Natural Ways to Get Rid of Skunks & Home Remedies To Keep Skunks Away

Skunks are a type of mammal that lives mainly in North America, but they are also found in surrounding countries. These animals are infamous for the foul-scented spray that they release whenever they feel threatened.

This nasty odor itself is enough to repulse anyone, but skunks are also a nuisance because they feed on insects, rodents, and other small animals from gardens.

While they are beneficial for getting rid of other pests, most homeowners still do not want any skunks in their backyard.

So, we will discuss some natural ways to get rid of skunks from your garden or property. This will ensure your safety while removing these nuisance animals. 

10 Effective Ways to Get Rid of Skunks Naturally

1. Motion-detection sprinkler

One sure way to get rid of skunks is to use motion-detection sprinklers. These sprinklers can rotate 360 degrees and they will spray water on any animal that they detect.

This method is great for skunks because you do not have to go anywhere near the animal and it is fully automated, so it is totally hassle-free. Always make sure to get a sprinkler that has night detection modes as well since skunks usually come out during the night. 

Required Items:

• Motion-activated sprinkler
• Water hose

Step by Step Process:

• Place your motion-activated sprinkler in an area of your garden where it can rotate freely and can detect any activity all around it. 
• Follow the instructions on your sprinkler and install it in your garden in a suitable area. 
• Attach the water hose and connect it to a water source. 
• Switch it on and you should be able to leave it to work on its own. 
• Anytime a skunk comes nearby, it will get sprayed by the sprinkler with water. This will scare away the skunk. 

Precautions:

You or your pets can also get sprayed accidentally, so make sure to turn it off before walking in front of it. 

2. Motion-activated lights

Motion-activated lights are equipped with a large flashing strobe light that will flash towards any intruder that it detects.

Since skunks are not a fan of bright lights, they will be instantly scared away from your garden. These devices usually run on solar power, so you do not have to worry about any power source either. 

Required Items:

• Motion-activated lights

Step by Step Process:

• Place the motion-activated area in a place that is directly opposite to any entry points in your garden. 
• You can place multiple motion-activated lights in different areas of your garden or yard as well. 
• These repellents usually work on solar power, so you simply have to switch them on. 
• Anytime a skunk walks into your garden, the machine will detect it and it will shine a bright light towards it. This will scare away the skunk since they hate bright lights. 

Precautions:

These devices are only good for repelling skunks during the night time. 

3. Electric Fence

Installing an electric fence is a great way to make sure that the skunks are actually driven away and do not come back. However, it is important to keep in mind that skunks do not climb very well and they usually avoid long fences.

So while placing the charged wire, make sure to place it lower than usual. This way you make sure that anytime the skunks try to climb over to your garden, they will get a jolt of electricity that is enough to scare them but not enough to hurt or kill them. 

Required Items:

• Electric fence wires
• Fence charger

Step by Step Process:

• To install an electric fence, you need to first map out the area you want to protect. In this case, you will be protecting your whole yard, so measure out the length of all sides of your yard and take out the required amount of fence wire. 
• Put the stakes needed for installing the wire in their position, covering around your house. 
• Attach the wire onto the stakes. You could use multiple wires if you want. 
• Connect the wires to the fence charger according to the instructions for your fence charger. 
• Once it is set up, switch it on and your house is protected against skunks. 
• The voltage is usually high enough to shock any skunks, but not high enough to kill them. So, once they get shocked, they will be discouraged from entering your yard again.  

Precautions:

Do not use this method if you have pets or children, because they can accidentally get shocked by the wire. 

4. Ultrasonic Repellents

Ultrasonic repellents rely on ultrasonic sound to deter animals like skunks. These repellents make use of a frequency of sound that is inaudible to humans but loud and annoying to many other animals.

However, while buying an ultrasonic repellent, keep in mind that it has to be one that is specifically made for skunks because they can only hear a certain frequency of sound. 

Required Items:

• Ultrasonic Repellents

Step by Step Process:

• Place your ultrasonic repellent in the middle of your garden. Or in a suitable position, which is clear of any trees or branches. 
• Switch on the repellent. They usually work on solar power, so you will not have to worry about charging them. 
• The repellent will emit a constant ultrasonic sound, which will be perceived as noise by the skunks. 
• They will be annoyed by the sound and leave. 

Precautions:

This method may not work all the time since skunks can get used to the sound, so use other methods along with it. 

5. Lemon Scent

The scent of lemon is one of the most commonly used methods to get rid of skunks. The strong lemon smell works as a deterrent and drives away the smelly skunks effectively.

You can easily make a homemade spray using fresh lemons or by using lemon essential oil. This is a good method for prevention as well. 

Required Items:

• Lemon Essential Oil
• Witch Hazel 
• Water 
• Spray Bottle

Step by Step Process:

• Add one teaspoon of lemon essential oil to 1 cup of witch hazel and stir the mixture well. 
• Add 1 cup of water to the mixture and transfer the mixture into a spray bottle. 
• Spray the mixture in your garden. You can add more in the areas that have been affected by skunks. 
• The strong lemon scent will deter the skunks away from your garden and they will likely stop coming back. 

Precautions:

Be careful while using lemon essential oil as it can irritate and burn your skin if applied directly. Always use a pair of gloves while handling the pure essential oil.

6. Ammonia

Ammonia has a nasty and pungent smell, that is enough to make any animal gag and run away. Skunks are no different, and they will run the other way as soon as they smell it.

This method can be used to stop skunks from digging in your yard, and with repeated use, you can prevent them from attacking your garden long term. 

Required Items:

• Ammonia
• Cotton balls 

Step by Step Process:

• Soak a few cotton balls in ammonia and spread them around the garden.
• If there is a lot of skunk damage in a particular area, where they may have dug up the soil, you can place a few ammonia-soaked cotton balls on there too.  
• The strong smell of ammonia will effectively keep out the skunks from your garden. 

