Skunk Removal in New York City
A skunk living under your porch, deck or shed is more than a smelly inconvenience. Striped skunks dig up lawns hunting for grubs, raid garbage and pet food, and spray when they feel threatened, which can leave pets, clothing and even a home smelling for days. Skunks are also one of the wildlife species tracked for rabies in New York, so close encounters with children and pets should be avoided. Even a single skunk denning near an entrance can make everyday tasks like taking out the trash or letting the dog out stressful.
NYC Pest Control Pros is a free referral service that connects homeowners with independent, licensed wildlife control providers nearby. Removing a skunk requires patience and experience to avoid getting sprayed and to make sure no young are sealed inside a den. The professionals in our network locate the den, use humane exclusion or removal methods that follow New York State rules, and close off the space to keep skunks from coming back. Our referral costs you nothing, and there is never any obligation to hire the provider after they assess the situation.
Why Skunks Are a Problem in NYC
Skunks are mostly found in the greener, less densely built parts of New York City. Staten Island has the largest population, thanks to its woodlands, wetlands and detached homes. The Bronx also has established skunks around Pelham Bay Park and Van Cortlandt Park, and parts of eastern Queens near parks and wooded areas report them as well. Southern Brooklyn near Marine Park and the Jamaica Bay shoreline sees occasional skunks too, while Manhattan sightings remain very rare and are usually limited to its largest wooded parks.
Homes in these areas often have the features skunks look for: space under decks and porches, sheds on the ground, stone walls, and lawns full of grubs. Skunks are good diggers and can enlarge openings beneath slabs and stoops. Unsecured garbage, compost and outdoor pet food provide easy meals, especially in the spring when females are feeding young. Skunk dens are often discovered only after a pet is sprayed or a strong odor begins drifting into the home from a crawl space or under a back porch.
Common Skunks Found in New York
Striped Skunk
The only skunk species found in the NYC area. It is roughly the size of a house cat, black with two white stripes running down its back, and is mostly nocturnal. It dens under structures and forages for insects, grubs and scraps.
Striped Skunk Kits
Young skunks are born in late spring and stay hidden in the den for several weeks before following their mother in a single-file line at dusk. Seeing small skunks in early summer means a family den is nearby and exclusion timing matters.
Signs You Need Skunk Removal
- A strong, lingering sulfur-like odor around your yard, porch or crawl space, even if you have not seen a skunk.
- Small, cone-shaped holes dug into the lawn or garden beds overnight, left behind as skunks hunt for grubs.
- Fresh digging or a burrow entrance beneath a deck, porch, stoop, shed or concrete slab.
- Tracks with five toes and visible claws in soft soil, mud or snow near den entrances.
- Garbage cans knocked over or trash bags torn open, often combined with compost or pet food disturbance.
- A pet coming home sprayed or acting agitated after nighttime encounters in the yard.
Health & Property Risks
Being sprayed is the most common problem, and skunk spray can cause temporary eye irritation and nausea in addition to its notorious smell. More seriously, skunks are one of the rabies vector species monitored in New York, so any skunk that seems disoriented, aggressive or active during the day should be reported and avoided. Skunks can also carry fleas, ticks and parasites. Their digging damages lawns and gardens, and dens under slabs or stoops can undermine soil and loosen paving stones.