But don’t put off this process just because it’s tedious. Permanently exclude skunks (and other den-seeking creatures) with an L-shaped footer of welded wire or similar barriers. Occasionally, you may even find plants knocked over or damage to the lower leaves or ears of ripening garden crops, including corn. The Humane Society of the United States is registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Females are capable of having two litters a year, so if you’re the unfortunate host to a skunk family, that could mean double the amount of these babies on your property. We need to advise caution as you water the treated area to facilitate degradation of the active ingredient. We call this migration. Address: 701 Upper Sherman Avenue Hamilton, Ontario, L8V 3M7 Email: [email protected] Phone: 905-546-2800 Fax: 905-546-4989 About Macassa Lodge Macassa Lodge is one of two long-term care facilities owned and operated by the City of Hamilton. Also, skunks tend not to wander too far from their nests, so if your backyard is a home for a mother skunk and her babies in the winter, you’re likely to have them nearby during the spring and summertime as well. This can be as simple as loosely repacking the den hole with leaves or straw or other material to see if the skunk gets the message and moves elsewhere. For Tumbleweed (plant), see Atmosphere. Skunks are opportunists at heart — they’re mainly attracted to low-hanging fruit like garbage and pet food left out at night, as well as convenient denning sites, such as wood and rock piles, elevated sheds, openings under concrete slabs and porches and crawl spaces. There are too many risks involved in handling a skunk problem on your own: skunks could spray, you could be skirting the law and you might not be able to get rid of all of the skunks on your property on your own. Baby skunks don’t mind a little bit of sunlight here and there, but once they reach adulthood, you won’t see them until the evening. Gestation periods for skunks last about two months, so baby skunks will emerge in the late spring. Water for swimming isn’t a requirement, but they do love water. If you try to remove a skunk from its home, you too might be on the receiving end of the byproduct of a skunk’s stinky glands. It is hard for them to find food. When it comes to skunks on your property, homeowners should be on the lookout for dens underneath their porch, deck or shed, because these areas are close to the heated home and provide a safe hideaway from predators. Unlike an animal that is in hibernation, these creatures will remain inactive for short periods of time—typically during the day. Another way to test for skunks is to look for prints. During the summer months, skunks raise their young and search for food. Move away slowly and quietly. Don’t skunks hibernate? By nature, dogs tend to ignore these warnings, so it is important they be restrained for their own good. The young stay with the mother for one more winter, a total of around nine months, before moving out to live on their own as young adults. Raise woodpiles and garbage bins so skunks won’t be tempted to live and hunt for food there. So do frogs, snakes and even some bugs. As previously discussed, if a skunk sees you as a predator they will spray you. Message and data rates may apply. Other animals stay active in winter. A 16-mile round-trip drive takes you from the canyon rim down to, and along, the canyon floor. If you think you see an entrance to the den, place a thick layer of flour around the area. Rub the mixture all over and scrub deep to neutralize the odor — however, if you’re washing your dog or cat, don’t leave the mixture on longer than you have to as peroxide can bleach fur. In the early springtime, they seek out mates for breeding. If you see these, it’s time to take some action. Skunks are poor climbers, so the board should lean no steeper than a 45-degree angle. But skunks need shelter when they are most vulnerable (during the coldest parts of the winter and when raising young). If the plug remains undisturbed for two or three nights, it is safe to assume that the hole is unoccupied and can be filled. Skunks typically don’t dig their own burrows—they look for dens left by foxes and other animals or any other cavernous space that will fit their family. The win marked starting goaltender Daelen Renzi’s first shutout of the season.