Spring Brings Skunks Out in Suburban Areas

By ADAM SWIFT (Patch Staff)

BEDFORD, MA - Springtime brings with it warm weather and more people and pets heading outside to enjoy that weather.

However, the warm weather can also bring out skunks, raccoons, and other mammals small and large you might not want to get too close to.

Skunks, like several other wild animals, can thrive in suburban and urban areas, according to the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game.

To avoid problems with skunks and to make your property less attractive to them, fish and game department officials suggest you should follow some of these basic rules:

• Remain calm when encountering a skunk. Should you encounter a skunk, speak softly and move away in order to give it room to leave. Once you back away, the skunk will no longer feel threatened and will move off. If it doesn’t, try clapping your hands and making some noise from a safe distance.

• Secure your garbage. Skunks will raid open trash materials and compost piles. Secure your garbage in tough plastic containers with tight fitting lids and keep in secure buildings when possible. Take out trash the morning pick up is scheduled, not the previous night. Keep compost piles in containers designed to contain but vent the material.

• Feed pets indoors. Outdoor feeding attracts skunks and other types of wild animals to your door!

• Close off crawl spaces under porches and sheds. Skunks will use such areas for resting and raising young. Close shed and garage doors at night, and use chicken wire to keep skunks from digging under porches.

• Protect your pet from being sprayed. Always turn on a flood light and check your yard for skunks before letting your dog out at night.

• Keep bird feeder areas clean. Use feeders designed to keep seed off the ground as the seeds can attracts skunks. Remove feeders if skunks are seen regularly around your yard.

Much of the same advice should be used when trying to keep your property free of raccoons, and state officials also suggest you eliminate potential denning areas by closing off openings under porches and buildings. You should also seal any openings that lead into sheds or attics and cap off chimneys.