Skunk Trapping and Control

Skunks are among the most misunderstood animals in Georgia. This misunderstanding begins with their taxonomic order. Although often mistakenly thought to be rodents, skunks actually belong to the order Carnivora and are in no way related to rodents.

In addition, many people consider skunks to be agricultural pests. In reality, though, skunks are beneficial to agriculture because they feed primarily on insects, many of which are agricultural pests. They also will eat mice and other small rodents, especially in the cooler months.

Finally, skunks aren't "mean" animals. As wild animals go, they're actually relatively passive and rarely attack unless they're afraid for their lives. When that happens, though, watch out. Skunks are capable of spraying a noxious, foul-smelling, irritating liquid with great accuracy at whomever or whatever startled them.

Why Do Skunks Spray People and Pets?

The most common reason that people and domestic animals get sprayed when they happen to come across a skunk is because they act in a way that skunks see as aggressive, and wind up scaring the skunks in the process. If you come across a skunk, do not raise your hands in the air (this is an aggressive posture to a wild animal), and don't smile (it bares your teeth, which also is an aggressive act to a wild animal). Instead, lower your head and walk away quietly.

Skunk Control

An occasional skunk sighting doesn't necessarily mean that you need skunk control. But both in rural areas and in big cities like Atlanta, skunk control sometimes becomes necessary when humans and skunks get too close for each others' comfort.

Examples of situations in which skunk removal is needed include:

• When the number of skunks in an area rises to unacceptable levels.
• When skunks have taken up residence in, under, or around a home. This is especially true if you have pets or livestock who might make the big mistake of attacking or otherwise frightening the skunks, or young children who might think the skunks are cute and try to play with or pet them.
• When one or more skunks is suspected of being rabid, or when public health officials have determined that rabies is epizootic in a given area.

When skunk control does become necessary it usually is accomplished by live-trapping. When skunks have lived in or under a dwelling or other building, cleaning, deodorizing, and exclusion may also be necessary.

Here are a few pictures of skunk control jobs we've been on (more to come).

For more information on skunk control, or for any animal control problems, please contact us for a prompt, professional inspection and assessment.