Many people consider skunks odorous, obnoxious pests that should be avoided at all costs. However, these animals have some beneficial habits, they kill insects and rodents.
The striped skunk is a house-cat sized animal that has long black fur with a white stripe from head to tail along the back. The head is triangular and the tail is large and bushy. The strong musk characteristics of the skunk is expelled from two glands near the anus.
Skunks are nocturnal, preferring to hung at night for insects, rodents, eggs, birds, fruit, pet food and garbage. Skunks will use any sheltered place as a den including wood piles, culverts, under houses, decks, and sheds.
Breeding may begin as early as January but usually occurs around February and March. Males are viciously competitive for females, and bred females will attack males attempting to breed with them. One or both animals frequently spray during this intraspecific aggression. Litters are born 9 weeks after conception with an average of 4 - 8 young. The young skunks stay with the females for several months, but usually begin to disperse by mid to late summer.
Skunks become a problem when their activities conflict with human interests. When skunks take shelter under homes, decks, or in garages, their presence is not usually tolerated. All skunks have the ability to discharge a nauseating musk from their anal glands. They are capable of spraying their mush several times with accuracy to about 10 feet. Confrontation with pets often results in the pet being spayed or bitten.
Damage: Skunks can also cause severe damage to gardens and lawns by their digging activities. While searching for grubs and insects, skunks frequently uproot turf and other plants. This damage consists of small pits ranging from 3 to 5 inches across.
Disease: Skunks are the primary carrier of rabies in California. Approximately 65 percent of the skunks tested for rabies tested positive for the disease during the past 5 years. Rabies is a viral disease that is fatal in mammals, including man and domestic animals. It is transmitted by the bite of an infected animal. Be sure your pets are currently vaccinated.
Prevention: Skunks are often attracted to residential areas by the availability of food, water, and shelter. They can be encouraged to leave by reducing or eliminating these attractants. remove unused pet food and water bowls at night and keep tight fitting lids on garbage cans. Gardens should be harvested frequently and fallen fruit picked up. They may be excluded by using small gauge wire screening or 'chicken wire' around fence lines, best when buried in grounds to at least six inches. Live trapping can be used to remove skunks, although it's a smell process. Use at least a 10"x12"x32" cage trap, cover the top and sides of the trap with cloth or cardboard to prevent spraying. Preferred baits include raw whole eggs, peanut butter, sardines or pet food.
For more information you can contact the California Department of Fish and Game at (909) 597-9823 or the Department of Agriculture at (661) 723-4486.
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