More Than Just a Bad Smell: The Real Risks of Skunks on Your Property

Table of Contents

• Key Points
• Why Skunks Are More Than Just a Smelly Nuisance
• Signs You Have a Skunk Problem
• What NOT to Do
• How Precision Pest and Wildlife Removal Handles Skunk Control
• Prevention Tips for Homeowners
• Why Choose Precision Pest and Wildlife Removal
• Line Up Skunk Removal Today
• References

Key Points

• Skunks are more than just a minor (smelly!) nuisance. They can destroy property and potentially carry rabies. 
• DIY skunk removal is never recommended, if for no other reason, because it increases the chances of homeowners being sprayed.
• Understanding how to identify signs of skunks, what to do if you have an invasion, and how to stop one in the first place can help keep your home and property skunk-free.

Few wildlife encounters are as immediately unpleasant—or as difficult to forget—as a run-in with a skunk. That distinctive, eye-watering odor can linger for days on clothing, pets, and even the walls of your home. 

Beyond the smell, skunks pose real risks to homeowners and families across the Upstate region. They can dig up gardens and lawns, and their long burrows can extend under foundations, decks, and sheds, potentially weakening infrastructure. They are known to damage underground pipes and utility lines.¹

At Precision Pest and Wildlife Removal, we specialize in humane, effective skunk control that protects your property and keeps your household safe. Keep reading to learn about the signs of skunks on your property, as well as what steps to take to remove them.

Why Skunks Are More Than Just a Smelly Nuisance

Most people associate skunks with their spray and leave it at that. But these animals can create a surprising range of problems when they take up residence near your home.

• Property Damage: Skunks have short, stocky legs and disproportionately large feet, making them well-suited to prolific burrowing.² They will tear up your lawn searching for grubs and insects, leaving behind conical holes scattered across your yard overnight.
• Foundation Damage: Skunks are also known to burrow beneath porches, decks, sheds, and foundations, potentially creating structural vulnerabilities and a persistent odor problem that can seep into your living spaces.
• Health and Safety Risks: Skunks are one of the primary carriers of rabies in the United States.³ They can also carry leptospirosis, canine distemper, and various intestinal parasites that are transmissible to both pets and humans. A skunk that is active during daylight hours or behaving erratically should be treated as a potential rabies concern and reported to wildlife authorities immediately. This is not a situation for DIY handling—it calls for professional skunk pest control.
• Pets at Risk: Dogs, in particular, are notorious for investigating skunks and paying the price. Beyond the misery of a skunked dog, there is a real risk of your pet being bitten during the encounter. Any bite from a wild animal warrants an immediate veterinary visit.
• Attracting Other Wildlife: Skunk activity around your property can attract other unwanted guests. The food sources that draw skunks—grubs, garbage, fallen fruit, pet food left outdoors—will also attract raccoons, opossums, and other wildlife.

Signs You Have a Skunk Problem

Before you can address a skunk issue, you need to confirm one exists. Here are the most common signs:

• Odor: A faint but persistent musky smell around your yard, under your deck, or near your foundation—even if you have not witnessed a spraying event—can indicate a skunk has taken up residence.
• Lawn Damage: Small, cone-shaped holes dug into your grass, typically in the early morning or overnight, are a classic sign of skunk foraging.
• Tracks: Skunk footprints are distinctive. These will have five toes with visible claw marks, and they are often found in soft soil or mud near their burrow entry points.
• Burrow Openings: Look for openings beneath your porch, deck, shed, or along your foundation, often surrounded by loosened soil.⁴
• Sightings: Skunks are primarily nocturnal, so daytime sightings may indicate a sick animal. Nighttime sightings near your home are a strong indicator that they have established territory on your property.

If you are noticing any of these signs, it is time to reach out to a professional. As one of the most experienced pest control companies in Greenville, SC, Precision Pest can assess the situation quickly and accurately.

What NOT to Do

When homeowners discover a skunk problem, the temptation is often to handle it themselves. We strongly advise against this for several reasons.

Attempting to trap or corner a skunk without training almost always results in being sprayed—and potentially bitten. Store-bought traps may not be positioned, baited, or covered correctly, leading to failed captures or, worse, a trapped and panicked skunk that releases its spray in close proximity to your home or family.

There is also the matter of local wildlife regulations. In South Carolina, the transport and release of wildlife is regulated, and improper handling of a potentially rabid animal can have serious legal and health consequences.⁵This is exactly why skunk removal is best left to certified wildlife professionals.

