Do skunks climb fences?

No, skunks are poor climbers. They prefer to dig under obstacles like fences or porches if they smell food.

Skunk Removal & Control Services

Q: How do I get rid of the skunk smell if my pet got sprayed?

Use a mixture of 1 litre hydrogen peroxide (3%), 1/4 cup baking soda, and 1 tsp dish soap. The chemical reaction neutralizes the odor molecules.

Q: Do skunks hibernate in the winter?

They do not fully hibernate, but enter a deep sleep called torpor to conserve energy. They will wake up during warm spells in winter to forage.

There is no mistaking the pungent, oily odor of a skunk. When these nocturnal animals decide to burrow under your deck, porch, or concrete steps, they present more than just a smell risk they become a nuisance to pets and a potential carrier of disease.

Pestisect provides professional, humane skunk removal and exclusion services across the Greater Toronto Area. We focus on removing the animals without triggering their spray and securing your property so they don’t return.

Get Free Quote

Fill out the form below and we’ll get back to you within 24 hours

skunks

Why Skunks Choose Your GTA Property

Skunks are opportunistic diggers. They aren’t looking to live inside your attic like raccoons or squirrels; they want to live **under** things.

Perfect Shelters

The gap under your backyard deck or the hollow space beneath your concrete front porch are ideal, temperature-stable dens for a skunk.

Abundant Food

GTA lawns are often rich in grubs and earthworms. If you see small, cone-shaped holes in your grass, it is a sign of a skunk "grubbing" for a midnight snack.

Low Competition

Most other predators stay away from skunks, allowing them to thrive in suburban Brampton and Mississauga as long as there is high-quality digging soil.

What is L-Screening Exclusion? L-Screening is a trenching technique used in wildlife control. Technicians dig a trench around the perimeter of a structure (like a deck), bury heavy-gauge steel mesh down about a foot, and bend the bottom of the mesh outward at a 90-degree angle (forming an ‘L’ shape). When an animal tries to dig back under the deck, it hits the horizontal buried mesh and is physically blocked.

Industry Fast Facts:

A skunk’s spray is a sulfur-based chemical compound called a thiol. They can accurately spray this liquid up to 15 feet (4.5 meters).
Skunks have terrible eyesight, only able to see clearly for about 10 feet. This is why they frequently startle when approached by off-leash dogs.
Before spraying, a skunk will give warning signs: stamping its front feet, raising its tail, and hissing. Spraying is their last resort because it takes their bodies up to 10 days to naturally regenerate the chemical reserve.

skunk removal Process

The Pestisect Skunk Exclusion Protocol

We use the “Exclusion” method, which is the most humane and effective way to handle wildlife in Ontario.

Digging Inspection

We first identify all active burrow entrances. Skunks typically have one main entrance but may have several "emergency" exits under a large deck.

One-Way Door Installation

We install a specialized one-way door over the main entrance and temporarily block all other gaps. When the skunk leaves at night to forage for grubs, it can push through the door to exit but cannot push back in.

Trenching & L-Screening (The Permanent Fix)

Once we confirm the skunk is out, we perform "trenching." We dig a shallow trench around the perimeter of your deck or porch and install heavy-duty galvanized steel mesh (L-screening). We bury the mesh 6–12 inches deep and flare it outwards.

Why this works: When a new skunk tries to dig back under your deck, it hits the steel mesh. Because they cannot dig through it and are blocked from digging “around” it by the flare, they give up and move to a different property.

Skunk Removal

The Risk of DIY Skunk Removal

Attempting to trap or scare away a skunk yourself almost always ends in a “spray event.”

The Spray

Skunk spray is a sulfuric acid that can be smelled from over a mile away. If your pet is sprayed, the oil can cause temporary blindness and intense nausea. If sprayed under your home, the smell can penetrate the HVAC system and linger for months.

Zoonotic Disease

While less common than in raccoons, skunks are one of the primary carriers of Rabies in Ontario. They also host fleas, ticks, and roundworms.

Frequently Asked Questions About Skunks

How do I get rid of the skunk smell if my pet got sprayed?

Do not use tomato juice; it only masks the smell temporarily. The most effective home remedy is a mixture of 1 litre of 3% hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup of baking soda, and 1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap. Wash your pet with this (avoiding the eyes) while it is still bubbling. The oxygen molecules in the mixture neutralize the thiols in the skunk spray.

Do skunks hibernate in the winter?

They do not truly hibernate, but they enter a state of “torpor” where they sleep for long periods to conserve energy. This is why you may not see them in January, only for the smell to return suddenly during a warm spell in February or March when they wake up to find food.

Can skunks climb fences?

Skunks are very poor climbers compared to raccoons. If you have a solid fence with no gaps at the bottom, it is usually enough to keep them out of your yard. However, they are excellent diggers and will simply dig a tunnel under the fence if they smell a food source like grubs or fallen birdseed.

Book a Skunk Exclusion Estimate

Don’t let skunks invade your home or business. Contact our expert wildlife control specialists today for a detailed inspection and a safe, customized removal plan.