THE BAT GUY

We provide skunk trapping and skunk removal service in south central Illinois. Skunks are one of the most feared of all critters that have adapted well to living in urban areas. Oddly enough, very few people are afraid of their teeth or claws... it's their defensive "weapon" (spray) that causes the high level of fear. Skunks are not usually aggressive, and will typically avoid or scamper away from humans when encountered. However, just like people, they each have their own "personality" or attitude. Getting a little too close to one of those "cranky" ones may lead to a horribly smelly experience. Their late winter and early spring mating rituals create problems as they tussle under homes, decks and crawl spaces. In early to mid summer the youngsters become active, and they are quite trigger-happy until they learn to control their scent glands. Having a skunk family under a shed or home can be very nauseating.

In most cases we use solid plastic spray-proof skunk traps to minimize the possiblility of spraying. Using traps that prevent the skunks from seeing their surroundings (and possibly other animals wandering past) is a very effective method of capturing skunks at or near a residence without spraying. Using open-wire cage traps greatly increases the risk of spraying, which is the primary activity we are attempting to prevent in the first place. Our goal is to remove the skunk(s) from the area without causing an additional odor problem. It wouldn't be sensible to cause a "big stink" in the process of a "little stink" remediation. Once a skunk or family of skunks is removed, we offer exclusion work to prevent future occurences. We can repair damages to the structure, and also provide deck screening, foundation screening, and other methods of critter-proofing structures.

Like so many other species of wild animals, skunks have adapted extremely well to urban environments and living in the cities. There is a very abundant food supply, and shelter is more readily available in towns and cities as compared to undeveloped areas. There are far fewer natural predators in the cities, so the population levels of many wild animal species will continue to rise. It is possible to reduce the number of conflicts by eliminating the food sources and also through habitat modification. Removing brush piles, woodpiles, and repairing holes in sheds and crawl space walls will prevent the development of well-established populations.

Skunks belong to the weasel family Mustelidae. Animals in this group are known for their musky odor which is produced by well-developed scent glands. Skunks happen to have the most powerful scent of all, and will spray this fluid as a self-defense tactic or sometimes when startled. They are a fairly slow moving animal and seldom run as a method of avoiding danger. Instead, they simply discharge a stream or mist of fluid which stops almost any type of attack or threat. Their distinct coloration is in no way camouflaged, and like many animals in Nature, a stark contrasting pattern is usually an indicator to "stay clear". Oddly enough, they are a very clean animal, constantly grooming and cleaning themselves, just like a cat. They are not a "stinky" animal... only their spray is offensive.

In wooded areas, they often den in hollow logs, under tree root wads, in log jams or under brush piles. They also like to use old groundhog holes or other animal dens no longer occupied. They have very long front claws and are excellent diggers. In urban areas they most commonly den under crawl spaces, decks, sheds, or concrete patio or porch pads. We frequently remove them from garages and sheds where they den under shelves, under or in stored boxes, and under lawn mower decks. Woodpiles are also a favorite den site.

They generally start foraging for food at dusk, as they are nocturnal. They are omnivores, but usually prefer meaty diets over fruits, nuts, and seeds.... a preference that I happen to share with them. They will eat insects, small rodents, frogs, birds, eggs, fruits, nuts, and garbage. They are excellent mousers, but also cause considerable lawn damage when grubbing. They leave small, tornado-shaped holes in grass lawns about 1.5 inches in diameter and 3 to 4 inches deep. They use their extremely sensitive nose to locate grubs and earthworms under the sod, then quickly dig them out using their front claws. They seem to be precise in their targeting, as their grubbing is only evidenced by these small divots. Raccoon grubbing has the appearance of a bulldozer by comparison, as they will "roll" the sod and rip out large sections.