Do you live in the Collierville TN area? Are you experiencing problems with Skunks getting under your porch, house or commercial building?

Skunks are common in Collierville TN. As a result, customers can accidentally catch skunks when trapping for raccoons. If you accidentally catch a skunk and are not sure what to do, just give us a call and we will be happy to help. A caged skunk can be dealt with, and often without us getting sprayed or your belongings getting sprayed!

Skunks feed on a variety of sources such as insects, grubs, berries, frogs and even small rodents. They are nocturnal and are most active at night. Occasionally they will venture out during the day in search of food or to find a mate. Skunks do not hibernate, but stay mostly within their dens during colder temperatures. Skunks are solitary animals, spending most of their time alone. Their nocturnal and solitary lifestyle puts them at risk, especially during the day. Their ability to spray and stun predators works well in the event of a surprise ambush.

Chances are you have never seen a living wild skunk in your yard. Most of the time, they will pass through your property and you’ll never know they were there. While it’s best to avoid contact with a skunk at any time, you might want to avoid coming in contact with one in mid-February. Romance may smell like rotten eggs around your home on Valentine’s Day — about the time Striped Skunks start mating. Female skunks don’t mess around when it comes to rejecting unwanted advances. Females refusing this courtship will spray in defense!

Ten species of skunks have been identified. The most recognizable is the Striped Skunk found in all of North America. Skunks are small animals, averaging in size from 20-to-30 inches in length and weigh about 6 to 10 pounds.

The male skunk is called a ‘buck’ and the female skunk is called a ‘doe’. The baby skunk is called a ‘kit’. Skunks have a keen sense of smell and hearing, but they have very poor eyesight. Don’t try to outrun a skunk! Skunks can run up to ten miles per hour!

As a courtesy, skunks rarely spray each other, but a hapless human or furious dog may not be so lucky. When skunks feel threatened, they will try to scare off a predator with a complex ‘warning dance’ before spraying. Skunks warn by raising their tail, arching their back like an angry cat, hissing, growling, and stomping their rear feet. Then they start running at you and stomping. If you don’t know what’s good for you by then, you probably deserve what’s coming!

Like other small animals, the skunk’s weapons are all about self-defense, not offense. The foul-smelling spray they eject from two small anal glands (known as a musk) indicates they taste bad – and the spray warns predators to stay away. Skunks are typically not aggressive, but will spray when threatened.

Skunks usually avoid conflict and often choose flight over fight. Unless suddenly scared, a skunk will give you lots of warning before it sprays. It will start by lifting the tail like a flag. That lift gets the tail out of the way of the spray, but also says, “Look here — I’m a skunk. Don’t you know what skunks do? Shouldn’t you be leaving?”

Homeowners do not welcome skunks because they can cause some serious damage to your home and yard. They have powerful claws for digging and can make numerous holes in your lawn while searching for food. Digging a burrow beneath your porch or deck to prepare their den can create instability in the foundation. Skunks are also a major health concern as they are known carriers of rabies.

If you happen upon a skunk and are lucky enough to see a warning, get away FAST. A skunk can aim its spray like a water gun and hit its victim as far as 10 or 15 feet away! These warnings are an effort to display their smelly intentions before they actually use their spray.

A skunk’s natural production of its offensive spray isn’t quick. It can take nearly two weeks to make enough for just a few shots. Therefore, a skunk will try a series of maneuvers to intimidate in an effort to avoid having to actually  spray—which would render them helpless until they can “reload”.

Skunks are carnivores. They prey not only on small animals, but also on honey bees and birds. Immune to snake venom, skunks are known to eat poisonous snakes like rattlesnakes. Because of their sharp claws, they are known for their excellent digging abilities.

Did you know some people can’t smell skunks at all? Specific anosmia, or insensitivity to a particular smell, is actually more common than general anosmia. One in every 1000 people has no ability to detect skunk spray!

So, if you are not the “one in a thousand” and you discover skunks on your property in Collierville TN, call Apex Wildlife Control today.  Our skilled technicians are trained to humanely remove and relocate your stinky little visitor.  We are here to help!

If You Need Skunk Removal, Fill Out The Contact Form Below. 

Or Call 901-598-8555 And One Of Our Friendly Office Staff Members Will Be Happy To Help You!