Professional Skunk Removal From Under Homes

Animal Capture Wildlife Control: Skunk Removal in Los Angeles

We specialize in skunk removal in towns throughout California! We are experts when it comes to skunk problems in Los Angeles. Most of the calls we get are for skunks living under homes, skunk burrows, skunks living in the garage, skunk mothers with babies, and skunks ripping vents off the home. We also get many calls from people who are having a major flea problem due to skunks living on the property.

Skunks are like salmon—when a skunk is born under your home, she will come back to where she was born to have her babies. That’s why it is very important to remove skunks in your Los Angeles home before you have generations of them breeding under your home. Skunks are also attracted by other skunks spraying. During mating season, skunks will spray to attract a mate. Most of these problems are solved by trapping and removing the skunks.

We have seen cases across Los Angeles where skunks rip off a vent to the under floor of a home and live under there. When the skunk is under the home they will dig burrows and live in them. Many times when we go under a home we find more than one burrow.

We also find skunks will tear down the insulation that is tacked up underneath the home and use it for their nesting material. In many cases when we go under the home, we find the skunk. We then give the homeowner the option to pull it out now or trap it.

Pulling a Skunk Out vs. Setting a Live Trap

The problem with physically removing the skunk is that it will spray like crazy, leaving the home smelling of skunk for weeks to months. The good thing is the problem is solved within minutes.
We have no problem going under a home and physically removing a skunk. We have been sprayed almost every day for over 20 years.

The other option is trapping the skunk. That is done by putting the trap by the entry point, and when the skunk leaves the hole he goes in the trap. When the skunk sprays outside, the smell dissipates quickly. After we trap the skunk, we leave the traps for 3-5 days just to make sure there are no more skunks under the home.

When Animal Capture is done with a job, our goal is for your home to be sealed properly. Whether we can seal it or not, we always recommend it be done right.

If you have any questions about skunk removal and trapping in Los Angeles, please call us at (310) 551-0901.

We proudly serve all of Los Angeles, including Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Brentwood, Malibu, Woodland Hills, Calabasas, Sherman Oaks, Torrance, Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes Estates, San Pedro, La Canada, Pasadena, Monrovia, Hidden Hills, Hollywood, West Hollywood, Pacific Palisades, Van Nuys, Santa Clarita, Canyon Country, Valencia, Encino, Northridge, Topanga, Toluca Lake, Glendale, and Burbank.

Preventing Skunks in Los Angeles

Once they’ve invaded a home, a skunk can truly live up to the definition of “pest.” But there are ways to prevent skunks from making your property their home.

Remove Attractants

Skunks will choose areas with convenient access to food sources. Therefore, denying them that access will encourage them to go elsewhere. Ensuring that garbage is well-sealed to prevent the spread of smell is one strategy. If you have pets, placing their food in a sealed container will also help to eliminate temptation.

Fruit is a favorite skunk snack, but only if it’s on the ground. If you have fruiting trees or plants on your property, ensure that fallen fruit is removed on a regular basis.

Use Deterrents

Fencing can be an effective skunk deterrent. However, because skunks are enthusiastic diggers, it’s important to ensure that any fencing is installed several inches below ground level to prevent successful entry.

Discourage regular skunk visits to your garden by choosing plants that are uncomfortable for them to access, such as pumpkin. Plant these prickly plants around your garden’s borders for best results.

Smell represents another potentially effective deterrent for skunks. However, skunk deterrent sprays should be well-researched prior to purchase to ensure their effectiveness.

Close Entry Points

It’s a good idea to inspect areas including the foundation around your home and any outbuildings for holes and other entry points, and then seal these points to prevent access. However, it’s important to ensure that this is done during the day and not when young skunks are present.

About Skunks in California

Here’s a brief overview of skunks as well as the wildlife control practices commonly used to manage them.

BIOLOGY

The most common skunk species seen in the Los Angeles area is the striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis), while the smaller spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius) is often spotted as well around these parts, particularly around dwellings.

The striped skunk is roughly the size of a house cat (4-10 lbs.) and sports long black fur with two distinctive broad white stripes down the back. It has a triangular head and a large, bushy tail. The strong musk stench associated with skunks is expelled from a pair of scent glands located close to their anus.

BEHAVIOR

A lot of people think of skunks as nothing but foul-smelling pests that should be carefully avoided. These little striped creatures do provide some useful benefits, however. They kill rodents and insects for us, which helps reduce the huge population of those critters.

Skunks are nocturnal animals, which means that they go hunting during the nighttime, where they search for insects, poultry, small rodents, fruit, carrion, eggs, pet food, nestling birds, and garbage. Because these animals appear mainly at night, many people do not even realize that they live in a region with a large population of skunks.

Skunks are fond of seeking out areas suitable as dens, such as wood piles, culverts, animal burrows, decks, sheds, and underneath houses. Breeding usually happens during the months of February and March, although it sometimes occurs in January. Male skunks often attack each other during their search for a mate, and female skunks frequently attack frisky males, often spraying them in the process.

