Skunk Control for Burlington Residents

What’s that Odour? Maybe It’s a Skunk

There are few wildlife clues as unmistakable as the smell of skunk spray. That sharp, sulphur-like odour can linger around your yard, beneath a deck, or near your home’s foundation long after the skunk has moved on. If you feel it repeatedly, there may be a skunk denning somewhere nearby. Considering no harmonious coexistence between skunks and your household, let our team get rid of them.

One thing that brings skunks into residential neighbourhoods is Burlington’s green spaces, creek corridors, mature neighbourhoods, and residential development. Features such as Grindstone Creek, Bronte Creek, and the Niagara Escarpment give skunks a natural habitat and connected travel routes between feeding and denning areas. Contact us if you suspect a skunk has moved into your property.

When Skunks Move Near Your House

Most Burlington homeowners smell a skunk long before they actually see one. While the unpleasant smell is often the first warning sign, skunks leave several other clues behind when they begin denning beneath decks, sheds, porches, or crawlspaces. Here are the warning signs of skunk activity near your property.

• A strong musky odour around your property, especially during the evening
• Small cone-shaped holes are scattered throughout the lawn
• Digging around foundations, decks, sheds, or porches
• Disturbed mulch, flowerbeds, and landscaped areas
• Regular skunk sightings at dusk or after dark
• Pets returning home with a strong skunk odour
• Tracks or pathways leading beneath structures

Are Skunks Dangerous to Pets & Your Family

While skunks contribute positively to the local ecosystem, they’re dangerous to your family and pets. For example, the skunk’s spray contains oily compounds that stick to decks, foundations, landscaping materials, and exterior surfaces for extended periods. Even after we remove and discourage skunks from returning, the odour lingers for an extended period. They also dig small holes throughout lawns while searching for food.

Once a skunk finds a suitable denning site, it begins digging beneath decks, porches, sheds, and concrete steps. Over time, repeated digging can enlarge these spaces, create structural issues, and attract other wild animals to your property. Curious dogs frequently follow skunks in backyards, encounters which often end with a defensive spray. Skunks also pose health risks, such as rabies.

Get Skunks off Your Property for Good

Our team responds quickly to help identify why a skunk chose your property, remove it responsibly, and prevent future denning beneath decks, sheds, porches, and other vulnerable structures.

Locate and assess their dens: During the initial inspection, our experts will identify active denning areas, potential entry points, signs of damage, and conditions attracting skunks to the property. We also determine whether babies are present.

Remove the animals safely: Now that we know how many skunks are on your property and have identified their dens, we’ll install animal-safe one-way doors that allow skunks to leave safely while preventing them from returning.

Repair entry points: After confirming the den is empty, we’ll repair the damaged areas and wildlife-proof your property. For instance, we seal access points and reinforce vulnerable spaces beneath decks, porches, and sheds to deter skunks and other animals from invading your property.

Animal Control Services that Comply with the Law

Skunk removal in Burlington and across Ontario is highly regulated. For instance, Ontario’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act prohibits relocating captured skunks beyond 1 kilometre. If live traps are used, the wild animal must be released into the natural habitat within 24 hours. At Critter Hero, we take these laws seriously and ensure humane removal.

We understand that spring is denning season for skunks. Thus, removing or excluding a mother without checking for kits can create serious animal welfare and property issues. As a locally owned wildlife control company, we carefully check for kits before we begin the removal process. After all, it’s illegal to trap and relocate healthy animals in Ontario.

Cost of Removing a Skunk

The cost of removal depends on factors such as the skunk’s den location, whether kits are present, accessibility beneath decks or sheds, exclusion work required, and any repairs needed. If you have caught a whiff of the unmistakable strong odours associated with skunks, contact our team and schedule a free consultation. Here are the estimated costs of handling a skunk problem.

Keep in mind that skunks start having their babies between May and June. The cost of wildlife removal services may increase significantly when skunk babies are involved. You need a wildlife removal expert to check potential den sites and remove the kits by hand. Schedule a home inspection if you suspect a skunk intrusion.

Talk to Our Team

Don’t wait until the skunk odour becomes unbearable or various animals cause structural damage to your property. For more than 15 years, handled wildlife control issues involving skunks, raccoons, and other nuisance wildlife. Contact us today for your free, no-obligation quote. At Critter Hero, we aim to keep your residential or commercial property free from skunks and other animals.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What time of year are skunks most active in Burlington?

  Skunks are active throughout the year, but activity often increases during spring denning season when females search for safe places to raise their young. These animals are also active again in late summer when the growing baby skunks begin exploring new territories.

• How can I tell if a skunk is living under my deck?

  Common signs that a skunk is nesting under your deck include a strong musky odour, visible digging around the perimeter, and tracks leading beneath the structure. Disturbed soil and skunk sightings in the area during the evening may also indicate skunks on your property.

• Are skunks dangerous to pets?

  Skunks may avoid confrontations, but curious dogs often approach them too closely. This frequently results in a defensive spray (defence mechanism). Skunks can also carry diseases (like rabies) and parasites that may affect pets.

• What attracts skunks to Burlington properties?

  Skunks are attracted by food sources such as grubs, fallen fruit, pet food, compost, and accessible shelter beneath structures. That means you can secure garbage cans with tight-fitting lids to deter skunks. Burlington’s extensive green spaces and wildlife corridors also contribute to local skunk activity.

• How can I prevent skunks from returning to my Burlington property?

  Start by removing outdoor food sources, securing garbage, and keeping areas around the home clean. Skunks also prefer darker, quieter spaces, so bright and motion-activated lights can disrupt their activity. Trimming dense bushes and vegetation can further reduce hiding and denning opportunities around your property.

• How much does skunk removal cost in Burlington?

  Critter Hero starts with a free inspection to determine what your property needs. Basic skunk removal typically costs $300 to $600, while perimeter trenching with lattice or mesh is approximately $25 to $45 per linear foot. Deodorization and repairs generally range from $200 to $500.

• Can skunks damage my property or pose health risks?

  Skunks can damage lawns while digging for insects and may create problems when they den beneath decks, porches, sheds, or other structures. Their spray is also a serious nuisance and can cause temporary blindness if it contacts the eyes. Avoid approaching or handling a skunk yourself.

• How long does it take to remove a skunk?

  The timeframe depends on where the skunk is denning, whether young are present, how accessible the area is, and what exclusion work is required afterward. Our technicians first inspect the property and then determine the safest and most effective removal approach for the situation.

• Where do skunks usually den around Burlington homes?

  Skunks often choose quiet, sheltered spaces close to the ground. Common denning locations include areas beneath decks, porches, sheds, stairs, additions, crawl spaces, and other structures with accessible gaps. We inspect these areas to locate the den and determine how the skunk is getting inside.