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Skunk Facts
Meet The Skunk
Skunks can be fun to watch, and behave quite similar to cats. We consider them cats that can
stink when they want to, but officially they are part of the Mephitidae family. Our company
was re-named by clients because of the humane and entertaining ways we interact with skunks.
A skunk is an interesting critter.
Skunks are very social animals - we love to watch them interact with each other and play! They
are fun to watch,
but yes, they can make a
stinky mess and turn your life upside down if they want, so
we do recommend that you remove them from your home or property once they are discovered. Also, they can
carry rabies and be
destructive to lawn and home. In addition, their pheromones, feces and urine can attract other
wildlife critters to your property, and the problems that come with them - now and later.
We can help you
humanely get rid of skunk issues and help
you eliminate the smells that they may leave behind that can attract other wildlife to the area.
Regarding removal, the skunk breeding season can create an urgent situation.
February marks the start of the adult skunk breeding season. March and April is breeding season for yearling females.
With a gestation period of 7-10 weeks, adults have their young during the first part of May, and
yearlings during the first part of June. Typically, they only have one litter a year, with
between 1-15 young. The average / most common litter will be between 4 to 6 kittens. The
skunk babies, or young, are called kittens, sometimes "kits" for short. They stay with their mothers until fall.
Ideally you will want to eliminate your skunk problem
before the kittens are born.
The typical home range of a skunk is ½ mile to 2 miles, but a male may travel up to five miles
every night during breeding season.
Skunks do not officially hibernate. They do become "slow" or dormant for approximately a month
during the coldest part of the winter in your area. As a matter of fact, skunks may even den with other skunks or
another animal of a different species. It is not uncommon for different skunk families to den together.
Skunks are nocturnal, if you see one during daylight hours when they were not flushed out by rain,
another animal or unusual circumstances, it is safest to assume they are rabid or have distemper.
Take necessary precautions and call your wildlife professional immediately. If you're in
Oklahoma, please
call us for help.
Skunk feces will generally be 1-2 inches long, and ¼” to ½ inch in diameter –
but this always depends what they are currently eating.
Skunks typically have visible claw marks in their
tracks. They do have five toes
on all feet, but four are typically seen in tracks, and their heels are not usually seen in tracks.
