Skunks are common wildlife in rural, suburban, and even urban areas. They’re highly adaptable and have learned to live side by side with humans. They’re often seen as nuisance creatures. You might be surprised to hear skunks are actually quite dangerous. For this reason, you should consider skunk control services if you have skunks on your property.
Here are seven reasons you should pursue skunk control.
I’m sure I don’t have to tell you this—but it’s very difficult to remove the smell of skunk. If you’re no stranger to having skunks on your property, you’ve no doubt encountered the strong, pungent odour that is secreted from a skunk’s glands when it sprays.
Once a skunk sprays, it’s very difficult to get the stink off of your pets, yourself, and your home. You’ll be spending countless hours deodorizing and you’ll still have to deal with the stench for weeks to come.
Skunk removal experts can evict the animals from your property, so you can stop dealing with this stinky problem once and for all.
Like groundhogs, foxes, bats, and raccoons, skunks are rabies-vector species. This means they can carry the virus for long periods of time without showing symptoms. They’re the second most common carriers of the rabies virus, which can pose health risks to you, your family members, and your pets.
These animals are typically not aggressive. If a skunk feels threatened, however, it may lash out and bite—this bite can transmit the virus, which then makes its way into the brain. It is almost always fatal.
It’s critical to call a skunk removal company instead of trying to remove skunks on your own in order to reduce the risk of contracting this deadly virus.
Rabies isn’t the only health risk posed by skunks. These creatures carry many other types of diseases, including canine distemper, listeriosis, Q fever, canine hepatitis, tularemia, and leptospirosis.
By allowing skunks to stay on your property, you increase your risk of contracting one of these diseases.
Skunks internally and externally harbor parasites, including lice, fleas, ticks, roundworm, lungworm, tapeworm, and flukes. These parasites can carry pathogens that can cause illness in pets and humans.
The Baylisascaris Columnaris roundworm is particularly dangerous for pets feeding on skunk feces. Children who play outside are also at risk of contracting this roundworm. This roundworm can cause ocular damage and brain damage.
A skunk’s spray is not only stinky—it can also be dangerous. Though rare, skunk toxic shock syndrome should be a concern if you have many skunks on your property and you own dogs. This syndrome is an atypical reaction in dogs to a skunk’s spray in an enclosed space—for example, if your dog has trapped several skunks in a large burrow. The symptoms include acute anemia, shock, and kidney damage.
As we mentioned earlier, skunks are generally passive—unless they’re provoked. If your pet is bothering a skunk, the wild animal might bite and scratch. Your pet may be wounded, and the wounds may become infected. The vet bills can be costly.
It’s best to prevent this type of disaster before it happens by pursuing skunk control.
Skunks are diggers. They love to dig holes and burrow in gardens and lawns. This can ruin your pristine yard and damage crops. They might also take up residence in your crawlspace, under your deck or porch, or in your shed or garage. If this happens, you’ll have a big mess to clean up. This is a frustration and a nuisance you can eliminate through skunk control services.
If skunks are on your property, consider pursuing skunk control services. Evicting the animals and preventing their re-entry will help you reduce health risks, help you save your lawn, and help you avoid dealing with the stench of a spraying skunk.
Do you need wildlife removal services? Request a quote today!
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