Skunks in the greenhouse

Cole_Robbie · July 19, 2018

A family of skunks was spotted nearby in the past weeks. Now my potted plants in the greenhouse are getting dug into. Skunk-sized holes and no damage to the plants. I haven't seen any feces anywhere. It's just pro mix and osmocote in the pots, no organic fertilizers. I'm not sure exactly what I have that they like. Maybe I need to treat my water with mosquito dunks, if they are after some sort of larvae.

From what I read, skunks are repelled by strong odors, ironically enough. I dusted all my plants with cayenne pepper, black pepper, chile powder, and garlic powder. My greenhouse smells like a nice dry rub for BBQ. I don't see any new damage today, so it worked at least the first night.

If anyone has battled skunks, I welcome all suggestions and advice.

clkeiper · July 19, 2018

actually... pee! human urine is a major repellent to them. if it isn't where anyone would be offended by the smell just pour ( or your plumbing works better than mine) or urinate around your greenhouse.

bower · July 19, 2018

We don't have skunks here so I'm no help to you, but I gotta say I love the idea of dusting with a BBQ dry rub!

Reminds me of my experiments with cinnamon back in the day... didn't work but it sure smelled nice!

rxkeith · July 20, 2018

you gotta go in there and scare the bejabbers out of them. bang a couple trash can lids together. yell real loud. the more noise the better.

yah, that oughta do it.

keith

AlittleSalt · July 20, 2018

Cole, this might help? Skunks are nocturnal and don't like light. Coyotes, dogs, and wolves eat them - so a dog that barks a lot might help. They cannot stand the smell of ammonia is what I've been told, and after an internet search, they say to soak rags in ammonia. Another online thing I read was to use dog urine... (Where to buy dog urine?), but that would go along with having a barking dog. A young black lab would probably do the trick.

Other than those ideas, a 20 gauge - If legal there would also take care of the problem.

July 19, 2018	#1
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	Skunks in the greenhouse A family of skunks was spotted nearby in the past weeks. Now my potted plants in the greenhouse are getting dug into. Skunk-sized holes and no damage to the plants. I haven't seen any feces anywhere. It's just pro mix and osmocote in the pots, no organic fertilizers. I'm not sure exactly what I have that they like. Maybe I need to treat my water with mosquito dunks, if they are after some sort of larvae. From what I read, skunks are repelled by strong odors, ironically enough. I dusted all my plants with cayenne pepper, black pepper, chile powder, and garlic powder. My greenhouse smells like a nice dry rub for BBQ. I don't see any new damage today, so it worked at least the first night. If anyone has battled skunks, I welcome all suggestions and advice.

July 19, 2018	#2
clkeiper Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ohio Posts: 4,350	actually... pee! human urine is a major repellent to them. if it isn't where anyone would be offended by the smell just pour ( or your plumbing works better than mine) or urinate around your greenhouse. __________________ carolyn k

July 19, 2018	#3
bower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 6,794	We don't have skunks here so I'm no help to you, but I gotta say I love the idea of dusting with a BBQ dry rub! Reminds me of my experiments with cinnamon back in the day... didn't work but it sure smelled nice!

July 20, 2018	#4
rxkeith Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Back in da U.P. Posts: 1,848	you gotta go in there and scare the bejabbers out of them. bang a couple trash can lids together. yell real loud. the more noise the better. yah, that oughta do it. keith

July 20, 2018	#5
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	Cole, this might help? Skunks are nocturnal and don't like light. Coyotes, dogs, and wolves eat them - so a dog that barks a lot might help. They cannot stand the smell of ammonia is what I've been told, and after an internet search, they say to soak rags in ammonia. Another online thing I read was to use dog urine... (Where to buy dog urine?), but that would go along with having a barking dog. A young black lab would probably do the trick. Other than those ideas, a 20 gauge - If legal there would also take care of the problem.