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Skunks are a Coachella Valley pest, digging holes in yards in search of worms and grubs to eat, and hiding under porches or decks. When threatened, they will attempt to scare off the threat by stamping their feet, hissing, and spraying people and animals from up to 15 feet away.
Dealing with skunks can be tricky, and it’s important to get help from experts. Rudy’s Termite & Pest Control knows how to deal with skunks in the Coachella Valley – give us a call today!
Skunks are one of the more recognizable wild animals that live among us. They are four-legged, with fur that’s mostly black except for a white stripe that runs from its snout, down its back, and becomes thicker on the tail. Their tails are very thick and bushy. Skunks are approximately 18 to 32 inches in length, with webbed toes and claws.
Skunks typically prefer to build their dens in dark, secure places. They like to make their dens in the habitats other burrowing pests leave behind, but will also make dens around our homes, such as under porches and decks, inside sheds, under pools, in thick plant life, and under appliances that may be outdoors. They also frequently shelter in these places in the spring when it’s time to give birth. If a skunk does take up residence inside your home, they can cause damage to insulation, drywall, pipes, air ducts, vents, and underground sprinklers.
The mating season for skunks is in late February to early March. With a gestational period of about 62 days, female skunks give birth in the spring. Each skunk litter consists of approximately five babies, called kits. These kits are born blind and deaf, with black-and-white fur. Their eyes begin to open and their senses start developing at three weeks. The kit is fully weaned within approximately two months. At this point, the mother begins to bring the kits outside of the den to forage for food. A kit as young as 3-4 months can defend itself with its signature spray.
A skunk in the wild does not live for very long, as they are very susceptible to weather and disease. If a skunk survives past its first year, it may live for between three to seven years.
Rudy’s Termite & Pest Control are licensed Coachella Valley skunk control experts. Contact us today and let us solve the issue effectively.
Skunks are generally harmless to humans. However, if they feel threatened or are injured, they can become aggressive. Skunks release a foul-smelling spray from their anal glands as a deterrent to predators, and this distinctively awful smell can be very hard to remove from clothes, hair, and pets. Skunks are one of the major carriers of rabies in California.
A skunk that has made your home its own can cause damage to your property. They can dig up your lawn looking for insects to eat, and the spray they mark their territory with can damage the surface it lands on.
The biggest problem with a skunk infestation is the smell of the spray. Not only can they leave a lingering odor around your property, but they can also use it to defend themselves if they feel threatened. This is a particular risk if you have children or pets that may unwittingly startle a skunk. In addition to the odor, the chemical of this spray can cause nausea, vomiting, and temporary blindness if it makes contact with the eyes.
Skunks are major carriers of rabies, roundworms, canine hepatitis, and leptospirosis. It’s important to not approach a skunk on your own.
Trying to remove a skunk from your property can be difficult and even dangerous, so let the pest control experts help. At Rudy’s Termite & Pest Control, we have experience in humane skunk removal in the Coachella Valley.
