Skunk Birthing Season
Skunk Birthing Season: What to Expect in Carson and Gardnerville
Spring brings skunk birthing season to Carson and Gardnerville, with female skunks searching for secure den sites to give birth. It’s important to take preventative steps, as skunks looking for birthing dens can create issues around your home.
What Happens During Birthing Season?
Birthing season typically begins in April, with female skunks producing a single litter of four to six kits. During this time, they seek safe, hidden areas to raise their young, and under decks, sheds, and crawl spaces make attractive dens. Young kits are initially dependent on their mother but will venture out later in the spring and summer, often learning to forage around residential areas.
If a skunk and her kits are living under your structure, you may notice more frequent skunk sightings or hear scuffling noises as the young grow more active. Additionally, skunks become protective of their young, so disturbing a mother skunk during this time may increase the chances of spraying incidents.
Preventative Tips for Homeowners
Secure Crawl Spaces and Sheds: Ensure all crawl spaces, sheds, and other structures have no gaps or holes where skunks could enter and nest. Gold Country Wildlife Control offers exclusion solutions that create a sturdy, dig-proof barrier, making it nearly impossible for skunks to gain entry.
Limit Food Sources: Make your yard less attractive to skunks by securing trash cans with tight-fitting lids, keeping pet food indoors, and cleaning up any fallen fruit or food scraps in the yard. Compost piles and birdseed can also attract skunks, so manage these carefully or place them out of reach.
Consider Professional Exclusion During Pre-Birthing Season: The best time to skunk-proof your property is before birthing season begins. Wildlife control experts can assess potential entry points and apply long-term exclusion techniques to keep your home safe year-round.
What to Do If a Skunk Family Moves In
If you believe a skunk has already given birth under your structure, avoid attempting to evict it on your own. Removing a mother skunk during birthing season can separate her from her kits, leaving the young vulnerable. Instead, consult wildlife control experts, who can safely and humanely manage the situation. Professionals may install a one-way door once the kits are old enough, allowing the mother and her young to leave but preventing their return.
Proactively securing your Carson or Gardnerville property helps reduce the chances of skunks choosing it as a birthing den. By taking these preventative steps, you can ensure a safer, cleaner environment for you and your family during skunk birthing season and beyond.
