Do not corner it, flood it or try to smoke it out. A skunk sprays when it feels trapped or threatened, and one that has room to move is far less likely to. The way to get it out without the spray is to catch it alive in a cage trap set on the path it already uses, then close the dig-under with mesh buried in the ground so it cannot come back. Michael Gerbino of Cypress Critters & Pests does this himself in Spring, Cypress and the towns around them. Call 713-775-8799.
How do I know it is a skunk under there?
Skunks keep to themselves, so the clues come at night and at ground level. Here is what usually points to a skunk instead of an opossum or a stray cat:
| What you notice | When | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| A strong skunk smell near the house | Late evening and night | A skunk is living close, often right under the slab, porch or shed |
| A fresh hole or loose dirt at the edge of a slab, porch or skirting | Morning | It dug its way in during the night |
| Small cone-shaped holes in the lawn | Morning | It has been digging for grubs and insects |
| Your dog going wild at one spot by the porch | After dark | Something is under there, and the dog knows where |
| A black and white animal leaving at dusk | Dusk | The answer |
Why not just block the hole?
Because you might seal the skunk in. If it is inside when the hole gets closed, it will dig a new way out, or it will die under the house, and then you have a worse smell and no way to reach it. In spring and early summer there may also be young under there. A mother shut out will dig hard to get back to them, and young left behind die where you cannot get to them.
Blocking the hole is the right last step, not the first one. That order is the whole idea behind animal exclusion: get every animal out alive, then seal the opening so nothing moves back in. Catching one skunk and leaving the dig-under open just makes room for the next one.
How does Michael get a skunk out without getting sprayed?
- Find the path. He looks for the hole it uses and the route it takes in and out, and checks the rest of the slab, porch and skirting for other openings.
- Check for young. In spring and early summer he makes sure there is not a family under there before anything is closed.
- Set a live cage trap. The trap goes right on the skunk’s path. A skunk that does not feel threatened is far less likely to spray, so the trap is set and moved calmly and quietly.
- Remove it alive. Skunks Michael catches are removed alive and handled following Texas rules.
- Seal the dig-under. Mesh gets fastened along the bottom of the porch, deck or skirting and buried in the ground, so a skunk that tries to dig there hits wire instead of dirt.
The full rundown of how he handles skunks is on the skunk removal page. To get it scheduled, call Michael at 713-775-8799.
What should I do while the skunk is still there?
- Keep dogs inside or on a leash after dark, and turn on a porch light before you let them out.
- Bring pet food and water in at night.
- Keep children and pets away from the hole.
- Do not pour anything down the hole, set off smoke or spray water into it. It is more likely to make the skunk spray than leave.
- Do not try to trap it yourself. Walking up to a trapped skunk the wrong way is an easy way to get sprayed.
What about the smell?
The smell around the house usually fades after the skunk is gone and the opening is closed, because nothing is living there anymore. If the skunk sprayed under the house, the smell can hang on longer. Clearing out the den area and sealing it is part of finishing the job, so the next skunk does not find the old den by smell.
When to call
Call when the smell is coming from under the house, when you find a fresh hole along the slab or porch, or when your dog keeps going after one spot. Michael quotes after he sees how much edge has to be sealed and how many openings there are. If you are near his base, animal exclusion in Spring covers the houses there. Call or text 713-775-8799.
Questions people ask about skunks under the house
Will a skunk under my porch leave on its own?
Sometimes it moves on, but you cannot count on it, and the hole stays open either way. A dry, quiet space under a porch or slab is exactly what a skunk wants, and another one will find it. Catching the skunk alive and burying mesh along the edge is what keeps the space empty.
Can I close the hole at night after the skunk goes out?
It is risky. You cannot be sure it went out, there may be more than one, and in spring and early summer there may be young inside. A skunk sealed in will dig a new hole or die under the house. Michael confirms the space is empty before he closes it, then buries the mesh so it stays closed.
How do skunks get under a house built on a slab?
They dig. A skunk finds a soft spot at the edge of the slab, under a porch, a back step or an AC pad, and digs a hollow underneath. Houses with porches, decks or skirting give them even more room. The fix is mesh fastened at the edge and buried in the ground so the dig hits wire.
Does one skunk under the house mean more will come?
It can. An open den under a porch or slab carries the smell of the skunk that used it, and other skunks follow that smell to the same place. That is why removing one skunk is only half the job. Once the space is empty, sealing it with buried mesh keeps the next one out.
