Occasionally spotting a skunk or two in your neighborhood is not always cause for concern or skunk repellent. Skunks are typically mild animals that cause damage to your lawn and gardens while searching for food. The most obvious sign of a skunk is its smell, entirely unmistakable. The more intense the smell, the closer the skunk is.
Another identifiable factor is a skunk’s droppings, being 2-4 inches long and about 1/2 inch round and will contain a variety of material inside such as fruit seeds or animal hair.
Skunks can create widespread damage to your lawn and gardens by digging into the ground in search of insect larvae. Look for tracks, as a skunks front paws have 5 toes with a nail coming off each one, about an inch long and an inch wide. If you notice tracks on a regular basis, you probably need to use a skunk repellent.
If you are routinely plagued by a skunk’s offensive odor, find holes in your yard, or know you have a skunk den on your property, there are a variety of ways to not only get rid of skunks, but to deter them from nesting in your yard. This two minute video, by California Pest Management, describes how to discourage a skunk from your lawn and gardens.