Why DIY Skunk Removal Can Go Wrong (and Smelly!)

August 5, 2025

If you've spotted a skunk in your yard—or worse, under your deck or shed—your first instinct might be to handle it yourself. After all, how hard can it be to trap and relocate one small animal, right? Unfortunately, when it comes to skunks, a DIY approach can quickly backfire—and not just in a mildly inconvenient way. It can get seriously smelly, seriously stressful, and even dangerous.

At Secured Environments Pest and Wildlife Services, we’ve responded to more than a few calls where a homeowner tried to handle a skunk issue on their own… and wished they hadn’t. Here’s why DIY skunk removal often goes wrong—and why professional help is your best bet.

First and foremost, skunks spray when they feel cornered or threatened. And yes, they’re very good at aiming. If you approach too quickly or try to trap one improperly, chances are high you’ll get a direct hit. That intense, lingering odor doesn’t just ruin your clothes—it can soak into your skin, home, pets, and car. Even worse, some DIY “traps” or techniques end up scaring the skunk, making it more likely to spray before you can do anything at all.

Second, there’s the legal side. In many areas, wildlife removal—especially trapping and relocating skunks—requires specific permits or must follow strict regulations. Removing or relocating animals improperly can land you in legal trouble, especially if you harm the skunk or separate it from its young.

Then there’s your safety to think about. While skunks are generally not aggressive, they can carry diseases like rabies or parasites like ticks and fleas. Getting too close without proper protection can pose risks you didn’t count on.

There’s also the issue of long-term prevention. DIY efforts might remove one skunk, but if you haven’t addressed why the skunk came in the first place—open food sources, entry points under the deck, or access to crawlspaces—you’re likely to have another visitor soon. Professional wildlife control not only removes the skunk humanely but also identifies how to keep them from coming back.

At Secured Environments, we use humane, low-stress trapping methods, proper safety protocols, and proven exclusion techniques to make sure your home and yard stay skunk-free—for good. We know exactly how to handle these situations without causing unnecessary stress to the animal or your household.

So before you grab a trap or try to chase that skunk out of your yard, give us a call. It could save you time, trouble, and a whole lot of odor.

Reach out to Secured Environments Pest and Wildlife Services today—because when it comes to skunks, the smart move is a professional one.

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