Landowners have several ways to handle skunks that are damaging their lawns.
Effective Options
• One option is to just let skunks finish removing the grubs from the lawn. Their effort is free, and the grass will be essentially grub-free when they are finished.
• A second option is to fence the affected area. The fence needs to made of ½” weave (or smaller). It should also be:
- 12” high,
- buried 2 to 3” below the ground, and
- bent at a 90 degree angle away from the area you wish to protect for at least 12 inches.
Electric fences are also a possibility, if legal in your area. Pay special attention to gates as skunks only need a 2 to 3” gap to enter.
• A third option is trapping. For information on trapping, consult the links below.
Ineffective Solutions
• Don’t bother with repellents of any kind as they have not been shown to be effective for skunks.
• Grub control, while a good preventative measure, rarely resolves the problem quickly once skunk damage begins. It is not uncommon for skunks to continue grubbing a treated lawn for an additional two weeks.
Resources: (online)
Skunk Control
Skunks
