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Great Gray Owl Pest Control

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Skunks

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Consult with wildlife experts to encourage skunks to move away from your home and property.

Of great benefit to gardeners, skunks consume a great variety of insects including grubs and gypsy moth caterpillars. Even their unwelcome digging of lawns has a positive result. June beetle larvae damage lawns by feeding on the grass roots and in spring skunks may dig dozens of conical pits in these beetle infected lawns. Often the damage is slight, and the pits soon disappear along with the beetle problem.

If skunks set up house too close for your comfort, such as under a porch or garden shed, you will want to encourage them to move further afield. Wait until the young (who can be born as early as mid-April) are able to leave the nest (around late-June), and you regularly observe them moving about freely with their mother, then sprinkle a thin layer of flour around the hole and examine the area for tracks soon after dark. When you find the fresh tracks of the whole family leading out, you can seal the hole with lumber, fencing or concrete. Skunks are capable diggers so extend your barricade 12 to 18 inches underground around the opening. It is extremely important that you only seal the area when you are absolutely sure all the skunks are out -- mom and all her young.

Skunks sometimes get trapped in window wells. As poor climbers, they will require help to get out. Move slowly and cautiously, speaking in soothing, reassuring tones to calm the skunk and yourself as you lower an old window screen or board with cleats nailed at 6-inch intervals into the well. Move away and watch as the skunk climbs out. Skunks are peaceful, gentle animals and when disturbed they usually walk calmly away. They spray only as a last resort when seriously threatened.