familyservicehub Skunks may be cute but they are dangerous animals that can carry the virus. The skunks will destroy your garden to find grubs, and they leave a foul smell that can last for several days.
To keep skunks out of your yard, you need to make it as unattractive as possible. It is important to restrict their access, eliminate hiding places, and use natural deterrents. Here are some tips to keep skunks away from your garden.
Restrict and remove sources of food
Skunks are attracted to yards by food. Skunks eat insects and rodents. Skunks also eat mushrooms, earthworms and grubs. Skunks are attracted to vegetable gardens, pet foods, garbage cans and bird feeders.
Garbage and recyclables can be stored in a garage or shed until the day of collection. Use receptacles with lids that are lockable or can be held closed by a weight. Clean them periodically to eliminate odors.
Get rid of all other food sources in your yard. Get rid of any bird feeders and pet food. Bird feeders attract pests and wildlife. Pick up the fruit from your trees as soon as it falls.
can protect your crops by building raised garden beds. Skunks can’t climb and will struggle to reach your plants that are more than a foot above the ground. Bed covers can be positioned on their side to protect plants. This will also keep raccoons and rodents from damaging your plants.
Contact an animal removal company
Professional wildlife removal companies can help you determine where the skunks come from and create a plan to keep them away. The professional will inspect your property to find potential nesting sites. If skunks have been found, they will then be humanely removed. They are trained to ensure that no skunks are injured during the removal process.
Experts in wildlife removal usually remove skunks by installing an one-way entrance. The animals can safely leave the den, but they cannot return. When they leave, they simply push through the door. The remover will not take away babies until they can leave the house on their own.
Do not include the deck or garden shed
Professionals can also exclude potential denning areas found during an inspection. By digging a trench and attaching mesh to the sides of your deck or shed, they can skunk proof them.
Skunks like to nest on the underside of decks and sheds. They also use patios and extensions. The animals will create burrows anywhere there is a space between the structure of the building and the soil. In the spring, females dig burrows to provide a safe environment for their young. Both sexes burrow in the fall to stay warm.
Dig a trench on the side of the structure that you wish to protect if you are unable to have these areas excluded. Then screw a half-inch mesh along the side of the structure. Galvanized 16-gauge steel mesh is the best choice for protection. It will last many years. The mesh sticking out at the bottom of your structure will stop skunks digging underground. After you’re done, bury your mesh.
Seal any other entrance points, such as the gap between your deck steps, with additional mesh, or a wooden plank. Skunks prefer dark, enclosed spaces near your garden.
Plants that repel skunks can be added to your garden
Skunks avoid certain plants because of their smell or prickly foliage. Plant any of these around your garden to keep out skunks.
Stinging Nettle
For thousands of years, stinging nettle is used to treat gout and reduce inflammation. It is a perennial plant with hairy stems and prickly foliage that repels skunks. The liquid released by the plant when skunks remove the hairs stings the skin.
Plant the stinging nettle away from pets and children. The soil must be fertile and in full sun, or partial shade. Plant this in a place where you can control it, as it is prone to running.
Summer squash
Summer squash comes in many varieties, such as zucchini and pattypan. Skunks avoid them because they have furry leaves that irritate the skin. Add the squashes you want to your garden in spring. Make sure they are in a well-draining area where there is plenty of sunlight.
Crown Imperial
Crown Imperial looks like a plant from a Dr. Seuss book. The flowers of this plant, also known as Fritillaria Imperialis, emit a scent that skunks avoid. Crown Imperial bulbs can be planted in fall in soil that is well-drained. They will bloom in spring.
Thick hedges and bushes
Skunks will avoid prickly plants and hedges to prevent injury. You can keep animals away by surrounding your garden in Oregon grape hedges. This evergreen native to Western North America produces yellow flowers in spring. In fall, plant Oregon grape seeds on well-drained ground.
Holly, another evergreen shrub that has spiky leaves to keep pests away. Plant them near decks or areas where skunks are active, and make sure they get plenty of sun. Only female holly will produce those gorgeous red berries.
Use homemade skunk deterrents
Skunks prefer to be left alone and avoid trouble. They sleep in quiet, dark areas. You can get a skunk to leave your property by putting up signs and smelling it.
It is an excellent skunk repellent. It smells like urine to skunks. Mix one part apple vinegar with one portion of water, and spray it on your plants. This will keep skunks at bay. You can also put a few rags into freezer bags punctured with holes and soak them in apple cider vinegar. These bags can be placed around the garden and deck.
In a similar way, cat litter can also be used. Spread some cat litter in the garden or around the entrance to the den of a skunk. Ammonia in cat litter is close enough to coyote’s urine to scare off skunks.
You can also use bright lights to scare skunks out of their dens. You can leave a flashlight pointing at the den all day. A radio can be left on to encourage the animal to leave its den. You can also use motion-activated devices that emit ultrasonic sounds or flashing lights to deter skunks from raiding your garden. These aren’t home-made, but they could be useful. Hardware stores and online sell motion-activated deterrents for wildlife.