Why do skunks smell when they die

However, they will leave as soon as the young are old enough. Utilize a mild repellent like used kitty litter or castor oil to deter skunks: Place the litter or oil near or inside the skunk den so the creature has to pass it to get out. Put bars of strong-smelling soap or a room deodorizer near your garden if this is where the skunk has been. Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. Press ESC to cancel. Skip to content Home Social studies What happens when a skunk dies?

Social studies. Ben Davis April 3, What happens when a skunk dies? Pets and skunks are often a disastrous mix.

Dogs are most susceptible to negative encounters with this striped animal from the weasel family. Skunks can carry rabies, a virus which is always fatal to humans and mammals, but more common, and also with lethal implications, skunks can carry canine distemper. Canine distemper is a leading cause of death in young dogs. Extermination of skunks is tricky due to the potential for a skunk to spray if it feels threatened.

Extermination, by definition, is usually the complete elimination of something, either by killing or complete quelling of the activity. If you want to exterminate skunks, there are some humane ways to go about it, but you need to consider some important facts. A skunk will still smell even when dead, and the gland which creates the foul odor can release if the body is moved postmortem. Skunk odor can ruin objects it comes in contact with.

Porous items, like cloth, will need to be thrown away. Smith described. Sure enough, further inspection revealed a dead skunk just out of sight under the three-season room. Smith agreed the exclusion procedure was the best way to remove the skunks and prevent this from ever happening again. Rob was able to remove the dead skunk and completely deodorize the area that day. The exclusion was scheduled and completed the same week.

Disinfect Very often, maggots and foul smelling body fluids are left at the spot where the dead opossum was removed from. Carefully use a strong disinfectant or enzymatic cleaner to sanitize this area to prevent spread of diseases.

You may also want to deodorize the area in order to dispel the odor faster. Go back to the Skunk Removal page, or learn tips by reading How to get rid of skunks. Dead skunks under a shed - Getting skunks away from the home might actually be easier if those skunks are under a shed. You might not think this is true; how can an animal be easier to get out from under something?

Well, if the animal went under the shed, it has to come out eventually, or else it will die, and there are only so many places for that to happen.

What most trappers have the best luck with is erecting a barrier fence around the base of the sed. Leave one space open, just wide enough to set up a cage trap. If the skunk wants to leave, it has no choice but to go inside the trap.