None of us want to be sprayed by a skunk. Their odor is pungent and hard to get rid of. But being sprayed isn’t the only concern property owners have with skunks in their yard. Skunks can dig holes in the lawn or garden, as they dig for their favorite foods, such as grubs. If a skunk is digging in your yard you’ll notice holes that are about 3 to 4 inches deep.
Thankfully, there are a few ways you can keep them off your property.
Use smelly deterrents
As stinky as skunk spray is, they don’t seem to like strong odors! Using strong-smelling deterrents can help keep skunks away. You can try putting ammonia-soaked rags in metal containers ( like old coffee cans or baking trays) in your yard. You can put room deodorizers or strong-smelling soaps in your garden. Citrus peels may also send them packing.
Treat your yard
Skunks love to eat things like the larva of cutworms, Japanese beetles, and hookworms. Treating your yard to remove bugs and grubs that they love, can keep them out of your yard in the first place. Consider spraying your lawn with milky spore granules or beneficial nematodes.
Keep food out of reach
Removing other food sources helps as well. Skunks will eat leaves, buds, grasses, grains, garbage, pet food, and fruit. You may want to pick up fallen fruit and keep pet kibble indoors to reduce the number of available food sources.
Install fencing and chicken wire
Fencing can help keep skunks out but don’t forget they dig, so you may want to add about a foot of chicken wire on the ground to prevent tunneling. Chicken wire can also keep skunks from making a home under your deck.
Sprinkle cayenne pepper flakes
Another tip for keeping skunks out of your garden is to sprinkle it with cayenne pepper flakes. Skunks don’t enjoy that burning sensation.
Use lighting
Skunks don’t like bright light since they’re nocturnal. A motion-activated light or a bright light outside can help keep them off your property.
Speaking of lighting, another option is flashing deterrent lights. These small solar-powered LED lights create the impression there is another larger predator in the area. That makes skunks and other animals avoid your yard.
Skunks tend to be most active in the spring, which is when you’ll have the majority of issues with them. Thankfully, their activity slows down as the season changes. In the meantime, we hope you find these tips helpful.
None of us want to be sprayed by a skunk. Their odor is pungent and hard to get rid of. But being sprayed isn’t the only concern property owners have with skunks in their yard. Skunks can dig holes in the lawn or garden, as they dig for their favorite foods, such as grubs. If a skunk is digging in your yard you’ll notice holes that are about 3 to 4 inches deep.
Thankfully, there are a few ways you can keep them off your property. In the meantime, we hope you find these tips helpful.
Keep skunks out of your yard with these tips
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