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There are many animal species in the United States
that can become a nuisance when they are present
in urban or suburban areas, but there are few that
can be quite as repulsive as the smell that skunks
can make if they are threatened. This is the most
obvious issue that people will think of when they
imagine the problems that skunks cause, but the
truth is they can actually cause even more
problems than this. The reasons below will also
provide you with plenty of incentive to deal with
a skunk problem sooner rather than later, as they
can be very disruptive animals that do
not make for good neighbors.
Casting Their Scent
The musk that skunks can produce is probably the
most distinctive thing about the species, despite
the dramatic white stripe that cuts across the fur
of the skunk, and in many ways the scent is so bad
that it cannot be described. This can be a problem
in several ways, but one of the most common ways
to find the scent is that a pet such as a dog or
cat has encountered a skunk, been sprayed, and
then brings the smell into a home, where it can be
difficult to remove. Skunks will only really spray
their musk if they have to in order to avoid
confrontation, but inquisitive pets are certainly
vulnerable to learning this lesson the hard way.
Damage To Yards And Gardens
Another of the reasons that skunks can be a
nuisance is that they are not exactly good
neighbors if they find their way into a yard or
garden, and there are several ways in which they
can be a problem here. In some cases they may find
cavities under sheds or other parts of the yard or
garden where they can build a nest, and from this
spot they will then be able to cause a lot of
problems in the yard or garden. One of the biggest
issues is in areas where the property owners have
a lawn, as these are regularly watered and home to
plenty of insects and earthworms, and skunks can
tear a lawn into pieces catching all of the
insects just below the surface of the grass.
Scavenging For Food In Urban Areas
When skunks go looking for food, they are not
discriminating in the food sources that they use,
and this scavenging behavior can be another
problem for those people living in urban and
suburban areas. Skunks have sharp front claws
which can easily cut through garbage bags and pet
food stores, and when they find these food sources
they will also cause a fair amount of mess where
they have been eating. Skunks have a very varied
diet, so they can actually steal food from a
variety of different sources, and for gardens with
fruit trees, they will often dig under the fence
in order to get to the fruit inside.
Harm To Pets And Domesticated Animals
Skunks are naturally wary of other animals, and
wild species will have learned not to engage or
try to attack the furry creatures with the broad
white stripe down their back, because of the
effects of being sprayed. Pets and domesticated
animals such as cattle or poultry can be harmed by
skunks though, as they can often attack smaller
animals such as chickens, or inadvertently spray
the over inquisitive cow or sheep. Many skunks
also carry rabies, which is a very certain threat
for pets and domesticated animals, so it is worth
dealing with a skunk problem sooner rather than
later when the issue arises.
For more information, you may want to click on one
of these guides that I wrote:
How much
does skunk removal cost? - get the lowdown
on prices.
How
to get rid of skunks - my main skunk removal
info guide.