What Do I Do If A Skunk Is Inside My Home?

Skunks don’t have great eyesight. While they are nocturnal animals, the smell of food sometimes draws them into the house. They typically do not enter human territory on purpose. However, they do wander in accidentally from time to time.

If you have a skunk in your house, chances are that it wants out as bad as you want it out. Since they can’t see very well, this may be easier said than done. The great news is that they will typically take advantage of the first opportunity to leave your home.

Dangers

A skunk that finds its way into your home is probably already scared so you don’t want to startle it. Try not to scream or make loud noises. You will also want to avoid sudden movements. At no time should you approach the skunk.

Skunks spray a horrible smelling liquid when they feel threatened. The stench of this liquid lingers long after the animal is gone. Skunks can spray with incredible accuracy and the spray can reach as high as ten feet.

This liquid causes a burning sensation when it falls on bare skin. If it reaches the eyes, it can cause temporary blindness and the smell is difficult to remove from skin or clothing. Skunks often stomp their feet and raise their tail when they are posturing to spray. Keep this in mind.

Options

There are really only two options for handling this situation without getting sprayed. The first option is to close off the room while leaving a baited trap for the animal. You should take care to cover the trap with a towel or blanket first. This will help keep the animal calm when it is caught and prevent it from spraying you.

If you trap the skunk, you can relocate it to a wooded area at least five miles away. You should still wear safety goggles and long thick gloves while transporting the animal for your own protection. If you aren’t comfortable relocating the animal yourself, then call your local wildlife management team. They will put you in touch with someone who can help you get the animal relocated safely and in a timely manner according to local laws.

Of course, the second option is to close off the room, leaving outer windows and doors open. Give the animal time to leave on its own. If it can find its way out, it will leave because it doesn’t want to be inside your home.


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