The skunk mating season begins as early as late December and can run through February. Hopefully, that all too recognizable smell doesn’t come wafting through your vents in the middle of the night.
During the breeding season, males will fight over females and females will spray males they are not ready to mate with. During these times, every skunk will be carrying that pungent smell on their fur. They aren’t taking any tomato juice and baking soda baths.
If a skunk does enter your crawlspace during this breeding season it is too late. If they are approached by another skunk while in your home, it can get even worse. Many times, the smell will dissipate within a day or two if it was just a visit and not a full spray. However, the smell may return next week when the skunk visits again. Skunks can enter your home through gaps as small as two inches in height. They will even dig or chew their way in.
It is best to take action quickly. It can be hard to determine if the skunks are actively in the crawlspace when we arrive due to all the possible hiding locations. We will use traps to catch any skunks in the house and to ensure none are locked in when we complete our exclusion.
The smell typically goes away on its own with time, but an ozone machine can speed up the process. If the smell doesn’t go away, it may be time to check for a deceased skunk in the crawlspace.