How Precision Pest and Wildlife Removal Handles Skunk Control

Our approach to skunk control services is thorough, humane, and designed to deliver lasting results. Here is what our process looks like:

• Inspection and Assessment: Our technicians begin with a comprehensive property inspection to identify the extent of the infestation, locate burrows and entry points, and assess what is attracting skunks to your property in the first place. Understanding the root cause is essential to preventing recurrence.
• Humane Trapping and Removal: We use professional-grade, covered traps that are strategically baited and positioned based on skunk behavior and movement patterns. Covered traps help reduce the likelihood of the animal spraying during capture. Once trapped, the skunk is handled by trained professionals and removed in accordance with South Carolina wildlife regulations.
• Exclusion and Burrow Sealing: Trapping alone is only one part of the equation. After removal, we seal burrow openings and install exclusion barriers beneath decks, porches, sheds, and other vulnerable structures. This prevents new skunks from moving into the vacated territory.
• Habitat Modification Recommendations: Our team will walk you through practical steps you can take to make your property less attractive to skunks in the future. This may include securing garbage cans, removing outdoor pet food, addressing grub infestations in your lawn, and trimming overgrown vegetation that provides cover.
• Follow-Up and Monitoring: Skunk pest control does not end with removal. We offer follow-up visits to ensure no new activity has occurred and that exclusion measures are holding up as expected.

Prevention Tips for Homeowners

While professional skunk control services are the most reliable solution once skunks have established themselves, there are steps you can take to reduce the chances of an invasion⁶ in the first place:

• Secure your trash cans with locking lids or store them in a garage or shed overnight. Skunks are opportunistic feeders, and an open garbage can is an irresistible invitation. Similarly, bring in pet food and water bowls at dusk, and clean up fallen fruit from trees regularly.
• Address grub problems in your lawn. A lawn treatment in the spring and fall to control grubs reduces one of the primary food sources that draws skunks onto residential properties.
• Install hardware cloth or steel mesh skirting around the base of decks, porches, and other buildings. This simple measure eliminates the sheltered, dark spaces that skunks seek out for denning. Make sure any barriers extend at least six to twelve inches below the soil surface to prevent burrowing underneath.

Motion-activated lighting can deter nocturnal wildlife, including skunks, from frequenting certain areas of your yard. Combined with other deterrents, this is a useful layer of prevention.

Why Choose Precision Pest and Wildlife Removal

When it comes to skunk removal and wildlife control in the Upstate, experience matters. Precision has built a reputation as a trusted exterminator in Greenville, SC, by delivering results-driven service with a commitment to humane, responsible practices. Our technicians are trained in wildlife behavior, state regulations, and the most effective exclusion techniques available.

We understand that every property is different, which is why we never apply a one-size-fits-all approach. Whether you are dealing with a single skunk under your deck or a recurring wildlife problem that has been frustrating you for seasons, we will develop a customized plan that addresses both the immediate issue and the underlying causes.

Line Up Skunk Removal Today

Do not let a skunk problem spiral into a costly, odorous nightmare. The sooner you address wildlife activity on your property, the easier and less expensive the solution tends to be. Reach out to us today to schedule your inspection and take the first step toward a skunk-free property. Contact us today to schedule your late-winter pest inspection. Let us help you protect your home from the pests that are waking up right now, so you can enjoy the coming spring without unwelcome visitors.

References

1. “Skunks,” Mass Audubon, retrieved on February 24, 2026, from: https://www.massaudubon.org/nature-wildlife/mammals-in-massachusetts/skunks. 
2. James E. Knight, “Skunks: Damage Prevention and Control Methods,” Montana State University, retrieved on February 24, 2026, from: https://animalrangeextension.montana.edu/wildlife/prevention_and_control/skunks.html. 
3. Andres Velasco-Villa, “On skunk rabies and its prevention in North America,” Equine Veterinary Education, April 2024, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11034821/. 
4. “Skunk Damage Identification,” Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management, retrieved on February 24, 2026, from: https://icwdm.org/species/carnivores/skunks/skunk-damage-identification/. 
5. “Title 50 – Fish, Game and Watercraft; Chapter 16: Importation of Wildlife,” South Carolina Code of Laws, retrieved on February 24, 2026, from: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t50c016.php. 
6. Arricca Elin SanSone, “How To Keep Skunks Out Of Your Yard,” Southern Living, October 2025, https://www.southernliving.com/how-to-keep-skunks-out-of-yard-11830540.

Hunter Stockwell

Hunter Stockwell is a dedicated and certified Wildlife Control Technician. With a passion for safeguarding homes and structures from unwanted animal entry, Hunter excels in implementing effective protection strategies. His specialized training in metal bending allows him to expertly fortify homes against animals attempting to chew their way back into common areas. Hunter also deeply cares about educating clients on how to protect their most valuable asset: their home. Through personalized consultations and hands-on guidance, Hunter ensures that homeowners are well-informed and equipped to maintain a safe and secure environment.