![]() ![]() At times, these pests may even use rock heaps, wood piles, and crawl spaces under homes. Typically solitary pests, skunks can be drawn together during colder weather in these makeshift homes, sometimes with as many as 20 individuals living together. Skunk dens are used by adults when they give birth to young in the spring and also to avoid cold weather in the winter. While they prefer to use the abandoned holes of other burrowing pests, skunks may also opt to make their dens under decks, porches, and sheds. Due to this, it’s best for homeowners to trust the wildlife removal specialists at Orkin Canada to handle problem skunks. Skunks are known for spraying foul-smelling liquid as well as being capable of transmitting certain diseases. Signs to look for include holes 10 cm to 25 cm in diameter under buildings, decks, or wood piles.Īnswering the question, “Where do skunks live?” is important for avoiding the dangers they pose. It’s common for residents to smell skunk dens before ever seeing evidence of the animals. As opportunistic omnivores, they are also attracted to birdseed, pet food and garbage. Once they’ve settled on a property, the bulk of skunk damage comes from their digging up lawns in search of grubs and worms to eat. The nocturnal nature of skunks keep them mostly out of sight during daylight. Other than the spotted skunk being slightly smaller and having a striped, more erratic pattern, the two species are very similar. The other is the spotted skunk, which is found in the southern lower mainland of British Columbia. Canada is home to two species of skunks, the most familiar being the striped skunk found across the country. However, they will make dens under porches, decks, and sheds by digging as deep as a foot down. They are not skilled climbers, so homeowners don’t need to fear them getting into attics and chimneys. Skunks are burrowing animals that, despite being timid, adapt surprisingly well to living among humans in urban areas. In winter, skunks are very inactive and spend most of their time curled up inside their burrows until the arrival of spring. Although skunks are proficient diggers, they prefer to utilize the abandoned burrows of other animals instead of creating their own. They live in farm fields, grasslands, forests, and urban areas. Habitat, Diet, Lifecycle Habitatĭistributed throughout the provinces, skunks are found as far north as the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. ![]() Muddy ground or fresh dirt disturbed by skunks as they dig for insects is the most likely to display their prints. They are sometimes confused with squirrel tracks, though squirrels only have four toes on their front feet. For this reason, seeing skunk tracks in the snow is a rare occurrence. Large, rectangular heel pads on their back feet also have a second, smaller pad behind them that may appear as a single dot.Īlthough skunks do not hibernate in the winter, they are far less active and may stay in their dens for several weeks at a time. The long claws for digging on their front paws appear in tracks as small points in front of the toes. Skunk prints show five toes on all four feet. This makes skunk track identification somewhat easier than picking out the prints of other, similar-sized animals. Like bears, skunks have a flat-footed walk, so the entire print makes an impression on the ground. In basic shape and appearance, skunk tracks most closely resemble bear tracks, except they are much smaller. Even more pungent than striped skunks, these pests’ odours can linger in yards for up to four months. Spotted skunks will defend themselves and their young by spraying foul-smelling, sticky liquid. ![]() As these pests frequently choose to burrow underneath porches, decks, and sheds, they can weaken foundations. Spotted skunks are skilled at burrowing, tunneling up to a foot underground to make their dens. This pest is also more likely to be seen around woodlands and forests, as they are less comfortable near people. They share striped skunks’ familiar fluffy tails, black or brown colouring, and pure white markings, though their patterns look more like dots or streaks. Sometimes called polecats or civet cats, these pests are members of the weasel family. ![]() While most people are all too familiar with striped skunks, the smaller and scarcer spotted skunk is less well known. Skunks usually grow between 50 and 80 cm in length and weigh just over 3 kg. Their most distinctive feature is the white stripes that run along their backs and extend to the tips of their long, fluffy tails. They have small heads, short, pointed snouts, and little black eyes. Striped skunks are stout little animals with stumpy legs. ![]()
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