I’m in the middle of a plumbing job underneath the floor I was cutting through the other day. Below it’s a two foot (or so) crawl space, and below that is dirt. It is known that a skunk lives under there, and a few weeks back something in the area got sprayed. I could detect it up here, and my ground floor friends got the full symphonic effect.
Luckily, when I got under the floor there was neither sign nor odor, so I’ve been hoping he’s moved on, or maybe the spray was a failed attempt to discourage a coyote.
But a few minutes ago, I went to the other end of my apartment, and guess what I smelled? This is not going to be fun. Now that I’ve started it, the operation can’t really be suspended until the air clears.
I haven’t had any direct experience with those offensive rodents but did find this suggestion on the net (FWIW): How to discourage skunks from living under your house or deck. I have received many enquiries on how to get rid of skunks that are living under a deck or house. The easiest way is to put a light under the house or deck after the skunks have left for the night. When the skunks return before dawn they will be repelled by the light and will find another area to sleep.
If that is the case I might be worth throwing a light under there and keeping it on till you get the job done at least.
Best of luck and keep some cans of tomato juice on hand…
Fox urine is also very similar in fragrance to skunk scent but skunks can tell the difference and they don’t like it. A possible way to discourage them from using the crawl space. And it’s over-the-counter.
Skunks are really cute. If they didn’t stink, they’d be so adorable.
We have a lot of skunks because they are pretty common here in Southern California. It’s annoying when they go off, but it does go away and I don’t think it really smells all that awful. I certainly wouldn’t want that smell to get on me, but it kind of smells like onions or garlic or something.
Skunks are one of the critters that’s done very well out of urbanization. The urban skunk population density in most North American cities is a lot higher than in the countryside nearby. Cities have more food and fewer predators.
I live in the middle of the city, blocks away from a woods, ravine or river valley.Yet, we have skunks, racoons, and possum in our backyard. There are a lot of deer in the cemetary nearby. In addition to the tomb of an ex-president of the United States, I also see coyotes there. So it isn’t actually an urban wasteland as far as wildlife is concerned.
I’ve raised a number of skunk litters over the years and have never been sprayed once. Nothing quite like walking around the house with a bunch of little skunks clinging on to your shoes with another bunch following behind. Incredibly cute little buggers.
They become fully loaded a few weeks after birth but even young skunks are self-assured enough there is little likelyhood of spraying unless they feel very threatened. I have had more than one wild skunk bump into me on back packing trips during the night including one that stuck his nose right in my ear while I was asleep. I almost sprayed but he could have cared less.
