Here is what to expect from our skunk removal service in Sarasota:
– Who it is for: homeowners, businesses and property managers around Sarasota who smell, hear or see a skunk on the property.
– What is included: an inspection of the areas where the activity was noticed, then trapping and removal of the animal.
– Where it applies: Sarasota and nearby communities in Sarasota County and Manatee County. See the service areas below.
– How it differs from DIY: a frightened skunk can spray, and a professional knows where to look and how to remove it without a fight.
– First step: stay back, keep children and pets inside, then call us.
Florida has a second, smaller species too. If you think you have the eastern spotted skunk, see our spotted skunk removal page.
Skunks in Sarasota, FL: Striped and Spotted Skunks Under Florida Homes
Yes, there are skunks in Sarasota. The striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) lives throughout Florida except the Keys, in wooded areas, fields and suburbs, often close to buildings. It is a black animal with a white stripe, roughly the size of a house cat, and it is mostly active at night.
Skunks eat almost anything, including insects, grubs, rodents, eggs, fruit, garbage and pet food. Any yard with an easy meal and a dry hiding place can become a skunk’s territory.
For shelter, a skunk uses burrows dug by other animals, hollow logs and brush piles, and it will also settle under buildings, decks and porches. That last choice is how skunks end up in a Sarasota homeowner’s life. A gap under a porch or shed looks like a ready-made den, and a mother skunk may raise her young there. See the FAQ below for baby skunk season.
Signs of Skunks on Your Sarasota Property
The smell is often the first clue, and a skunk can be living on your property for days before anyone sees it. Look and listen for:
– A strong, musky odor near a porch, deck, shed or crawl space
– Small holes dug in the lawn or garden beds
– Damaged gardens, crops or fruit
– Trash bags that have been ripped open overnight
– A gap or hole under a shed, porch, deck or balcony that looks freshly used
– Shrieking or squealing sounds from under a structure, which can mean young are in the den
– A pet that has been sprayed
If you notice several of these, call us and tell us what you noticed, where and when.
How Skunk Trapping and Removal Works in Sarasota
Every property is different, but our animal removal services in Sarasota follow the same basic steps.
1. You call or request a quote. Tell us what you smelled, saw or heard, and where.
2. We inspect. A technician looks over the areas where the activity was noticed to find where the skunk is getting in and where it is staying.
3. We trap and remove it. We set traps where the skunk travels and remove it from your property.
4. We look at the entry points. Once the animal is out, the openings that let it in are the next job, because an open gap invites the next one.
If there may be young in the den, tell us when you call. A den with babies needs extra care, so please don’t disturb it. And don’t block an opening yourself before we have checked that nothing is inside.
Skunk Spray, Health Risks and Cleanup
Skunk spray is more than a bad smell. It can irritate skin and eyes, and the odor soaks into fur, fabric and wood. A skunk usually gives a warning first. It lowers its head, raises its tail, arches its back or stamps its feet. If you see that, back away slowly.
Skunks can carry diseases, including rabies, distemper and mange, so never touch, corner or try to move one. If your dog or cat has been sprayed or has had contact with a skunk, call your veterinarian and keep your pet’s vaccinations up to date.
If the smell has settled into a crawl space or the area under your home, or an animal has died there, tell us when you call. Odor and dead animal cleanup can be part of the job.
How to Keep Skunks From Coming Back
Removing the skunk solves today’s problem. Making the property less attractive keeps the next one away.
– Keep garbage in sealed cans, and bring pet food inside at night
– Clear brush piles, debris and overgrown areas where a skunk can hide
– Close gaps under sheds, porches and decks once you know nothing is inside
– A buried barrier along the base of a porch or deck can stop a skunk from digging underneath
Ask us about prevention when you call so your quote covers it.
What Affects the Cost of Skunk Removal in Sarasota
The cost depends on how many skunks are on the property, where they are sheltering (under a shed, a porch or in a crawl space), how hard that spot is to reach, whether entry points need work and whether follow-up visits are needed. Tell us what you have noticed and we will quote it. You can also get a quote online.
Skunk Removal Service Areas Around Sarasota
We handle skunk removal in Sarasota and nearby communities in Sarasota County and Manatee County, including Siesta Key, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat Key, Bradenton, Palmetto, Osprey, Nokomis, Venice and North Port. Not sure whether you are in our area? Call 941-393-0304.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I request skunk removal service in Sarasota?
Call AAAC Wildlife Removal of Sarasota at 941-393-0304 or request a quote online. Tell us what you smelled, saw or heard, where on the property it was and when it started. If you can see the animal from a safe distance, a photo helps us confirm it is a skunk. We will explain the next steps and set up an inspection of the areas where the activity was noticed.
What other wildlife services does AAAC Wildlife Removal of Sarasota offer?
Skunk removal is part of our animal removal and nuisance wildlife control services in Sarasota. We also provide raccoon removal, squirrel removal and bat removal, and we handle rats, mice, snakes and armadillos. If you are not sure which animal you have, call us and describe what you hear or smell.
What should I look for in a skunk removal company?
Wildlife control companies differ, so ask what the visit includes, whether the quote covers sealing entry points and prevention, and how the company handles a den with young. A good wildlife removal company explains its steps before it starts, gives you a plain quote and answers your questions. Be cautious of anyone who promises results without inspecting the property first. Call us at 941-393-0304 and we will walk you through ours.
How do I get a skunk out from under my house or porch?
Stay back and call a professional. Skunks like the dry, quiet space under a porch, deck or shed, and a mother may have young there. Blocking the opening can trap an animal inside, and poking at the den can get you sprayed. Call us and tell us where the animal is and what you have noticed, and we will inspect and set up the removal.
When is baby skunk season in Florida?
Skunks breed in late winter, and the young are born in May or early June, usually six to eight to a litter. The kits stay in the den for several weeks before they follow their mother out. That is why a skunk under your porch in late spring may not be alone. If you hear shrieking or squealing under a structure, call us and don’t disturb the den.
Should I try to remove a skunk myself?
We don’t recommend it. A frightened skunk can spray, and spray can irritate skin and eyes and soak into clothes, wood and fur. Skunks can also carry diseases, including rabies, so handling or cornering one is a risk to you and your pets. Keep your distance, keep children and pets inside, and call a professional to trap and remove it safely.
Got a skunk on your property? Call 941-393-0304 or get a quote.
