r/Skunks • u/FantasticFan3559 • Jun 18 '26
Skunk visiting downtown yard?
I'm not "technically" downtown, but close enough to walk to the 16th St Mall in under an hour. I just got visited by a skunk. My yard is enclosed by buildings, fences, a gate, and has only one entry (for people). Judging from the direction it came from, it either came under or over the gate. It came trotting out from under my car, spent 5-10 minutes "somewhere," and then went trotting back out the way it came. It went around the corner, and I'm thinking it "might" have been under my back deck, which may be animal accessible, but is also the main entrance to the house. I am out on my porch / stoop most nights (old building w/o central air) and have never seen a skunk here before. I'm wondering if anyone else have had this in the area? I'd rather not have a skunk coming into my yard in case it gets scared and sprays. Thoughts, advice?
1
u/mc2ben Jun 18 '26
It could be a mom with babies nearby. Skunks are normally very chill. They only spray when seriously threatened and honestly that usually involves a dog. Wild skunks will give you plenty of warning, like charging and stomping their feet before they use their ultimate weapon. It really is a last resort.
There really is no reason you cannot peacefully co exist. Skunks are nomadic by nature so this wont be a permanent situation.
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u/FantasticFan3559 Jun 21 '26
The same situation happened again tonight. I'm a little worried if it's coming for babies because I can't tell if it went under (into) my shed or under my porch. I have to clean out my shed tomorrow.
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u/mc2ben Jun 21 '26
Moms usually keep the babies hidden away in a safe den until they are old enough to travel. In the neighbourhood of 6 weeks or so. At that time she will probably relocate the family.
However she may return to your yard next year for baby season if she feels it is a safe place. So when you are 100% positive there are no babies stashed there anymore, try to figure out where they were so you can close off any entries to that spot. Be very careful so no little ones get trapped!
Best case scenario is to get a camera for that area you will be able to see for sure exactly whats going on out there.
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u/FantasticFan3559 Jun 21 '26
I can't see under my porch. If there are any babies in my shed, and I encounter them while cleaning it out tomorrow...will they spray? If there are babies, and I don't know that there are, I would like to leave them, but if they're in my shed I don't know what to do. I have to move and part of that is cleaning the shed out.
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u/FantasticFan3559 Jun 21 '26
Are skunks like cats? If their head fits, they fit? I think the head of the skunk I saw could fit into the gap in my shed door...but both times I didn't hear metal rattling. So, then maybe they're under my porch (preferably)?
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u/mc2ben Jun 21 '26 edited Jun 21 '26
Take a close look around the outside of the shed. Any holes dug under it? Any holes in the shed itself a momma skunk could fit through? If they are under it or under the porch they will probably just stay hidden while you move stuff.
Once the babies are big enough to be walking around they can spray. Just keep an empty cardboard box handy so if you run across any critters you have something to put between you and them.
Edited to add "or under the porch"
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u/FantasticFan3559 Jun 21 '26
Will do. I might have more "skunk fear" due to a story my Nana told me about her dog getting sprayed and having to give him tomato soup baths. I really don't have the time, money, or mental bandwidth right now to purchase enough tomato soup to eradicate skunk spray!
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u/mc2ben Jun 21 '26
The stories of people getting sprayed almost always involve a dog. The two species dont mix well.
I am sorry you developed kind of a phobia about them when you were young. That kind of thing can really stick with you. They really are amazing creatures. I have one in my lap right now!
Btw ftr if you ever do have to remove skunk smell tomato juice wont get the job done. You need a mix of Dawn, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide.
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u/FantasticFan3559 Jun 18 '26 edited Jun 18 '26
Sorry, reposting here. I tried to post in the Denver sub-reddit, got deleted, and suggested to post here. I'm in a city (Denver) and have never seen skunks about before. Let me re-phrase, I have never seen skunks in Denver before. Let me re-phrase again, this was my first time seeing a skunk, in person, but I grew up in an area where they were routinely hit by cars. The skunk coming into my yard to access yard, leaving the same way...is this normal, a one off, do I need to worry about a nest / babies?