How To Keep Skunks Out Of Your Yard (For Good)

Spotting wildlife in your yard can be a breathtaking moment, but when it comes to skunks, not so much. These nocturnal creatures will happily invite themselves onto your property while searching for food and shelter. Even if you don't see the skunk with your own eyes, you'll definitely know it's there with your nose. They're infamous for the pungent odor they release as a result of being scared, which can be a pain if your pet is on the receiving end. In addition to their foul smell, skunks can cause damage to lawns by digging holes to look for insects, and they're also known to create messes around the garden. To help keep skunks away, it's important to eliminate their food sources and hiding spots.

Although skunks in your yard can be a nuisance, they're non-aggressive mammals just trying to survive. If you leave out trash, pet food, or have trees that drop fruit on the ground — skunks consider these as invitations to feast. Similarly, if there are areas on your property that would make a good shelter, such as a woodpile or under a deck, they will take advantage of them. The key is to make changes around your yard so that skunks aren't attracted to it in the first place. There are even clever hacks to repel skunks from your garden.

The first step in banishing skunks from your yard is to tackle all of the food sources around your property. Clean up any fallen berries, nuts, or non-citrus fruits, as well as grass clipping piles. If you have a garden, install a low fence around it with a bottom that's staked at least two inches below ground. Since skunks will eat garbage, be sure that your trash cans are completely sealed. Keeping them inside a structure at night could be helpful, but if it's not possible, you could consider adding locks to your cans. Don't leave pet food bowls outside overnight, and if you have a bird feeder in your yard, sweep up any leftover birdseed on the ground.

Next, address the spots in your yard that skunks might want to make their den. Cover any spaces that would give them access below your porch, shed, deck, and other similar areas. This can be done with fencing. Cut back overgrown shrubs to keep skunks from using them as shelter. Also, get rid of debris and woodpiles. If possible, store your logs inside a container or shed as an alternative.

There are other ways to repel pests from your yard. Skunks aren't fans of bright lighting, so having lights on your property could discourage them from entering it. Citrus peels are another humane deterrent for skunks, as they despise the scent. You can place them in various spots around your residence. By combining these efforts, hopefully, you won't see (or smell) a skunk in your yard again.