Skunks Dig Holes In Search Of Grubs And Worms

If you live in the south or midwest, you’re probably very familiar with skunks and the problems they cause. These small, cat-sized mammals are foragers and are often sighted during the same season as raccoons and opossums. The skunk, of course, is known for the terrible odor that it produces from glands beneath its tail, and as a result, a variety of urban legends surround the skunk and how to get rid of its pervasive stench.

Skunks can be easily spotted, thanks to their characteristic black and white stripes - although they can sometimes have brown and grey coats. All skunks, regardless of color, have a prominent and unmistakable tail that serves as a visual indication of their uniquely odorous trait - their stench.

Skunks are omnivores and, much like opossums and raccoons, will eat almost anything. They’ve been known to prefer insects and grubs, small rodents, lizards, frogs, snakes, and birds, though they’ll also eat berries, roots, leaves, grasses, fungi, and nuts if the opportunity to do so presents itself. In cosmopolitan areas, they have no qualms about overturning and rooting through garbage cans in search of discarded food.

Skunks will also occasionally act as scavengers, eating the carcasses of birds or rodents. Cat owners, especially, might have problems with them, as they’ve been known to find their way into garages or basements in search of cat food left out in the open. Likewise, skunks frequently dig holes in lawns in search of earthworms and grubs. Skunks have an excellent sense of hearing and smell, although they have quite poor eyesight which only extends to about 10 feet, making them vulnerable to death by road traffic. In the wild, these animals are fairly short-lived, often surviving for no more than a year.

As everyone knows, skunks are famous for the noxious odor they emit when threatened. A skunk’s scent glands produce of mixture of sulfur-containing chemicals such as thiols. This scent mixture is strong enough to ward off most predators, including bears, and can be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to remove from clothing. Aside from the stench, the liquid itself can be extremely physically irritating, and can even cause temporary blindness. Although it is fairly rare for a skunk to bite a human, the most prevalent cause of the same can be traced to the rabies virus. In fact, raccoons and skunks vie for the title of the most prolific carrier of rabies throughout many regions of the United States.

Cantu Pest & Termite cares about the safe and humane trapping of the wildlife that has invaded your home or business. We believe that wildlife invaders do not have to be killed in order to solve the invasion. After our skunk removal professionals have properly and thoroughly employed measures that will eliminate future wildlife infestation then the property owner may choose to have any wildlife in and around the property caught in humane traps.

If skunks or other pests around Houston have made unwanted appearances around your home, call Cantu Pest & Termite to schedule an appointment today with one of our friendly, experienced skunk removal experts.