Los Angeles Skunk Removal

Here at Animal Capture Wildlife Control we specialize in skunk removal and skunk trapping!  We will come out to your home and to a complete under floof inspection.  In the inspection we look to see where the skunks are entering, if any damage is done, how many droppings are under the home, and look for the animals.  A lot of times I find that skunks tear into the air duct system to get the heat coming out of the ducts.   I then set up traps to trap the skunks out.  After catching the skunks I recommend three to five days with nothing in the traps at all.  Then you know you caught all the skunks living under the building.  At this time we seal up the holes where the skunks were entering. Here at Animal Capture Wildlife Control we respond to skunks under the home, skunks under decks, skunks coming in through the cat door, and skunks tearing up the grass.

Skunks are nocturnal, preferring to hunt at night for insects, small rodents, carrion, poultry, eggs, nestling birds, fruit, pet food, and garbage. Because they are active at night, many people never see the animals as they travel through their neighborhood, even in areas with a large skunk population. Skunks will use any sheltered place as a den including wood piles, animal burrows, culverts, under houses, decks, and sheds. Breeding may begin as early as January, but usually occurs during February and March. Males are viciously competitive for females, and bred females will attack males attempting to breed with them. One or both animals frequently spray during this intraspecific aggression. Litters are born 9 weeks after conception with an average of 4 – 8 young. The young skunks stay with the female for several months, but usually begin to disperse by mid to late summer.

DISEASE

Skunks are the primary carrier of rabies in California. Approximately 65 percent of the skunks checked for rabies tested positive for the disease during the past 5 years. Rabies is a viral disease that is fatal in mammals, including man and domestic animals (dogs, cats, livestock). It is transmitted by the bite of an infected animal. Rabies is preventable in man and domestic animals through routine vaccination but is not curable after onset of symptoms. Vaccines developed for domestic animals have not proven to be reliable in preventing rabies in wildlife. California wildlife species have shown an overall increase of 7% in confirmed cases of rabies from 1978 through 1988. In addition to rabies, skunks can carry leptospirosis, listeriosis, canine distemper, canine hepatitis, Qfever, tularemia, and trypanosoma. They are also heavily infested with ticks, fleas, and mites which are known carriers and transmitters of disease.  For more information on skunks you can check out our website animalcapturewildlifecontrol.com