Litters are born nine weeks after conception, generally resulting in four to eight young skunks. They stay with the female for a period of several months before beginning to leave home by mid-late summer.

DAMAGE

Skunks can become a serious nuisance when they decide to take shelter under houses or decks, or inside garages. They’re notorious for their ability to spray a nauseating musk from their anal glands, and they can hit a target with accuracy at a range of about ten feet. Confrontations with household dogs and cats usually result in the pet getting bitten or sprayed.

Additionally, skunks can wreak havoc on gardens by digging through them while trying to find grubs and insects to feast on. Sometimes they even displace large sections of sod. They can also inflict major damage on ground-nesting wild bird populations and endangered small mammals in the area. Poultry raisers can experience substantial losses as a result of these creatures.

DISEASE

Most Californians are unaware that skunks are the primary carriers of rabies in this state. Over the last few years, around 65% of all skunks checked for rabies tested positive as carriers. This is a very dangerous disease that is fatal to both animals and human beings. It spreads via the bite of a rabies-infected animal.

Though there is a vaccine available, it must be administered prior to the onset of symptoms. This is one reason why there is such demand for wildlife control experts who are well versed with skunk removal in Los Angeles and other major communities throughout the state.

Aside from rabies, skunks can also carry listeriosis, leptospirosis, canine hepatitis, canine distemper, tularemia, Q fever, and Trypanosoma. In addition, they tend to carry various fleas, ticks, and mites that can themselves transmit disease.

ODOR

Reactions to skunk musk vary widely, from slight irritation on one end to severe nausea, headaches, vomiting, and a burning sensation in the eyes on the other. Fortunately, there are no known diseases spread by skunk musk.

If skunk musk gets on your clothing or furniture, you can neutralize it by washing the object with detergent, then using vinegar or ammonia before giving it a rinse. If possible, air out the object under the sun on a hot day.

If it seems that your pet was bitten, get them to a vet right away.

LAWS AND REGULATIONS

Under the laws of the state of California, skunks are not considered endangered or threatened animals, nor are they classified as furbearers or game animals. They cannot be kept as pets. Only authorized wildlife control experts are allowed to keep injured or orphaned wildlife (skunks included) and then only for a limited time period. In addition, there is no season or bag limit on these animals.

Skunk FAQ

Q: Can anyone remove a skunk?
A: Yes and no. It’s true that protective gear and skunk traps can be purchased in Los Angeles. However, skunk removal must be accomplished in such a way that doesn’t cause additional stress and doesn’t risk leaving skunk odor on the property. Humane removal by a skunk exterminator remains the best way to remove a skunk from your property.

Q: Can skunks be removed at any time of the year?
A: Although skunk control can occur year-round, these animals do breed between January and March, and then have their young several weeks thereafter. This is taken into consideration if professional skunk removal occurs during these times.

Q: Does Animal Capture Wildlife Control kill skunks to remove them?
A: No. We always give the homeowner the humane option of either pulling the skunk out or using live traps.

Q: How much does it cost for professional skunk removal services?
A: Typically, skunk removal cost for a property is in the low hundreds. The total cost of skunk pest control removal will depend on the difficulty of that removal.

Q: Do skunk removal sprays work to deter skunks?
A: While it’s true that there are many skunk deterrent sprays available, there are many products whose claims are not backed by scientific data or manufactured to strict quality standards.

Why Choose Us to Get Rid of Skunks in Los Angeles?

When a skunk invades your home, they can become an invasive and odorous pest that damages your garden and property and causes flea infestations.

With over 20 years of experience, Animal Capture Wildlife Control possesses the expertise and licensing necessary to safely, reliably, and humanely remove skunks from any location where they are not wanted. In addition to skunks, Animal Capture Wildlife Control is also very proud to offer award-winning, professional wildlife removal of the following common property pests:

• Snakes
• Bats
• Opossums
• Raccoons
• Squirrels

In addition, we also help homeowners and businesses in Los Angeles and surrounding areas with the removal of dead animals. Our expertise also extends to trapping, inspection, and repair with the following services:

• Safe and humane trapping of skunks and other wildlife
• Inspections of crawl spaces and attic areas
• Inspections of animal dens
• Repair of animal barriers and property damage
• Complete property inspections

Our 4-step process simplifies animal removal. First, we conduct a thorough inspection of your property. Second, we set up several live traps or remove the animal, depending on your preference.

Third, we return to your property to collect and relocate trapped wildlife, and set more traps for any animals which may remain on your property. Finally, if after five or seven days no more animals are trapped, we consider our work to be complete.

Our growing list of satisfied clients choose us for our professionalism, timeliness, and experience. They know they can rely on us for all of their animal control needs.

If you need skunk removal in Los Angeles, call us today at 310-551-0901.