Garden Skunks: Friend or Foe?

Skunks can be a pet owners worst nightmare.

Skunks often signal before spraying by stomping their feet and raising their tails.

side view of skunk in a garden

Credit:beebatch / Getty Images

If you see these signs, its time to put some serious distance between you and the animal.

While skunks can cause trouble for homeowners, they also offer some benefits.

Removing these elements can encourage skunks to move on without you needing to do anything else.

Avoid using ammonia or mothballs as skunk deterrents.

These products are toxic to skunk kits and can harm outdoor pets and other wildlife.

ensure no adult skunks or kits are trapped inside before installing these barriers.

Install Motion-Activated Lights and Sprinklers

Motion-activated spotlightsandgarden sprinklerscan also keep skunks at bay.

Spotlights are particularly useful as skunks are nocturnal animals, and their eyes are sensitive to bright lights.

For best results, install these deterrents near spots where skunks are most active.

Cleaning up your garden andkeeping lawns trimmedmakes gardens much less appealing to skunks and other wildlife.

Also, relocating skunks increases the chances of being sprayed.