Skunks
Striped and Spotted Skunks
Arguably the most recognized wildlife species in North America, which carries with it a truly unmistakable odor for defense. The skunk, once believed a member of the weasel family, is represented by four species in North America. The skunk has short, stocky legs and proportionately large feet equipped with well-developed claws that enable it to be very adept at digging. The striped skunk is characterized by prominent, lateral white stripes that run down its back. Its fur is otherwise jet black. Striped skunks are the most abundant of the four species. The body of the striped skunk is about the size of an ordinary house cat (up to 29 inches [74 cm] long and weighing about 8 pounds [3.6 kg] ). The spotted skunk is smaller (up to 21 inches [54 cm] long and weighing about 2.2 pounds [1 kg]), more weasel-like, and is readily distinguishable by white spots and short, broken white stripes in a dense jet-black coat.
The hooded skunk (Mephitis macroura) is identified by hair on the neck that is spread out into a ruff. It is 28 inches (71 cm) long and weighs the same as the striped skunk. It has an extremely long tail, as long as the head and body combined. The back and tail may be all white, or nearly all black, with two white side stripes. The hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus leucontus) has a long snout that is hairless for about 1 inch (2.5 cm) at the top. It is 26 inches (66 cm) long and weighs 4 pounds (1.8 kg). Its entire back and tail are white and the lower sides and belly are black. Skunks have the ability to discharge nauseating musk from the anal glands and are capable of several discharges, not just one.
Adult skunks normally begin breeding in late February. Yearling females (born in the preceding year) mate in late March. Gestation usually lasts 7 to 10 weeks. Older females bear young during the first part of May, while yearling females bear young in early June. There is usually only 1 litter annually. Litters commonly consist of 4 to 6 young, but may have from 2 to 16. Younger or smaller females have smaller litters than older or larger females. The young stay with the female until fall. Both sexes mature by the following spring. The age potential for a skunk is about 10 years, but few live beyond 3 years in the wild. The normal home range of the skunk is l/2 to 2 miles (2 to 5 km) in diameter. During the breeding season, a male may travel 4 to 5 miles (6.4 to 8 km) each night. Skunks are dormant for about a month during the coldest part of winter. They may den together in winter for warmth, but generally are not sociable. They are nocturnal in habit, rather slow-moving and deliberate, and have great confidence in defending themselves against other animals.
Damages
Skunks become a nuisance when their burrowing and feeding habits conflict with humans. They may burrow under porches or buildings by entering foundation openings. Garbage or refuse left outdoors may be disturbed by skunks. Skunks may damage beehives by attempting to feed on bees. Occasionally, they feed on corn, eating only the lower ears. If the cornstalk is knocked over, however, raccoons are more likely the cause of damage. Damage to the upper ears of corn is indicative of birds, deer, or squirrels. Skunks dig holes in lawns, golf courses, and gardens to search for insect grubs found in the soil. Digging normally appears as small, 3- to 4-inch (7- to 10-cm) cone-shaped holes or patches of upturned earth. Several other animals, including domestic dogs, also dig in lawns. Skunks occasionally kill poultry and eat eggs. They normally do not climb fences to get to poultry. By contrast, rats, weasels, mink, and raccoons regularly climb fences. If skunks gain access, they will normally feed on the eggs and occasionally kill one or two fowl. Eggs usually are opened on one end with the edges crushed inward. Weasels, mink, dogs and raccoons usually kill several chickens or ducks at a time. Dogs will often severely mutilate poultry. Skunk droppings can often be identified by the undigested insect parts they contain. Droppings are 1/4 to 1/2 inch (6 to 13 mm) in diameter and 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) long. Odor is not always a reliable indicator of the presence or absence of skunks. Sometimes dogs, cats, raccoons or other animals that have been sprayed by skunks move under houses and make owners mistakenly think skunks are present.
