Found A Baby Skunk In Your Yard? Here's Exactly What To Do

Springtime brings about new life. While the smell of fresh blooming flowers is in the air, there's another, more unpleasant scent you'll notice wafting around — the odor of skunks. Skunks are most active during this time, when they are raising their young and foraging for food. There are dead giveaways there's a skunk secretly living in your yard, and while this animal generally keeps their kits well-hidden, sometimes, baby skunks wander out of their dens. These critter might be cute, but they are still wild. Even though you might feel the urge to help a kit, it's best to take a wait-and-see approach.

Finding a baby skunk in your yard can be a bit startling, but it's usually not an emergency. These little guys are often just exploring or temporarily separated from their mother. If you happen to come across one, it's best to observe from a distance . The only time you need to intervene is if you see the baby is truly orphaned or hurt — then it's time to help or call a professional to handle the situation.

Similar to finding a baby deer in your yard, if you find a baby skunk, you shouldn't panic. If the kit looks healthy and is just wandering about, its mother is likely nearby. Skunk babies are quite adventurous but have terrible eyesight, meaning they often stray. For this reason, it's best to leave them alone — the mom should return at dusk or dawn.

If the mother doesn't return after some observation, you should still give her a chance to reclaim the baby by containing it and keeping it safe in the meantime. First, remember to never handle a wild animal with your bare hands — you'll need to wear gloves. You can gently place the kit in a shallow box (deep enough that it can't climb out, but shallow enough for the mother to reach in) and put a warm rice sock under half of the box so the baby doesn't get hypothermic if it's cold out. Leave the box near where you found the kit and check back in the morning. If the baby is still there after a full night, the mom isn't coming back, and you should call for professional help.

If the baby is shivering, vocalizing (high-pitched squealing), wandering aimlessly for hours, or appears injured, it likely needs assistance. It's best to look up a local licensed wildlife rehabilitator to arrange for its care. While waiting for transport, keep the kit in a dark, quiet box away from pets and children. Once the baby is safely removed, you'll want to take the appropriate steps to keep skunks out of your yard for good.