda.
Gently work the mixture into your pet’s fur, and allow it to soak into your pet’s fur for about 5 minutes. Rinse well and give your pet a complete bath with their regular shampoo. Repeat the instructions as needed till the odor has vanished.
This mixture can be used safely on people, dogs, clothing, and furniture. Always combine all ingredients in a big, open container and use right away. Do not store the mixture because it can explode in a closed container, any unused solution should be diluted and flushed down the drain.
Need help with skunks?
If you have skunks taking shelter somewhere on your property and need to get them out right away, Magic Touch Exterminating and Wildlife Control is more than happy to help. With a team of duly licensed and experienced experts, we take care of your skunk problems and help you remove that awful smell from your home.
If you live in New York City or the Long Island area and need extermination or wildlife services, call Magic Touch Extermination and Wildlife Control today!
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