Can Skunks Cause Damage Under My Home?

Skunks can be a terrible nuisance on your property. They deliver a terrible odor that permeates the air and wreak havoc on your garden. Skunks will also dig up your lawn looking for a tasty meal.

However, that is not the worst of the damage. Skunks burrow into dens and often find their way under the foundation of your house. While they may seem harmless enough, that is far from the truth. Skunks are natural ground dwellers with an insatiable appetite for digging.

Their front paws are equipped with long, sharp claws that cut through dirt and debris. Underneath a house, this debris may be wiring and plumbing pipes. The thing is that there is more than just a chance that this will happen.

When a skunk burrows under a house and takes up residence, they often continue to burrow. They will make the opening wider to suit their needs. They will also create multiple entrances and exits for convenience. This weakens the integrity of your foundation and increases the chance of them doing significant damage to pipes and wiring.

Vent screens will also become vulnerable. A skunk’s sharp claws will tear through the mesh and it will then become an access point for them to do damage under your house.



Other Damage and Dangers

Physical property damage can be extensive and costly. Unfortunately, that isn’t the only thing one must consider when it comes to skunks living under their home. There are other potential hazards as well.

Skunks have a terrible stomach-churning odor. This isn’t only when they spray. People often incorrectly assume that skunks only stink when they spray. The horrible odor they carry with them is often what gives their presence away and it lingers.

Skunks also carry many different diseases, including rabies. Most of these diseases are contagious to people and household pets. Several of them can be down-right debilitating and carry serious symptoms.

Aside from the diseases carried by the animals themselves, additional diseases can be transferred through parasites and fecal matter left behind in the burrows. Parasites such as fleas and ticks can feed on the skunk and then find their way into your home where they transmit their new diseases.

Skunks will no doubt defecate in their burrow. This will add to the pun gent aroma and can have serious health consequences as well. Bacteria that settle in the fecal matter can become airborne when disturbed. They float through the air until they settle in the lungs of an unsuspecting host who becomes suddenly and terribly sick.


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