Skunk Trapping and Removal Nassau County, NY

The striped skunk is part of the family Mephitidae and of the genus Mephitis. Striped skunks can be found across most of North America, including Southern Canada and northern Mexico. This solitary, docile animal is established in every state of the United States except for Alaska and Hawaii. Striped skunks are easily identifiable by their coloration: Their stripes begin with a triangle on their heads that breaks into two thick white stripes on their backs, sharply contrasting an otherwise black coat. The striped skunk has a thin, white stripe on the center top of its snout that runs to its forehead and a prominent white marking on the back of its neck. Striped skunks are about the size of a house cat, with females slightly smaller than males. They have small triangular heads, little ears, short legs, webbed toes, and claws that they use for digging. Striped skunks are nocturnal, opportunistic, omnivorous animals that consume plants and animals. Most of their diet is made up of insects, but they also eat small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, birds, carrion, fruits, nuts, and vegetation. Skunks are immune to the venom of rattlesnakes, bees, wasps, and scorpions and will eat all of them. In areas with an abundance of snakes, skunks can help control their population. The striped skunk usually does not excavate its own burrow but takes up residence in the abandoned dens of other mammals, such as woodchucks. Although striped skunks retreat to their dens during the winter months and remain inactive for extended periods, they do not hibernate. During this inactive period, skunks depend on body fat reserves for energy, and by spring, they may lose fifteen to forty percent of their autumn weight. Striped skunks are polygamous and mate with multiple females during February and March, and the females will give birth to five or six kits approximately two months later. They have a high mortality rate and usually don't survive their first year due to severe weather conditions and disease. If they survive their first year, they can live up to seven years. Skunks possess two highly developed scent glands located on each side of their anus, which serve as a chemical defense weapon against predation. Skunks can spray an oily musk from their anus, which can result in temporary blindness and pain if sprayed in the eyes of a perceived attacker. They can spray in rapid succession, five or six times, striking a potential attacker up to twenty feet away. The Predators of skunks on Long Island would include coyotes, red foxes, and great horned owls. The striped skunk is a rabies vector species. They are also carriers of canine parvovirus and leptospirosis.

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Skunks have a keen sense of smell and can detect scents up to twenty miles away. Skunks have good hearing but poor vision. They cannot see objects more than ten feet away from them, making them vulnerable to being struck by motor vehicles. Skunks have an acute sense of touch, which assists them in navigating their environment.

Skunks are very intelligent animals known for their problem-solving skills and adaptability. A skunk will roll a caterpillar in the dirt to remove the insect's irritating hairs before consuming it. They are also quick learners with excellent memories and can recall the location of food caches or favorite hiding spots. Skunks are able to adapt to new environments by exploring and learning about their surroundings.

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Skunk Droppings resemble cat droppings but contain undigested insects, nuts, and seeds. Skunk feces can be 1 1/2 inches in diameter and 2 inches long.

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Skunk Odor is identifiable as a strong, foul smell that can take weeks to fade. The musky odor of a skunk may be coming from beneath a house, building, porch, shed, deck, or woodpile.

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Skunk Noises may include high-pitched squeaking, hissing, and scratching sounds.

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Skunk Holes are three to four-inch cone-shaped holes in the lawn or garden that result from a skunk's search for grubs in the soil.

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Skunk Tracks are about the same size as cat footprints. Skunks have five toes on both the front and hind feet with visible claws.

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Skunk Damage garbage cans by clawing through them and knocking over all but the heaviest cans. Skunks can also tear open trash bags.

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Skunk Repellents - There are no registered skunk repellents. There are no scientific studies that demonstrate that skunk repellents, including ultrasonic sound-emitting devices and commercially available odor-based repellents, effectively eliminate skunks.

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Skunk Trapping - Humane skunk trapping has been shown to be an effective strategy when attempting to get rid of skunks and is the method used by nuisance wildlife control experts at Nassau County Nuisance Wildlife Removal Services. Knowing what type of humane skunk trap to use and what bait to use for skunk removal in Nassau County, New York, is largely contingent upon the time of the year. The humane skunk trapping approach that our Nassau County skunk removal experts use depends on the situation and where the skunks enter your Long Island residence or business. Our nuisance wildlife control operators know what humane skunk traps and what skunk bait to use in every scenario.

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Habitat Modification -The best way to get rid of skunks is by making your Nassau County property less attractive to them, which can be attained by reducing access to food, water, and shelter. Fallen fruit from trees must be picked up from the ground, and garbage cans should have secured lids. Pet food shouldn't be left outside. Lawn grub control will eliminate grubs as a source of food for skunks. Potential skunk den sites can be limited by trimming overgrown shrubs, removing debris, and tightly stacking firewood. Rodent control will further decrease available food sources for skunks.

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Skunk Exclusion - Upon the completion of the humane skunk trapping and removal process from your Long Island property, Nassau County Nuisance Wildlife Removal Services will send out a licensed Nassau County contractor to give you a free estimate on any repairs that need to be done to your home or business to keep skunks out. Our New York State-licensed nuisance wildlife control operators will suggest any modifications that can be made to your residence or business to avert future encounters with skunks or unwanted wildlife. Here, we may look at ways to prevent skunks from living beneath your deck, porch, or shed.