Precautions:

Ammonia is a strong chemical, so always wear a pair of gloves while handling it. 

7. Live Trapping

Since skunks are quite big animals it is easy to capture them by trapping them. It is important to keep in mind that it is illegal to kill skunks in most states, so never use kill traps for skunks.

Moreover, you can get a no-spray trap, so that you can ensure that you do not get sprayed while trying to relocate the animal. This is one of the most humane ways to get rid of skunks. 

Required Items:

• No- spray live trap
• Canned fish 

Step by Step Process:

• A no-spray live trap is a closed trap that prevents the skunk from spraying you, while they are inside it. Leave the trap in an area of your garden that has a lot of plants or grass. 
• Hide the trap with some leaves and branches if you do not have a lot of grass or plants. 
• Place one or two canned fish inside the trap and set it up according to the instructions. 
• Check back in a day and if you find a skunk inside, take the trap and release the skunk in a secluded or wooded area. Do not kill a skunk under any circumstances, because it is illegal in most states. 

Precautions:

Check back on your trap in 24 hours at most. If you are late the animal may die, which is not desirable at all. 

8. Dog or Cat Urine

If you have a dog or a cat, you can use their urine for repelling skunks. You can use used kitty litter instead of trying to collect urine directly.

As for dogs, you can either collect the urine or encourage your dog to urinate outside. The smell of the urine will let the skunk know that a predator or a rival is nearby and they will run away quickly. 

Required Items:

• Dog or Cat urine 

Step by Step Process:

• Collect the dog or cat urine directly, from your pet, or you can let your pet urinate on a piece of cloth, which you can then use. 
• Pour a continuous line of urine along the sides of your garden or yard. You can also spread out the cloths soaked in urine along the side. 
• The smell of cat or dog urine will scare away the skunk, as they will think that a predator is nearby. 

Precautions:

Always wear gloves while handling cat or dog urine. 

9. Homemade Skunk Repellent

You can make a homemade skunk repellent by using cayenne pepper and garlic, which are all-natural and will biodegrade in your garden leaving no residue.

It is also quite effective since skunks hate the smell of all these ingredients. You can also use garlic oil instead of fresh garlic for more potency. 

Required Items:

• Pepper powder
• Garlic 

Step by Step Process:

• In a pot add 2 cups of water with 2 tablespoons of pepper powder. 
• Smash the cloves from one garlic and add them to the pot. 
• Boil the water with garlic and pepper for 20 minutes or so. 
• Strain the mixture and add it to a spray bottle. 
• Spray this mixture around your garden, especially in the areas that have the most skunk damage. 
• You can also spray this mixture on your porch and fence to prevent the skunks from coming. 
• You can store this mixture in your fridge for about a month. You can repeat this process of spraying every week or so. 

Precautions:

Be careful while using this mixture since pepper and garlic can burn your eyes and nose. 

10. Mothballs

Mothballs are a very easy and great way to get rid of skunks from your garden. Mothballs have a strong smell that will drive the skunks away from your garden or home. This is a great idea for those who have a small garden or have an outside shade that is being attacked by skunks. 

Required Items:

• Mothballs 

Step by Step Process:

• Place a few (3 to 5) mothballs in every corner of your garden. 
• Place a few mothballs in any area that may have more foliage. 
• If you have garbage cans or boxes in your yard, add some mothballs in those areas as well. 
• The strong smell of mothballs will keep the skunks away from your yard. 
• Make sure to check if the mothballs have evaporated, if they have, add more in those areas.  

Precautions:

Do not use this method if you have pets that are allowed to roam around freely, because they can accidentally eat it, which can poison them.

How To Keep Skunks Away Naturally? [5 Effective Natural Methods]

1. Install lights in your garden

Skunks are mainly nocturnal creatures, which means they mainly come out during the night. To protect your garden, you can simply install garden lights to keep skunks away. They are repelled by the bright lights and they will not attack your garden in the first place. 

2. Clean up your garden

If your garden is filled with pests and rodents, or fruits and nuts, skunks will be attracted to it.

Therefore, it is important to clean up your garden, which will make sure that there is no fruit or nuts, which will also reduce the number of other pests in your garden. This will mean that a skunk will have no reason to enter your garden. 

3. Patch or cover any entry points

One way to make sure that skunks do not enter your property is to simply apply brute force and cover every entry point that may be accessible to skunks.

They are usually not good at climbing so you only really have to cover up any holes or entry points near the ground. That being said, it is a good idea to replace any mesh fence with wooden ones.

4. Remove any potential food source

Skunks like to feed on insects, rodents, and other small creatures. This means that if you have any pests in your garden apart from skunks, it could potentially be the reason for the skunk’s interest in your garden.

Try to identify if you have any other pests and if you find any, get rid of them to prevent any skunks from entering your garden any further. 

5. Let your Dog chase them away

If you have a pet dog, allow your dog to roam free in your garden, and if they find any skunks they will chase them away. If they chase them away enough times, the skunks will learn not to come back anymore. 

Top 5 Natural Repellents to Get Rid of Skunks

If you are looking for readily available natural repellents to get rid of skunks, check below listed best Natural/Organic Repellents.

Final Words:

Skunks are not friendly animals and if confronted with any kind of physical threat, they will spray the nasty-smelling liquid from their anal glands. To make sure that you do not have to experience that, you should definitely get rid of them as soon as possible.

They can also damage your yard or your garden. While you can call an exterminator to get rid of skunks from your garden, it can be expensive. Thankfully they are easy to get rid of skunks such as the ones mentioned in the article above. We hope you find them useful or helpful.