Health Risks
Rabies may be carried by skunks on occasion. Skunks are the primary carriers of rabies in the Midwest. When rabies outbreaks occur, the ease with which rabid animals can be contacted increases. Therefore, rabid skunks are prime vectors for the spread of the virus. Avoid overly aggressive skunks that approach without hesitation. Any skunk showing abnormal behavior, such as daytime activity, may be rabid and should be treated with caution. Report suspicious behavior to local animal control authorities. There is cause for concern when skunks take up residence in an urban or suburban area because in California they are primary carriers of rabies, a viral disease transmitted by the bite of an infected animal. Skunks are also carriers of other diseases including leptospirosis, listeriosis, canine distemper, canine hepatitis, Q-fever, tularemia, and trypanosoma.
Odor Removal
There are several options for odor removal. The chemical neutroleum-alpha is one of the most useful neutralizers for removing the unpleasant skunk scent on furniture or in buildings, but this material and products containing it are not readily available. There are also other commercial products sold for neutralizing or masking skunk odor. If you cannot find such products easily, contact a
professional wildlife control operator, who may be able to provide neutroleum-alpha or can tell you where it can be purchased. Do not use neutroleum-alpha on pets or people. If your dog or cat has confronted a skunk, call your veterinarian to determine current recommendations for washing the animal to get rid of skunk odor.
A home remedy formulation reported by some to be effective is as follows:
- 1 quart 3% hydrogen peroxide
- 1/4 cup baking soda
- 1 teaspoon liquid soap.
Once the hydrogen peroxide is mixed with the baking soda, the mixture is unstable and generates oxygen, and thus cannot be bottled or stored. Apparently, oxidation changes the chemical composition of skunk scent so that it no longer smells. When the fresh mixture is applied to items contaminated by skunk odor, the smell diminishes quickly. Any leftover mixture should be diluted several fold with water and poured down the drain. Hydrogen peroxide mixtures can be used safely on pets and people as well as on clothing and furniture. Rinse pets thoroughly with water after treatment.
A Pair of skunks taken (removed) out from under the deck of a house in Verdigris, located between Catoosa and Claremore, Oklahoma.
Reginald Murray of Oklahoma Wildlife Control with four baby skunks removed from a wall in Sand Springs, OK ... on one of the city properties.
3 baby Skunks removed from a garage in Sand Springs. Once we get mom, they will be reunited, and relocated to our property, away from people or urban developments.
A Mother skunk, removed from a garage in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, is reunited with her three babies, just prior to releasing them on our own property.
Office: (918) 739-4382
Very few companies in North America can claim to actually have someone on staff with over 25 years experience of providing professional wildlife removals and damage repair services by themselves.
No other wildlife removal company in Oklahoma has anyone on staff, with the experience and certifications achieved by Founder and Principle Owner, Reginald Murray.
Reginald Murray is a nationally known trapper and professional wildlife management services provider. His knowledge of trapping equipment, wildlife business ethics and professional techniques for the nuisance wildlife control industry is held in the highest regard by his own peers, and yes even his own local competition. He is one of the very few truly Professional Wildlife Control Operators in North America that has been published, and respectfully requested to review regulations before they are implemented.
His company co-owner, wife and partner, Jennifer Murray is also an Oklahoma Certified Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator, and she is the Founder of the Mended Fences Ranch Inc. Non-profit Livestock Rescue organization of Oklahoma.
The vast majority of the OK Wildlife Control, L.L.C. clientele ... comes to us AFTER other companies have failed to provide professional remediation a wildlife issue or situation.
