Don’t feel sorry for them. Yes, we know winter means it is cold and the skunks attempting to find warmth underneath our decks or sheds, seems little to ask – they are pests and not animals we want as cool-weather guests! Really, it’s time to show them the door!

* Protect your waste. Like raccoons and other stray animals, skunks can survive on garbage alone. It’s important to keep your trash cans properly sealed.
If possible, store your trash bins in a shed or in your garage at night, so their smell doesn’t attract skunks.
Use an enclosed compost bin, since skunks like to eat old fruit and vegetable peels, eggshells, and other items that you may be composting.

* Close off hiding places. Skunks like to make their homes under decks, porches, and in other sheltered areas.

Close off spaces that may be appealing to skunks using rocks, fencing, or plywood.
Log piles and piles of lumber or building materials can serve as shelters for skunks. Store the materials in a shed or bin to prevent skunks from moving in.
Large bushes are also good shelters for skunks. If you see skunks hanging out in bushes or low vegetation, you might want to trim back the branches so it’s not quite as appealing.

* Install lights in your yard. Skunks are nocturnal, and they shy away from bright lights. If you light your yard at night it will be a lot less appealing to skunks.
Since the lights will be shining all night long, consider using solar lighting or energy-saving lighting to avoid paying high electrical bills.
You could also install a motion sensor that gets tripped when a skunk or another creature comes close. In this case, the skunk will have to enter your property for the light to work as a deterrent.

And there are more steps you can take. Go over to Survival Life to check them out!

If skunks are not your problems but other rat-like critters, then we are sure these steps will work for them as well. You may need to do some minor modifications, depending on your circumstances, but give them a try and see what works best for you!