Skunks Removed. No Spray. Guaranteed.

Our Skunk Removal Process

We start with an inspection to identify where the skunk is denning, how it is accessing the space, and whether babies are present. Skunks are creatures of habit and return to the same den site year after year unless the entry is permanently sealed.

We set professional cage traps using specialized techniques that minimize the chance of spraying during capture. Trap placement, bait selection, and approach angles all matter. Our technicians have handled thousands of skunks and know how to keep them calm during transport.

Once the skunk is removed, we seal every access point under the structure using heavy-gauge galvanized mesh buried into the ground to prevent digging. This is critical. Simply trapping without exclusion means a new skunk moves in within weeks.

If the skunk has sprayed under the structure, we provide odor remediation to neutralize the scent. All exclusion work is backed by a written guarantee.

Biology & Behavior

The Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is the only skunk species in the tri-state area. Adults weigh 6 to 14 pounds. They are nocturnal, omnivorous, and surprisingly docile when not threatened. Their primary defense is a sulfur-based spray that can travel up to 15 feet and be smelled from over a mile away.

Skunks do not hibernate but enter a state of torpor during the coldest winter months. They den communally in winter, with multiple skunks sharing the same space for warmth. By late February, they emerge and begin breeding. Litters of four to seven kits are born in May.

Skunks are diggers. They excavate burrows under porches, decks, sheds, stoops, and foundations. They also exploit existing gaps in foundations or lattice. Their digging can undermine concrete steps and walkways over time.

Rabies, Spray & Property Damage

Skunks are the second most common rabies vector in New York state after raccoons. A skunk that is active during the day, unafraid of humans, or staggering should be treated as potentially rabid. Never approach a skunk yourself.

Skunk spray is not just unpleasant. The sulfur compounds (thiols) can cause temporary blindness, nausea, and respiratory irritation at close range. When a skunk sprays under a structure, the odor permeates the home through HVAC systems, cracks in the foundation, and plumbing penetrations. Without professional remediation, the smell can persist for weeks.

Property damage from skunks is primarily from digging. They excavate dens under structures, dig up lawns searching for grubs, and can damage landscaping. The burrows themselves can undermine concrete steps, patios, and foundations.

Breeding Season: February Through May

Skunk activity peaks in late February when males emerge from torpor and begin roaming for mates. This is when most spraying incidents occur, as males spray during territorial disputes. By May, females have given birth and are raising kits under structures.

We check every job for babies during spring and early summer. If kits are present, we wait until they are mobile enough to follow the mother out, then exclude the entire family and seal the den permanently.

Skunk Odor Neutralization

If a skunk has sprayed under your home, the smell does not go away on its own. The thiols in skunk spray bind to surfaces and re-activate with moisture. Opening windows and running fans just moves the smell around.

We use professional-grade oxidizing agents that chemically neutralize the thiols rather than masking them. We treat the crawl space, foundation walls, and any affected areas of the home. In severe cases, we fog the interior to reach odor that has penetrated through HVAC systems.