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There are a lot of things I'd like to see in my garden: vines full of ripe, juicy tomatoes, a healthy harvest of green beans, even helpful earthworms are a pleasant sight. Skunks, however, are a different story. These not-so-little critters can do quite a bit of damage by digging holes where you don't want them, damaging plants, and eating the fruits of your labor. Unfortunately, skunks are also nocturnal animals which means it's very hard to catch them in the act.

Before you set out to rid your garden of your resident nuisance, there are a few things to keep in mind. First and foremost, if you see a skunk wandering around during the day, it's best to call animal control. A skunk running around in broad daylight is acting abnormally which could indicate that he's rabid. Secondly, it's best to choose passive methods to get rid of skunks. If you confront one head-on, you're likely to get sprayed and then you'll be looking for articles on how to rid yourself of skunk odor.

Now, let's talk about some ways to discourage skunks from raiding your garden and how to get rid of one if it's already there:

PREVENTION

Skunks usually enter gardens searching for food. They will eat fruits, vegetables, bugs, household trash, and even cat and dog food. It's very important that you eliminate as many of these food sources as possible. Good pest control, either through organic or chemical means, will reduce the number of grubs and other insects that attract skunks. You should also keep your pet food inside the house or in another area of the yard. Make sure trash cans have tight fitting lids and keep them as far away from your garden as possible. You might also consider putting net or wire fencing around the garden or individual plants so the skunk doesn't have free access to them.

Another good preventative measure is to keep your garden well-lit at night. Since skunks are nocturnal animals, they avoid bright lights. If your garden is a small home plot, installing a simple spotlight to shine on the area may be enough to discourage your nighttime visitors.

REPELLENTS

There are several ways to repel a skunk that has already invaded your garden. One of the most commonly used is ammonia. Because it mimics the smell of animal urine, rags soaked in ammonia and placed in and around the garden area will make it appear that another animal has marked the territory.

Mothballs are another option. I, personally, have not had great luck with them but my father swears it works. Mothballs are very inexpensive so it's worth scattering some around the perimeter of your garden to see if it helps.

Another natural repellent that my grandmother always used is a mixture of water, dish detergent, and castor oil. Her recipe was 1 cup detergent, 1 cup oil, and 1 gallon of water. Once mixed, spray it all around the edge of the garden.

TRAPPING

Your final option for ridding your yard of skunks is to use a trap. Skunks quite enjoy "people food" so you can try just about anything for bait, but peanut butter seems to be a favorite. You'll want to set the trap as close to the skunk's burrow as possible. If you don't know where it is, put the trap near the garden. Once the skunk is caught, my suggestion is to call animal control to relocate it to another area. If you transport the skunk yourself, you run a very good risk of getting sprayed.

Although skunks aren't inherently bad, they can wreck havoc in a garden. Thankfully, they are creatures of habit and by understanding their behavior, you can effectively discourage them from calling your garden home.

Learn more about this author, J Tyler.
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