Skunk removal
Under porches, patios and sheds
A smell that keeps coming back near the patio, small holes in the lawn every morning, a dog that comes in reeking: a skunk has probably moved in under something in your yard. We trap it in a cage made for skunks, then close off the space underneath once nothing is left in the den.
Skunks spend the day in their den and come out at night to feed. In the city, they like to dig under a porch, a patio, a shed sitting on blocks or a pool deck: it's dry, sheltered and nobody bothers them. Mating happens mostly in March, litters arrive in May, often five or six young each, and the young start leaving the den in early July.
From May to early July, plugging a hole under the porch can shut a litter in, and the mother may dig somewhere else to reach them. That's why nothing gets sealed until we know who's living under there. Skunks and raccoons are the two species raccoon rabies hits hardest, and the disease returned to Quebec in 2024, so keep your distance even from a skunk that seems calm.
What a skunk brings to your yard
The smell
The stench clings to the porch and can drift in through basement windows. If it keeps coming back to the same corner day after day, you're more likely dealing with a skunk that lives there than one passing through.
Holes in the lawn
Skunks eat insect larvae that live under the lawn. At night they scratch out small holes to dig them up, and by morning the lawn looks pecked. As long as the larvae are there, the skunk has a reason to come back.
A sprayed dog or cat
A skunk sprays when it feels threatened, and a dog nosing under the patio at night is an easy target. Beyond the smell, check for a bite or scratch, because skunks can carry rabies.
A den left open
A den under a slab or patio often has more than one entrance. Left open, it can house another skunk next season, so closing off the space matters as much as the trapping.
Where we handle skunk problems
Residential
- Under porches and front steps
- Low wooden patios and decks
- Sheds resting on blocks
- Pool decks
- Concrete slabs dug out underneath
- Woodpiles and rock gardens
Commercial and industrial
- Buildings with an open crawl space
- Apartment buildings with ground-floor balconies
- Storage sheds and dumpster enclosures
- Slopes and vacant lots around parking lots
- Daycare and school yards
Signs a skunk is living under your porch
You'll notice most of them in the morning, after its night out.
- A hole at ground level under the porch, patio or shed, with fresh dirt pushed out in front
- Porch lattice pulled loose or lifted at one corner
- A strong smell that keeps returning to the same spot, even though nobody got sprayed
- Small holes in the lawn or flower beds first thing in the morning
- A skunk seen at dusk, always heading for the same corner of the yard
- Tracks in a little flour sprinkled at the entrance in the evening: the den is in use
How we deal with a skunk under a structure
The timing of the litter sets the order of the steps.
Finding the den
We go around the porch, patio or shed to find every entrance, the loose dirt and the paths it uses. Depending on the season, we also assess whether there could be a litter.
A cage at the den exit
Cages made for skunks, safe for your family and pets, go at the exit it uses. Between the birth of the young and their first outing, we adjust the work so none are left under the structure.
Removal regulated by Quebec
What happens to a live skunk falls under Quebec government rules, which prohibit moving skunks in the areas flagged around raccoon rabies outbreaks, including several South Shore cities. Removal follows the rule that applies where you live.
Closing off the space
When the den has been vacated, the entry points get sealed. Under a porch, front steps or a shed, the method the Quebec government recommends is a metal screen sunk roughly fifteen centimetres into the ground, its bottom edge turned outward into an L: a skunk digging along the structure runs into the mesh. More on sealing entry points.
Keeping the space under the porch empty
- Take the dog out on a leash in the evening: skunks move around at night, and public health advises keeping dogs away from wildlife.
- Keep your dogs' and cats' rabies shots up to date, following the booster schedule your vet gives you.
- Cover basement window wells with metal mesh: skunks are poor climbers, and one that falls into a window well has a hard time getting out.
- Clear the area around the porch: firewood, building materials and dead leaves piled against the lattice give a skunk extra cover.
- For the smell around the house, the Quebec government suggests bleach or vinegar diluted in ten parts water as a homemade substitute. Use one or the other, never mixed, and never on an animal.
Frequently asked questions
Can't find what you're looking for? A technician answers 24/7.
Call 514-231-1615My dog got sprayed by a skunk. What do I do?
Put on gloves before handling your dog and look it over for any bite or scratch. Call your vet either way: contact with a skunk needs to be assessed because of the rabies risk. If there's a wound, clean it with soap and water, still wearing gloves, and ask the vet what to use on the coat rather than trying a homemade mix.
Can I close up the hole under my patio myself?
Yes, but at the right time and in the right order. From May to early July, there may be young under there, so wait until they're out. The Quebec government recommends blocking every entrance but one, making sure the skunk has left (it goes out at night), then sealing the last one. For a whole patio, buried mesh holds up better than a plug of dirt: see how we seal entry points.
Does a skunk out in daylight have rabies?
There's no way to tell by looking. Because skunks are night animals, one that's active by day, disoriented or aggressive deserves caution: keep children and pets away, don't approach it and call 1 877 346-6763, Quebec's line for reporting a suspicious animal. If anyone was bitten or scratched, wash the wound well with soap and water for a good ten to fifteen minutes, then call Info-Santé 811.
Why is my lawn full of small holes in the morning?
Often it's a skunk that spent the night digging for insect larvae under the grass. The holes are small and scattered; patches of sod lifted or rolled back point to a raccoon instead, and one wide hole with dirt thrown out in front to a groundhog. If it really is small holes, check around the porch and shed: the den may be close by.
What does skunk removal under a patio cost?
Cost comes down to the size of the structure, how many entrances the den has, the chance of young being there and how much perimeter needs closing off. A technician looks at the structure before putting a number on it, and the quote costs you nothing.