Proudly Serving:
Counties of Service in Texas:
Angelina County, Archer County, Baylor County, Cay County, Jack County, Jasper County, Jefferson County, Lee County, Nacogdoches County, Orange County, Palo Pinto County, Sabine County, San Augustine County, Stephens County, Throckmorton County, Young County
COUNTY / TOWNSHIP
Adair
Ballard -Baron -Bunch -Chance -Christie -Lee Creek -Stilwell -Watts -Wauhillau -Westville
Alfalfa
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Atoka
Atoka -Bentley -Caney -Fanis -Lewis -Stringtown -Wilson
Beaver
Balko -Beaver -Benton -Blue Grass -Elmwood -Floris -Garland -Gate -Grand Valley -Knowles -Kokomo -Logan -Nabisco
Beckham
Bettina -Buffalo -Carter -Dabney -Delhi -Elk -Elk City -Erick -Merritt -North Fork -Poarch -Richland -Sayre -Texola
Blaine
Alfalfa -Arapahoe -Canadian -Canton -Cantonment -Cantonment Indian School -Carlton -Cedar Valley -Cimarron -Dixon -Flynn -Geary -Hitchcock -Homestead -Kennedy -Lawton -Liberty -Lincoln -Logan -Longdale -Okeene -River -Seay -Watonga -Wells
Bryan
Achille -Albany -Bennington -Bokchito -Brown -Caddo -Calera -Colbert -Durant -Kemp -Lake -Matoy -Speairs
Caddo
Abilene -Anadarko -Apache -Banner -Beaver -Binger -Boone -Bridgeport -Cache -Caddo -Carnegie -Cedar -Cement -Connewango -Cyril -Delaware -Doyle -East McKinley -Fern -Fort Cobb -Gracemont -Grand View -Hale -Highland -Hinton -Hydro -Jefferson -Lincoln -Lone Mound -Lone Rock -Lookeba -McKinley -Mound Valley -North Cement -North Cobb -North Lathram -Riverside School -Sickles -South Cement -South Lathram -Swan Lake -Tonkawa -Waconda -Walnut -West McKinley -Willow
Canadian
Calumet -Cement -Darlington -East Walnut -El Reno -Fort Reno Military and Indian Reserve -Frisco -Geary -Maple -Mathewson -Mustang -Oak -Okarche -Piedmont -Prairie -Reno -Rock Island -Union City -Valley -West Walnut
Carter
Akers -Ardmore -Berwyn -Graham -Healdton -Hewitt -Lone Grove -Morgan -Wilson
Cherokee
Briggs -Cookson -Crittenden -Grandview -Hulbert -Moodys -Park Hill -Peggs -Tahlequah
Choctaw
Boswell -Everidge -Fort Towson -Grant -Hugo -Hunter -Jeter -Oakes -Ratliffe -Soper -Swink -Wilson
Cimarron
Boise City -Cleveland -Garrett -Gresham -Kenton -keyes -Marella -Sandy Hook -Wheeless -Willowbar
Cleveland
Canadian -Case -Lexington -Liberty -Little River -Moore -Noble -Norman -Stella -Taylor
Coal
Ash Flat -Bromide -Bryan -Clarita -Coalgate -Hanraty -Haskell -Jackson -Jefferson -Lehigh -Murray -Phillips
Comanche
Brown -Cache -Cedar Grove -Chandler -Chattanooga -Crosby -Deyo -Elgin -Faxon -Fletcher -Geronimo -Hulen -Indiahoma -Lake -Lawrence -Lawton -Lincoln -Mangan -McMaster -Painter -Quanah -Richards -Saddle Mountain -Sterling -Wichita -Zella
Cotton
Beaver -Bryan -Cache -Devol -Hulen -Jackson -Jefferson -Randlett -Strauss -Temple -Texas -Walters
Craig
Big Cabin -Bluejacket -Centralia -Vinita -Welch
Creek
Bristow -Creek -Depew -Drumright -Euchee -Hazlip -Kellyville -Kiefer -Lakeside -Mannford -Markham -Mounds -Newby -Oilton -Olive -Sapulpa -Shamrock -Shannon -Slick -Sunny Slope -Tiger
