If you are one of the many who are plagued by an overactive community of skunks, either in your neighborhood or on your property, you should become as informed as possible when trying different skunk repellents to get rid of them. Over the course of my research to find out the best ways to get rid of my skunk problem, I noted an important finding – Mothballs have been suggested as a skunk deterrent, however they are NOT effective and can be harmful to not only humans, but the environment and our pets and children.
Why are Mothballs Harmful?
Mothballs are actually made of two highly toxic chemicals, paradichlorobenzene and naphthalene. These chemicals are only effective in high concentrations, which is where the problem lies. In order for mothballs to work effectively as a skunk deterrent, you have to use so many of them that it becomes hazardous to anyone exposed to them.
Paradichlorobenzene and Naphthalene have both been reported to damage the liver and kidneys in high doses, as well as cause eye injury. Mothballs can be especially dangerous if swallowed.
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Homemade Alternatives to Mothballs
Do yourself and your family a favor when attempting to keep skunks away from your property and DO NOT use mothballs. Instead, try this homemade skunk repellent. Not only will you save money, but the items needed are non-toxic to the environment.
Make Your Own Pepper Spray
- 1 tsp. Cayenne Pepper
- 1 Chopped Yellow Onion
- 1 Chopped Jalapeno Pepper
- 2 Quarts Water
- Spray Bottle
- Strainer
Bring the water, cayenne pepper, chopped yellow onion, and chopped jalapeno pepper to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes. Allow to cool, then strain into an empty bowl. Using a funnel, pour the mixture into the spray bottle. Spray the perimeter of the house, shed, or other outbuildings several times a week for at least two weeks.
Trap and Relocate Skunks
Another alternative to using mothballs or a different form of skunk poison to control your pesky critter is to trap and relocate them. This can be done either by yourself or your local animal control department. If you are doing it yourself, choosing the right trap is the most important step in the process.
Upon attempting to help my neighbor trap and relocate a skunk that made a home for itself under their shed, I can tell you that with the proper precautions and right trap, it can be a relatively painless process. The trap we used was the Green Dual Door Live Animal Pet Trap/Cage by Pet Trex. I’ve included this video of how to put it together, as that seemed to be the hardest part for us!
Once the trap was set up, we placed cat food towards the back of the trap. We placed the trap near the opening of the shed where the skunk had taken up residence and called it a night. Over the course of the night, we had caught ourselves a medium sized skunk!
Because the trap is made of heavy duty steel, we were confident that the trap would remain intact during the relocation process. An important tip to remember when approaching a trapped skunk is to walk slowly, and have a dark blanket or black trash bag to drape over the trap. This keeps the skunk from becoming alarmed and spraying it’s foul scent. In the event of being on the receiving end of a skunk’s spray, I’ve found Natures Miracle to be the best way to remove skunk smell from not only your pets, but clothing as well.
Next step was to put the trap in the back of my neighbor’s truck and take the skunk to what will hopefully become its new home. We drove about 5 miles from the neighborhood and let the skunk free in a wooded area. Thanks to the trap, we were able to use the most natural skunk repellent to rid them from the yard!
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Unique Natural Products Skunk Odor Eliminator Smell Remover Cleaner Concentrate US $24.96 Auction Ends: Saturday May-25-2013 10:39:24 PDT | Watch this Item |