Skunk Removal in Central Maine

Most people find out they have a skunk the same way: the dog, at night, at close range. But the smell is the symptom. The problem is that something has moved in under the deck.

Where skunks actually set up

Skunks want a dry, dark, defensible space with a low entrance. In Central Maine that means:

• Under decks and porches, especially where lattice has gone soft at one corner.
• Under sheds, barns and outbuildings sitting on blocks or a slab with a gap.
• Under concrete steps, where frost heave has opened a void underneath.
• In crawl spaces and under mobile homes where skirting is damaged.

They are not climbing into your attic. If something is above you, it is a raccoon, a squirrel or a bat, not a skunk.

Why spring timing matters

Female skunks have their young in spring. If you trap and remove an adult female in May and her kits are still under the deck, you have not solved the problem – you have made it considerably worse, and the outcome is not one anyone wants.

This is the single most common mistake with do-it-yourself skunk trapping. Part of what we do on the first visit is work out whether there are young on site and handle the job accordingly.

The rabies question

Skunks are one of the primary rabies vector species in Maine, along with raccoons, foxes and bats. A skunk out in daylight, moving oddly, unbothered by people, or acting aggressive is not a normal skunk. Keep children and pets away from it, and call – do not try to move it yourself.

What we do and what we do not do

We identify how the animal is getting in, remove it, and tell you exactly what needs closing off so the next one does not simply take the vacancy. We are a licensed trapping and Animal Damage Control operation, not a carpentry or restoration outfit – we will show you the gap, but the deck repair is a job for you or your contractor.

Doing it in that order matters. Sealing the opening before the animal is out traps it underneath, and that is a far worse problem than the one you started with.

If your dog has been sprayed

Skip the tomato juice. A mix of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and a squirt of dish soap, applied outside and kept well away from the eyes, works far better. Then call us, because the skunk is still under the deck and it will happen again.

Anthony Thibodeau is listed on the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Animal Damage Control agent directory for Kennebec and Somerset counties, covering Oakland, Belgrade, Rome, Smithfield, Fairfield, Waterville, Sidney, Augusta and Winslow.

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Common questions about skunks

How do I get a skunk out from under my deck or shed?

Carefully, and ideally not yourself. Skunks den under decks, sheds and porches because the space is dry and undisturbed. Sealing the gap before you are certain the animal is out is the most common mistake, and in spring it can seal kits in.

Will it spray if you trap it?

Usually not, if it is handled properly. A skunk sprays when it feels cornered and threatened. Covered traps and a calm, slow approach avoid nearly all of it.

Is a skunk out in daylight rabid?

Not necessarily. Skunks are mostly nocturnal but a female with young will forage in daylight, particularly in spring. What is worth worrying about is a skunk that seems disoriented, aggressive, or unbothered by people. If you see that, keep children and pets well away and call us or the warden service.

My dog has been sprayed. What actually works?

Not tomato juice. A mix of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and a little dish soap, worked into a dry coat and rinsed, works far better. Keep it away from the eyes.