Custer
Arapaho -Barnitz -Butler -Cedar -Clinton -Custer -Deer Creek -Grant -Washita -Weatherford
Delaware
Beaty -Bernice -Grove -Jay -Kansas -Mosely -Saline
Dewey
Banner -Boyd -Camargo -Clark -Cleveland -Dawson -Dewey -Grant -Haddon -Harper -Harrison -Johnson -Leedey -Lincoln -Little Robe -Marion -Oakwood -Putnam -Seiling -Sickle -Simpson -Taloga -Trail -Vici -Webb
Ellis
Arnett -Athens -Austin -Benton -Day -Fargo -Gage -Grand -Greenwood -Hopewell -Ivanhoe -Jefferson -Little Robe -Morgan -Ohio -Oleta -Otter -Parkman -Rawdon -Rock -Shattuck -Sheldon -Woodrow
Garfield
Allison -Banner -Blaine -Breckenridge -Buffalo -Covington -Douglas -Drummond -Enid -Fairmont -Flynn -Garber -Garland -Grant -Hackberry -Hillsdale -Hobart -Hunter -Keowee –Kremlin- Lahoma -Lincoln -Logan -Marshall -McKinley -Noble -North Enid -Olive -Osborn -Otter -Patterson -Reed -Sheridan -Skeleton -Sumner -Union -Washington -Waukomis -Wood
Garvin
Brady -Elmore City -Lindsay -Maysville -Paoli -Paul’s Valley -Stratford -Walker -Whitebead -Wynnewood
Grady
Alex -Amber -Bradley -Chandler -Chickasha -Cross -Dutton -Harrison -Hillsboro -Lucile -Middleberg -Minco -Naples -Ninnekah -Pocasset -Prairie Valley -Pursley -Rush Springs -Shirley -Starr -Tabler -Tuttle -Union -Verden -Vincent -Waldron -Washington
Grant
Alfalfa -Banner -Barr -Berry -Bluff -Bryan -Coldwater -Dirigo -Fairview -Gore -Hickory -Jarvis -Jefferson -Lamont -Liberty -Manchester -Medford -Nashville -Numa -Pond Creek -Prairie -Renfrow -Reno -Rock Island -Salt Fork -Valley -Wakita -Ware
Greer
Bloomington -Brinkman -Granite -Jester -Mangum -Quartz -Raney -Tilly -Willow
Harmon
Dryden -Francis -Gould -Hollis -Looney -Madge -Martin
Harper
Adams -Buffalo -Center -Doby -Garfield -George -Good -Kiowa -Laverne -Little -May -Otter -Rosston -Saline -Speermoore -Wilson
Haskell
Beaver -Brooken -Center -Diamond -Keota -Kinta -Liberty -Machire -McCurtain -Sans Bois -Stigler -Taloka -Tamaha
Hughes
Allen -Barnard -Bilby -Calvin -Dustin -Holdenville -Jacobs -Lamar -Newburg -Stuart -Wetumka -Yeager
Jackson
Altus -Baucum -Carmel -Duke -Eldorado -Elmer -Headrick -Martha -Navajo -Olustee
Jefferson
Addington -Blackburn -Bourland -Brown -Cornish -Earl -Grayson -Hastings -Patterson -Price -Ringling -Ryan -Sugden -Terral -Waurika -Wray -Wright
Johnston
Brogdon -Bromide -Garner -Garrett -Gibbs -Harris -Mannsville -Milburn -Mill Creek -Myrick -Ratliff -Thomas -Tishomingo -Wapanucka
Kay
Beaver -Blackwell -Braman -Carlisle -Cross -Dale -Hardy -Kaw City -Kildare -Longwood -Lowe -Miller -Nardin -Newkirk -Owen -Ponca City -Renfrow -Rock Falls -Round Grove -Tonkawa -Vernon -Waltham -Washunga -Weston
Kingfisher
Altona -Banner -Cashion -Center -Cimarron -Columbia -Cooper -Coronado -Downs -Excelsior -Grant -Harrison -Hennessey -Kingfisher -Lacey -Logan -Lynn -Okarche -Omega -Otter -Park -Reserve -River -Sherman -Skeleton -Union
Kiowa
