Despite looking pretty, skunks are harmful pests that destroy backyards and fling extremely unpleasant smell. If you want to get rid of them by humane methods, dry some of the ways described by real people. Here are five stories of successful battles for backyards and gardens!
Contents:
Skunk Repellent: Spicy Broth Against Pests
I decided to make pests go away, but did not want to harm them (that would be a bad example for my kids, right?). After reading numerous reviews in the Net, I prepared a special skunk repellent. I took:
- 1 chopped yellow onion;
- 1 table spoon of cayenne pepper;
- 2 chopped jalapenos.
I boiled them in 2 liters of water for about 20 minutes, strained, and poured in a spray bottle. Then I distributed this mixture around their den, and in a couple of days they were gone! I reapplied this remedy after rainfalls several times, and nobody disturbed us anymore.
Ammonia Balls
Not that I faced severe infestation, but skinks kept going on the path near my house, and approached the porch. I have a small daughter, which is why I needed to protect her from accidental meeting with such animal – who knows what they are capable of? I decided to go humane, and searched for natural remedies. Do mothballs repel skunks? No at all. All my attempts to keep them at the bay this way failed. It simply did not work. Them I bought ammonia, took cotton balls and soaked them in this substance. I placed these balls around by house (on the ground, near the porch, etc.), and since then, no pests were noticed. The thing is that ammonia is a by-product contained in urine of many other animals, so skunks smelling it may assume that there is someone else living.
I only made a mistake by putting them near flowerbeds – ammonia burnt leaves. A bit later, I read that these balls should be replaced after rain, and rag put in a bowl can be used instead. Luckily, I don’t have pets, so I didn’t have to worry about them – they should not contact with such repellent. Anyway, this is an easy and effective method.
Bleach: the Only Thing That Worked For Me
I did not know how to repel skunks naturally, and then I got the idea that bleach could probably help. I soaked rags in it, put them in a shallow tub and placed at the entrance of animal’s den. The pest was forced to go through it, and, evidently, bleach smell drove him mad. In a few days it left my property. I replaced rugs every two days, and continued doing that until the intruder left me forever.
How I Protected My Plants
I had a lot of vegetables growing in my garden, and skunks started feeding on them! Once, one of them tried to enter my house, and I decided to put an end to the infestation. Since I was against using chemicals to avoid spoiling the harvest, I made a simple solution of water and ground black pepper. The mixture was thick, and when I sprayed my plants and holes made by these pests, everything around smelled like pepper. Evidently, they could not stand it and left my garden in three days entirely. I reapplied this mixture a couple of times, just to make sure it was distributed in every corner.
To prevent my dwelling from being intruded, I used another product. What repels skunks is the aroma of citrus fruits. I took lemon juice and mixed it with water in 1:1 ratio. It was also sprayed on the perimeter of my house, and really helped to make up a barrier. By the way, red pepper may also be used instead – it is even more irritating.
Do Not Throw Citrus Peels Away
When peels dried up, we renew them. In about a week, skunks almost disappeared, and in half a month, they totally left our territory. By the way, we also read that citrus trees emit the smell that repels pests, and planted lemon trees on the backyard. Luckily, we have warm climate for them to grow. Now it has been almost a year since skunks left, and we never faced such problem anymore!
These stories prove that pests can be repelled by natural and safe methods that won’t cost a lot. If one method doesn’t work, try another. Just follow some of these pieces of advice, and skunks will never bother you anymore!