Skunk Control & Removal in Oshawa
Skunk control should never be attempted by a homeowner. These critters are the most common carriers of rabies in many parts of the country. They also carry diseases such as canine distemper, tularemia, and leptospirosis transmitted through a skunk bite. The health risks they pose are reason enough to call in professionals from Zolo Pest Control.
Pets who come into contact with their spray can carry the scent for days. As skunks forage, they can damage foundations, wiring, and plumbing with the long nails on their feet.
A Full Grown Skunk
Coloration varies among individuals. It is brown, all black, and albino skunks sometimes occur. Males and females look very similar, but the female is about about a quarter smaller. The adult skunk is 29 to 36 inches long averagely, including its very bushy tail.
A striped skunk is about the size of a domestic cat with shorter legs. Male skunks range from 3 to 11 pounds, while female skunks tend to be smaller at 2 to 6 pounds. Skunks are omnivorous (eating equal amounts of plant , animal and insects). Insects are the preferred food. Skunks will eat mice, eggs, birds, and berries. Skunks will often dig for grubs leaving conical holes in lawns and yards. This activity usually begins late summer/early fall causing extensive damage to lawns.
Breeding Season for Skunks
Breeding begins in February and lasts through March. The pregnancy ranges from 62 to 72 days. Litter sizes range from a litter of 4 to 10 kits born from early May to June. Young skunks begin to leave the den and take short trips with their mother by late June or July.
How skunks enter properties and buildings
Skunks will enter yards in search of new food sources or to find suitable dens. The striped animals are omnivores that feed on insects, earthworms, small rodents, snakes, frogs, berries, and fruit. Once near human habitation, that may expand their diet to include garbage, unattended pet food, and garden plants.
Disease related skunks
Skunks carry a number of diseases that can be harmful or transmitted to people, pets, or other animals. Skunks are the one of the top carriers of rabies.Transmission of rabies begins when the infected saliva of a skunk is passed to an uninfected person or animal.
Like many other mammals, skunks are animals that can be prone to disease, and in many situations these conditions can be passed between skunks, or transmitted to people or other animals. Because skunks are a natural pest, it is important to treat them with respect and not allow yourself to get too close, even if you are trying to help, as it is easy to catch a harmful disease from the animals. However, if skunks are causing a problem for you, by taking the right precautions it is possible to deal with them safely without putting yourself or your family and pets at risk.
Preventing the transmission of diseases from skunks
When it comes to dealing with a skunk problem, one of the most important things you can do is to vaccinate your dogs against canine distemper, as it is a horrible condition that can really bring misery to an animal's life. You should also look at methods that can be used to get rid of the skunks, as the longer they are allowed in and around your yard or garden, the more likely they are to cause problems for you, your family and your pets. There are many ways that you can use to trap and remove skunks yourself, but it is also possible to hire a professional to deal with the problem for you.
Property damage caused by skunks
Skunk Burrows
The front claws of skunks give them perfect tools for digging. Skunks will build burrows and tunnels under buildings, sheds, decks, and concrete foundations. These burrows can threaten the structural integrity of homes and businesses, but they also can provide access inside.
Skunk Holes
Skunk holes differ from skunk burrows. Skunk holes are shallower than burrows and have loosened dirt.
Skunks will dig holes in your yard searching for food. Skunks are omnivores. They eat insects, mice, shrews, ground squirrels, young rabbits, eggs, and various plants.
Skunk prevention
Since most lawns contain a wide variety of insects and worms, one of the best ways to deter a skunk from making its home in your yard is to make it difficult for them to find a good place to create a den by adding mesh around structures so they cannot get underneath and keep your yard free of brush. Skunks are equipped with strong feet and long nails made for digging. They are capable of damaging homes and businesses when burrowing for food or shelter, including damage to foundations, electrical wiring, and plumbing. A skunk’s spray is also capable of ruining outdoor furniture or equipment.
Never attempt to handle a skunk without the help of a professional. Skunks pose a significant threat to your health, pets, and property. These nocturnal pests are the most common carriers of rabies in many parts of the country, and carry diseases such as tularemia, leptospirosis, and canine distemper. These diseases are transmitted through bites and not through a skunk’s spray. A skunk’s sulfuric spray, which is known for its intense odor, is a defense mechanism and only used when a skunk feels cornered or threatened. If you or your pet come in contact with skunk spray, it can cause nausea or vomiting.
Do you need skunk control services?
The idea of controlling skunks seems an unpleasant one to most people. The thought of getting sprayed alone is enough to call a skunk professional for skunk control services. The truth is that it takes an expert with years of experience who knows how to control skunks to limit the amount of skunk damage these animals can do. Controlling skunk problems is something we at Zolo Pest Control pride ourselves on.
Trapping and removal
Although skunk encounters occur on a fairly regular basis, the pests should never be handled without the help of a professional. When threatened, skunks discharge their spray, and the smell is difficult to remove and causes serious irritation to the skin and eyes. Calling in a wildlife specialist is imperative for proper skunk removal, as professional specialists possess the knowledge, tools, and training to resolve skunk problems humanely and effectively.
