We’re all familiar with skunks, largely from movies, TV shows, and even children’s cartoons. We know skunks as those furry little black and white bandits, known for the way they stink to high Heaven. But often, that’s where the general public’s knowledge about skunks begins and ends.

However, since skunks are quite a common household pest in most of the United States, it’s important to educate yourself on the little animal. This helps you know what to expect, in the eventuality of a skunk invasion. It also saves you time on the spot, because you likely know how to act.

So, let’s talk about skunks.

1. Skunks are less likely to spray than you think.

One common misconception about skunks is that they go around spraying anything that moves. That’s not the case, thankfully. While the skunk’s spray is, indeed, highly potent and gross, it only exists in a limited supply. Spraying one assailant can leave the skunk undefended in front of another, so a skunk needs to be careful about whom they spray.

That being said, a skunk will not hesitate to spray you, if they feel threatened or cornered. This is why, if you find yourself faced with a skunk on your property, it would be best if you left actual skunk removal up to a licensed wildlife removal professional.

Interestingly enough, though, a skunk’s spray isn’t a weapon in itself, but a warning. Because a skunk is small, it can do little actual damage to larger predators. So instead, it sprays out the foul odor, to prevent an actual altercation.

Did you know… Thanks to their highly unpleasant spray, skunks are largely unchallenged in the animal kingdom, despite their small size.

2. Skunks aren’t bigger than a house cat.

If you’ve never seen a skunk, it’s important to know what to expect, so that they don’t take you by surprise. Generally, a skunk won’t grow any larger than your average house cat. That means that most skunks won’t be larger than 8 to 19 inches (20 to 48 centimeters). When it comes to weight, skunks are quite versatile. They can weigh as little as 200 grams, but can become as heavy as 6 kg.

There are, of course, certain species, like the Eastern hog-nosed skunk that can grow up to 80 cm, but you’re not very likely to run into one on your property.

3. Skunks are disturbing houseguests.

We recommend that you visit pestcontrolskunk.com to learn more about the skunk as a houseguest. But you should know that skunks are bothersome houseguests that can cause quite a bit of damage.

Fortunately, they don’t do much structural damage (unlike possums or raccoons), but if they spray, then you will have an enemy to contend with, since the stench is very difficult to get out of furniture, clothing, and so on.

Skunks also carry a wide host of disease-causing bacteria that can lead to serious health concerns, such as histoplasmosis, salmonella, or distemper. You can learn more about the dangers of skunk houseguests at completewildliferemoval.com.

4. They’re omnivores.

This is bad news for homeowners, since it makes them harder to keep away. Skunks will eat pretty much anything they can get their paws on: larvae, eggs, vegetation, grubs, worms, fruit, small reptiles, etc. As you can see, this isn’t your average yummy trash can, or your improperly stored leftovers, so skunks are more difficult to deter from approaching.

Not only that, but a skunk looking for food will also uproot a serious portion of your garden, as it digs around for scrubs, larvae, and other delicious little treats that are naturally found in the earth.

5. There are ways to keep them away.

And it’s perhaps easier than you think. Skunks are largely nocturnal creatures, so a good thing is that you can pretty much use motion-activated light deterrents to keep them away at night. You can also leave the porch light on to scare them. This is why it’s super important to educate yourself on skunk prevention.

And as with any other wild animal, you’ll want to regularly check for cracks and spaces under your fence, or porch, that might provide the skunk with an entry point or hiding space.