Cooper -Cooperton -Dill -Gotebo -Harrison -Hobart -Lone Wolf -Marshall -Mountain Park -Mountain View -Otter Creek -Roosevelt -Snyder
Latimer
Buffalo -Cravens -Damon -Degnan -Gowen -Red Oak -Salonia -Wilburton
Le Flore
Bokoshe -Braden -Cameron -Cowlington -Heavener -Houston -Howe -Kennady -Kully Chaha -Milton –Monroe- Muse -Octavia -Page -Panama -Pocola -Poteau -Shady Point -Spiro -Summerfield -Talihina -Wister
Lincoln
Agra -Bryan -Carney -Chandler -Cimarron -Davenport -Fallis -Iowa -Kickapoo -McKinley -Meeker -North Choctaw -North Creek -North Fox -North Keokuk -North Seminole -North Wichita- Osage Otoe -Pawnee -Ponca -Prague -South Choctaw -South Creek -South Fox -South Keokuk -South Seminole -South Wichita -Sparks -Stroud -Tohee -Tryon- -Union -Wellston
Logan
Antelope -Bear Creek -Cedar -Coyle -Crescent -Guthrie -Iowa -Iron Mound -Langston -Lawrie -Le Baron –Marshall- Meridian -Mulhall -North Cimarron -Oak View -Orlando -Rose Hill -Seward -South Cimarron -Spring Creek -Springer -Springvale -Woodland
Love
Burney -Hickory -Leon -Marietta -Thackerville -Washington
Major
Ames -Bishop -Cimarron -Cleo -Crowell -Dane -Deep Creek -Fairview -Jones -Meno -Quinlan -Ringwood -Sheridan -Stone -Van
Marshall
Holfrod -Kingston -Madill -Oakland -Odell -Taliaferro -Willis -Woodville
Mayes
Adair -Bryan -Center -Choteau -Hogan -Locust Grove -Mazie -Murphy -Pryor -Rider -River -Salina -Strang
McClain
Blanchard -Byars -Colbert -Goldsby -Hopping -Johnson -Muncrief -Perry -Purcell -Turnbull -Victor -Washington -Wayne
McCurtain
Broken Bow -Eagle -Fowler -Frisco -Garvin -Haworth -Idabel -Kirk -Mountain -Smithville -Sulphur -Valliant -White -Wilson
McIntosh
Beck -Burton -Checotah -Cobb -Eufaula -Hanna -Hitchita -McDaniels -Rentiesville -Ryals -Simpson -Turner
Murray
Allen -Coyle -Davis -Dougherty -Hickory -Leeper -Lowrance -Morgan -Mosley -Sulphur -Tuerner
Muskogee
Agency -Boynton -Braggs -Brewer -Council Hill -Darling -Fort Gibson -Harris -Haskell -Martin -McLain -Moore -Muskogee -Nash -Ogle -Oktaha -Porum -Sutton -Taft -Vann -Wainwright -Warner -Webber Falls
Noble
Auburn -Autry -Billings -Black Bear -Bressie -Buffalo -Bunch Creek -Carson -Glenrose -Lowe -Marland -Missouri -Morrison -Noble -Oakdale -Otoe -Perry -Red Rock -Rock -Santa Fe -Sumner -Walnut -Warren Valley -Watkins -White Rock
Nowata
Alluwe -Armstrong -Delaware -Hickory -Lenapah -Nowata -Snow Creek -South Coffeyville -Wann -Watova
Okfuskee
Bearden -Boley -Castle -Creek -Hickory Ridge -Lester -Lincoln -Morse -Okemah -Okfuskee -Paden -Weleetka
Oklahoma
Bethany -Boone -Britton -Cass -Choctaw -Council Grove -Crutcho -Deep Fork -Deer Creek -Dewey -Edmond -Elk -Greeley -Harrah -Hartzell -Jones -Lincoln -Luther -Mustang -Oklahoma City -Pottawatomie -Spring Creek -Springer
Okmulgee
Bald Hill -Beggs -Bryan -Bryant -Dewar -Hamilton -Henry -Henryetta -Hoffman -Kusa -Morris -Natura -Okmulgee -Pascoe -Schulter -Severs -Tiger
Osage
Avant -Barnsdall -Big Hill -Bigheart -Black Dog -Burbank -Caney -Fairfax -Foraker -Grainola -Hominy -Nelagoney -Osage -Pawhuska -Shidler -Skiatook -Strike Axe -Webb -Wynona
