Skunks under the deck, out without a spray.
The striped skunks denning under Metro Van decks, sheds, and crawlspaces are skittish, not malicious. We use humane one-way doors and L-footer barriers so they can't return. No trapping. No spray. No drama.
Precisely what we do, step by step.
The striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is the only skunk species in Metro Vancouver. They den under decks, sheds, crawlspaces, and wood piles — especially mothers with kits (typically May–July). A skunk that sprays under your deck creates a weeks-long smell problem; a skunk that dies under your deck creates a much worse one. Neither happens with our process.
We start by confirming the den species (skunks vs raccoons vs opossums look identical on a trail cam at night) and checking for kits. During kit season (early summer) we wait 6–8 weeks for kits to start foraging — exclusion earlier risks abandonment. Outside of kit season, we install a one-way door at the active den entry, confirm evacuation over 48–72 hours, then seal permanently with an L-footer (trenched hardware-cloth barrier that prevents re-digging).
We do not trap skunks. Trapping is stressful for the animal, illegal to relocate in BC under most circumstances, and spray-prone. One-way exclusion is the humane, legal, and smell-free method — and it stops the problem permanently because the den is physically sealed against future skunks.
Repeatable. Documented. Guaranteed.
Identify & schedule
Species confirmation. Kit-season check. Timing planned to avoid abandonment.
One-way door
Installed at confirmed den entry. Skunk leaves to forage, can't re-enter.
Confirm evacuation
48–72 hour monitoring with trail-cam verification.
L-footer seal
Trenched hardware-cloth barrier extending 12" down and 12" out from the deck or shed perimeter. Prevents re-digging.
Signs it’s time to call.
- Faint skunk smell around the deck, shed, or crawlspace — especially early morning or evening.
- Cone-shaped holes in the lawn (skunks digging for grubs).
- Fresh digging or tracks at the base of a deck, shed, or low foundation vent.
- Nighttime rustling under the deck or in the crawlspace.
- Pet that has been sprayed — confirms active skunks in the area.
Everything else you might be wondering.
Can skunks be trapped and relocated?
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Will they spray during the exclusion?
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What about the kits?
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Can a skunk come back after exclusion?
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