Skunks!
 

We have this shed in the backyard, not too far from the house and over the years there has been opossum, skunk, etc under there . . .we evicted with have a heart trap, block up where they can get in and forget it . . .so I thought nothing of Rhianna going crazy near the shed this Spring . . .figured it must be another opossum because it didn't smell of skunk at all . . .thought so until last night at dusk . . .:eek: So I'm outside, and hear a rustling sound, look over to where the shed is and bam, a beautiful skunk (really, I mean it, it looked clean, it's white was sparkling white). . .I was like hmmmm, interesting . . .I stood there a little while and bam a second skunk was out . . .:eek: Ok, so now I'm intrigued . . .it wasn't like a mom and babies, they were the same size relatively . . .it started to get darker so I just stood there, listening, they were bunching up some leaves (like squirrels do for their nests) and then BAM, a third skunk was out there . . .:eek: I just stood there in awe . . .really?! Three skunks? I don't know if there were more or are more . . .and I don't know what we are going to do about it . . .like I said, they don't smell and haven't sprayed, but they cannot take up residence there . . .the dogs will go absolutely nuts if they see one . . .I'm not going to be able to tell if they all leave because I only saw 3 . . .so I cannot wait til the 3 leave and then block it up . . .there might be babies or more of them . . .Ugh, what can I do???

Omg! i would be going nuts. i have an outdoor shed and i think there are little chipmunks under there.
i dont know what you can do about it.... i wonder if a proffesional exterminator would handle this, not sure. if so, i think i would rather go that route myself. just pay a proffesional to get rid of them :confused:

Oh man, that stinks! Sorry, I couldn't resist. :) I also think skunks are beautiful but that is at a far distance. Not sure how to drive them away though.

i dont know how true this is but someone once told me that if you put moth balls around the perimieter of your property or the area that they would go, that that will deter them from coming on your property. maybe they dont like the smell so they go somewhere else??
still that help with how to get rid of them if there living on your property...
i hope you can get this under control soon :eek:

Thanks, me too . . .I've been researching online and it seems like mothballs are supposedly a deterrent. It says to put them in a plastic baggies and leave the bags unzipped, then put the bags in old socks and place them around the area the skunk is inhabiting, but it says to do it in early April or in August because between May and June there might be litters born and you don't want the babies to be orphaned . . .:eek:

Geeze . . .:rolleyes:

i dont know anything about skunks but i'm guessing that those 3 that you saw are older babies :(

You may want to have some skunk cleaning stuff on hand... JUST IN CASE. Our Aussie got sprayed earlier this year and the vet said to use a water/vinegar mix directly on the oily spot. Luckily it was very contained in one spot. Then we used Nature's Miracle Skunk Odor Remover and it worked completely! These things usually happen late at night when the stores are closed so it wouldn't hurt to be prepared.

As for deterring them, I'm no expert but I've heard the mothball theory before also. Good luck!

I would definitely have some kind of skunk cleaning solution on hand. I live in a wooded area with a shed, above ground pool with deck. Animals love to hide under the shed or pool deck. Piper is always contained in a pen when she is outside because of the predators. But years ago I had a yorkie that had the run of the yard with me outside watching him. Those days it seemed safe enough outside. At night I would always turn on the floods and scan the yard to make sure nothing was in the yard. One night I didn't notice the skunk hanging out by the pool area. Chipper caught sight of the skunk as soon as his feet hit the deck and ran right up to the butt of the skunk. He was sprayed right in the face. I scoop him up and tried the tomato juice and water routine which I don't think worked at all. I had skunk smell in the house ( too cold outside to bathe him) and skunk smell in my sinuses for days. For weeks whenever Chipper got wet I would smell skunk. I don't have any suggestions on how to get rid of your family of skunks and hopefully your babies won't discover where they live.

Can you call your local wildlife management agency? I know around here they will come for other wildlife that comes to close to human habitats. (we have problems in our area with black bear mostly) If they don't come out they at least may be able to offer some solution for getting them to abandon your shed.

Oh they know where they are, they go crazy by the front of the shed, but they just can't get to them . . .we put up a decorative fence between where they can get behind the shed so they can't "invade" on the skunks territory.

I never imagined to see skunks at all because of no smell, so I wasn't really concerned about whatever they were smelling . . .now, though, I know between dusk and dawn the babies have to be on their harnesses to potty until the skunks have vacated . . .:rolleyes:

If you or anyone else ever needs it, this is the recipe I used for my dog. It worked pretty good.

Skunk Odor Removal Home Remedy
Ingredients
Apple Cider Vinegar - 1 Gallon
3% Hydrogen Peroxide - 1 Quart
Baking Soda - 1/2 Cup
Liquid Dish Soap - 2 Teaspoons
Directions Mix All Ingredients Together
This remedy is for more stubborn skunk odor cases involving a cat or dog's fur.
Pour apple cider vinegar mixture onto the dog's fur and massage into the skin and fur.
Massage the vinegar mixture into the pet's fur and skin for ten full minutes to neutralize and eliminate the skunk odor in the pet's coat.
Rinse the cat or dog's fur thoroughly with running water.
Wash the pet with a gentle pet shampoo to eliminate the odor of vinegar that will remain in the pet's fur.

That's awesome, thanks! I hope I never need it . . .:p

you have skunks i have baby oppossums Yesterday the dogs were going crazy looked out and on the other side of the fence four little guys. And they where coming towards the dogs while barking. I got the dogs inside and have not seen them since hoping mom was around to get them out of here. But i too am afraid they are living under a shed At least they won't spray Good luck with the skunks

Updated - 6/23
 

Apparently our skunk friends are having fun with the sock filled mothballs . . :rolleyes:

We followed advice from a website about where to place them, etc . . .so we placed 4 socks on either side of their entrance figuring after they left for the evening, they wouldn't want to return to their home cause it now stunk of mothballs . . .WRONG! First night - they literally moved one of the socks and the mothballs were everywhere . . .:rolleyes: Soooo we moved the sock back and the next morning . . .we were minus one sock . . .:eek: Don't know if they dragged it under the shed or what . . .but it's gone, mothballs and all . . Soooo the remaining 3 socks were placed right in front of their hole last night . . .now we are minus another sock . . .Sooo, just an FYI, the skunks don't seem to mind the mothballs . . .

Ugh! Guess I'll go try the Critter Ridder which you sprinkle around the perimeter . . .:rolleyes: If that doesn't work, I don't know what we'll do . . .:thumbdown

Skunks!! :eek: I have had my fair share around here. Except I get the smell. :eek: It is terrible. I would think you have two choices, kill them or remove them. It is hard to kill something that isn't doing anything to you, or at least it is for me. :rolleyes: We have game wardens here that will remove pests. For example, we have a problem with bears and they will capture them and take them to a new location. I think I would call just to see if I were you. I called animal control in my area and they will not help at all. They just said to bury it if I kill it! :eek: So, try game wardens (maybe called game and fish commission?)