Pet Talk: Skunk is too close for comfort

DEAR PET TALK: A skunk has taken up residence on my enclosed porch, and I didn’t advertise for a roommate — help! I love wildlife, but not so close.

— Animal Lover At A Distance

DEAR ANIMAL LOVER AT A DISTANCE: Ouch! I love wildlife also, and skunks are very beneficial as they eat grubs and insects. However, they should live in their home, while you live in your home. We reached out to Leominster Fitchburg Animal Control and spoke to Officer Todd Picket. He advised that skunks hate noise, smells, light and damp, and here are steps to follow.

“First, put a radio out there. Play music with a loud bass, so the floor will vibrate. Next, put vinegar in a small container with a rag. Skunks are smelly, but they hate smells. At night, keep a floodlight on. They don’t want to be in the lights. And if you can make the floor damp, by running a hose, you will make the place less attractive to them. I wouldn’t advise putting a garden hose if the animal is under a deck,” he concludes. Constantly soaking the ground could compromise decking materials.

“The skunk in residence have decided your home is their home,” he says. “You need to make their home intolerable. You want the animals to say, ‘I don’t like it and I’m out of here.’”

Massachusetts government sites have excellent resources. Visit www.mass.gov/topics/wild-massachusetts and any issue you may have with wildlife will be covered. The site reminds readers that “animals are most often moved by people who are experiencing problems with wildlife or by those who think the animal would be better off somewhere else. Never move wildlife; it can cause a lot of harm to the animal. Not only is moving wildlife illegal in Massachusetts, but it is often ineffective for those who are trying to find a solution to a wildlife problem.”

Animals are attracted to food sources, including open garbage sources and of course bird feeders. This is not the season for bird feeders, particularly for folks who live in rural and suburban areas. As the temps cool, and the calendar advances toward winter, wildlife that estivate or hibernate will become more active as they prepare to “power down.”

And if you have wildlife that’s larger than skunks — say Ursus americanus, or our local black bear, that’s also common. Pickett says he receives “several” calls about bear sightings every week. “I’ve had people ask what to do when you have bears walk in their yard.” He recommends, “download sounds of dogs barking, play it on a speaker in your backyard and it keeps bears away.”

Sally Cragin is the director of Be PAWSitive: Therapy Pets and Community Education. Send questions to [email protected].