Ottawa
Afton -Cardin -Commerce -Council House -Fairland -Miami -Narcissa -North Miami -Ottawa -Peoria -Picher -Quapaw -Wyandotte
Pawnee
Banner -Blackburn -Burnham -Cimarron -Cleveland -Coal Creek -Eagle -Hallett -House Creek -Jennings -Jordan Valley -Keystone Lake
Payne
Cherokee -Cimarron -Clarkson -Clayton -Clear Creek -Cushing -Eagle -Eden -Elm Grove -Glencoe -Henry -Indian -Mound -Paradise -Pawnee -Perkins -Quay -Ripley -Rose -Stillwater -Union -Yale
Pittsburg
Alderson -Ashland -Bucklucksy -Canadian -Crowder -Dow -Haileyville -Hartshorne -Indianaola -Kiowa -McAlester -Pittsburg -Quinton -Savanna -Ti
Pontotoc
Ada -Allen -Chickasaw -Fitzhugh -Francis -Maxwell -Midland -Roff -Stonewall
Pottawatomie
Asher -Avoca -Bales -Brinton -Burnett -Davis -Dent -Earlsboro -Eason -Forest -Maud -McLoud -Moore -Rock Creek -Saint Louis -Shawnee -Tecumseh -Wanette
Pushmataha
Albion -Antlers -Finley -Kiamichi -Kosoma -Tuskahoma
Roger Mills
Bar X -Berlin -Bowman -Cheyenne -Dewey -Hammon -Kiowa -Meridian -Reydon -Streeter -Strong -Washita -Wilcox
Rogers
Catoosa -Chelsea -Claremore -Collinsville -Foyil -Inola -Oawala -Oolagah -Talala -Verdigris
Seminole
Brown -Cromwell -Econtuchka -Konawa -Lima -Lincoln -Maud -Miller -Red Mound -Sasakwa -Seminole -Wewoka -Wolf
Sequoyah
Atkins -Blackgum -Brent -Campbell -Gans -Gore -Hanson -Long -Marble City -McKey -Moffett -Muldrow -Paw Paw -Prices Chapel -Redland -Rocky Mountain -Roland -Sadie -Sallisaw -Vian
Stephens
Brown -Comanche -Duncan -Hope -King -Loco -Marlow -McPherson -Parks -Richland -Rock Creek -Wall
Texas
Advance -Camp Keltner -Carthage -Dague -Eubank -Friendship -Frisco -Goodwell -Guymon -Hackberry -Hardesty -Hooker -Nabisco -Optima -Pleasant View -Range -Red Point -Sledgeville -Stratton -Tepee -Texhoma -Turney -Tyrone
Tillman
Alfalfa -Carr -Davidson -Frederick -Grandfield -Haskell -Hazel -Hollister -Holton -Hunter -Loveland -Maguire -Manitou -Red River -Richland -Stephens -Tipton
Tulsa
Bixby -Boles -Broken Arrow -Collinsville -Dawson -Fry -Glenpool -Jenks -Lynn Lane -Owasso -Red Fork -Sand Springs -Skiatook -Sperry -Tulsa -Wekiwa -Willow Springs
Wagoner
Adams Creek -Blue Mound -Cherokee -Coal Creek -Coweta -Creek -Gatesville -Lone Star -Okay -Porter -Redbird -Shahan -Shannon -Stone Bluff -Tullahassee -Wagoner
Washington
Bartlesville -Copan -Dewey -Jackson -Jefferson -Madison -Ochelata -Ramona -Vera
Washita
Bessie -Canute -Cordell -Dill City -Elk -Foss -Oakdale -Rainey -Rocky -Seger -Sentinel -Texas -Turkey Creek -Union
Woods
Alva -Avord -Belle -Capron -Cedar -Dacoma -Driftwood -Eagle -Elberta -Freedom -Fritzlen -Galena -Green Valley - Hopeton -Jefferson -Liberty -McKinley -OBryan -Patterson -Penn -Spring -Valley -Walnut Grove -Waynoka -Whitehorse -Yellowstone
Woodward
Cedardale -Center -Detroit -Garvey -Irwin -Jefferson -Liberty -McNeal -Mooreland -Mutual -Penn -Quinlan -Sharon -Supply -Union -Webster -Woodward