As Calgarians take in the crisp smell of fall this season, they may notice a lingering pungent odour.
This autumn has been a busy season already for skunk sightings around the city. Grove Eco-Friendly Pest Control owner Erik Johnson gets calls about skunks all year, but this time of year can be particularly bad for them, he told CBC’s Calgary Eyeopener on Monday.
At this time of year, many of the skunks people see were born in the spring and are now old enough to leave their parents and find somewhere to burrow their own dens. They’re also often more curious and may not be smart enough to stay away from people, Johnson warned.
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While the critters are typically more passive pests that won’t spray someone unless provoked, a more common problem for people is their dogs may charge the stinky mammals.
Johnson said skunks can be deterred by shining bright lights into a their den and removing attractants from the area.
“That means leaving no trash out, removing any food such as fruits falling from trees in the fall, and making sure there’s no shelter,” Johnson said. “You can do that by installing some kind of wire mesh or chicken wire around your front deck or front steps.”
To clean up after a skunk spray, Johnson recommended mixing hydrogen peroxide, dish soap and baking soda into a paste to rub into a dog’s fur, or turn the mixture into a spray to use on the house or furniture. Johnson advised against using water, which will just move the oil around.
When Johnson is called to a home to remove a skunk, trapping and releasing them can pose too much of a threat to their safety.
“In the summertime, it’s something like 70 per cent of the skunks don’t survive,” Johnson said.
“They can’t find shelter, they don’t know where to hide from predators, there might be new predators in the area, there’s competition from other skunks already in that area. In the wintertime, that probably drops to zero per cent chance of survival.”
Instead, Johnson will use a one-way door to evict skunks and prevent them from returning. He then seals up the area with wire mesh to make sure the pests can’t dig back in.
While skunks can be found around the city, Johnson said neighbourhoods like McKenzie Towne can be especially prone to sightings because of their higher number of townhouse complexes, with each unit having its own front porch where a skunk can seek shelter.
Melanie Whalen, director of animal care and wildlife services with the Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation Society, said the organization hasn’t noticed anything to indicate a larger skunk population this year in the city. But she suspects that as skunks look for winter dens while construction and development is still ongoing around the city, Calgarians may see them more often.
As it gets colder, Calgarians will still likely see skunks around as they only semi-hibernate. They might disappear for a week or two during particularly cold spells or snowfalls, but during milder winter days, they’ll still be out foraging.