Barriers of the Skunk to plants
Gardens: First, check damage carefully to see if a skunk is the guilty party. It is more likely to be another animal such as a squirrel, woodchuck, mouse or vole, deer, mole, gopher, chipmunk, rabbit, or certain birds. Check other animal files on this database for more information. If a skunk is at fault and you think it will stick around, you can fence him out (along with lots of other burrowing critters) with ¼-inch to ½-inch wire mesh. Obtain a roll of this mesh that is 3 feet wide. Dig a trench 2 feet deep around the perimeter of the garden, and set the mesh in the trench. Bend the lower 6 inches of wire at a right angle oriented away from the garden. Leave at least 1 foot of mesh above ground. The spotted skunk, which is a better climber than the striped skunk, may need stronger medicine in the form of an electric fence.
Barriers to entering the house
Houses: As needed, repair rotten boards and patch holes in foundations, replace broken cellar windows, and fill in gaps in electrical-wire and utility-pipe wall penetrations. Wait until the skunk leaves before sealing any gaps. Spotted skunks are good climbers, so cover chimneys or attic vents with 1/2-inch mesh hardware cloth. If a skunk is caught outside in your window well, give him a plank with cleats on it to let him climb out and walk away. If you find a skunk trapped in the house, do not try to chase him out. Just open doors or windows and let him find his own way out. If this won’t work, use a box trap. See Trapping Skunks for more information.
