Skunk Diseases and Risks of Intrusion
Skunks are small animals but can cause serious property damage, or worse, spread disease. Skunks are the primary carriers of rabies in the United States and pose a serious risk to humans and their pets. Skunks are also skilled diggers and create deep burrows that can threaten the structures of homes and businesses.
Diseases/Rabies
Skunks are particularly susceptible to the rabies virus, which they are then able to transmit to humans or pets. It is important to note that skunks do not transmit rabies through their spray. They are able to transmit the dangerous disease through saliva, most commonly through biting.
Rabid skunks are marked by aggression, wandering during daytime hours, muscle tremors or paralysis, excess salivation, and may appear approachable. It is possible for an infected skunk to not exhibit symptoms for weeks, which means all skunks are potentially dangerous and should be avoided.
There are rabies vaccines available for dogs and cats.
Property Damage
Skunk Burrows
The front claws of skunks give them perfect tools for digging. Skunks will build burrows and tunnels under buildings, sheds, decks, and concrete foundations. These burrows can threaten the structural integrity of homes and businesses, but they also can provide access inside.
Skunk Holes
Skunk holes differ from skunk burrows. Skunk holes are shallower than burrows and have loosened dirt.
Skunks will dig holes in your yard searching for food. Skunks are omnivores. They eat insects, mice, shrews, ground squirrels, young rabbits, eggs, and various plants.
Skunk Spray and Odor
The odor left from a skunk’s spray is extremely difficult to get rid of and can damage furniture, flooring, and paint. If a skunk is nesting under an outdoor deck, any outdoor furniture is also at risk.
Skunks use their spray as a last line of defense against predators. The spray’s intensely pungent odor comes from thiol, a chemical compound mainly composed of sulfur and hydrogen. Skunks are capable of accurately spraying up to 12 feet. The spray is intended to give a skunk cover to escape, but it is not lethal unless ingested in abnormally high doses. If you or your pet is sprayed, it may cause eye irritation, nausea, or vomiting.
If you suspect you have a skunk on your residential or commercial property, contact your local Critter Control and let our wildlife removal specialists take care of it for you!
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Brandon was out to please and make out lives easier with out bat situation. Above and beyond of the call of duty and got the job done. Thank you!
BAT POOP CLEAN-UP AND PREVENTION! Bat guano removed from gables. No bats found in attic, so put new screens on all gable vents, as one screen was close to breaking and then bats may have gotten in! Great work in
Tulsa!
Squirrels and chipmunks were in our attic. So we called Critter Control to do an inspection. Their representative climbed all over our very steep roof and found several places where squirrels had entered our attic.
Upon inspection of the attic, evidence of bats was also found. The Critter Control team came on time to completely caulk the entire perimeter of the house and create an exit strategy for the squirrels and bats.
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bat droppings can cause histoplasmosis, this also required total removal and replacement of our attic insulation and sanitizing the space. Not a small job in a 1,300 sq. ft. attic! While Critter Control’s cost was high, our homeowners insurance covered most of it. Everyone representing Critter Control was professional, courteous and timely. I would highly recommend them to anyone who thinks they might have unwelcome guests living in their attic
On recommendations from a nearby pest control company, I called Critter Control for suspicious
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Madison came out the same day to do an inspection. She was knowledgeable, thorough, and highly professional. She examined the ‘matter’ that had been scattered on my threshold and thought it was foliage. But she then asked to go up to my attic space where the bats could be roosting. She had to walk up 3 flights of stairs with a heavy ladder. She again spent some time searching all the nooks and crannies and found nothing.
She seemed so interested in her craft, it was truly inspiring to see! She reassured me and is writing up a prevention strategy for my appraisal. She charged me NOTHING!! I am so impressed. We need more Madisons in this world!
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We noticed droppings on our brand new deck - we were given their number from our contractor. They came the next day. Brian looked at it and said - yeah, bats!! He then checked every area in our attic and he explained exactly what needed to be done.
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