Skunk Under Your Deck? What to Do (and What Not to Do)

Skunk Under Your Deck? What to Do and What Not to Do

Posted September 25, 2026

Quick answer: Look for a hole about 10–15 cm wide, fresh digging and a musky smell. Don’t block the hole or try to scare the skunk out, especially in late spring when babies may be inside. A professional can remove the skunk and install a barrier so it can’t dig back under.

Decks, porches, sheds and front steps give skunks exactly what they want: a dark, dry, protected space close to food. In GTA neighbourhoods, it’s one of the most common wildlife calls we get.

Signs a Skunk Is Living Under Your Deck

A hole about 10–15 cm wide at the edge of the deck, shed or steps
Fresh dirt pushed out from the hole
Small holes dug in the lawn, where skunks look for grubs
A musky smell, even without spraying
Activity at dusk and through the night

What Not to Do

Don’t block the hole unless you’re certain nothing is inside. A trapped skunk will dig out, and trapped babies can die under your deck.
Don’t try to scare it out with loud noise or chemicals. You’re more likely to get sprayed.
Don’t let pets near the hole. Dogs are the most common thing skunks spray.

When Are Baby Skunks Born?

Skunks usually have their young in late spring, often May or June. The babies stay in the den for several weeks. This is why checking for young before sealing a den matters so much.

How Professionals Remove Skunks

Inspect the den and check for babies.
Remove the skunk and any young using calm, careful methods designed to avoid spraying.
Install a barrier around the base of the deck or shed, often buried below ground, so skunks can’t dig back in.

See our skunk removal service and animal exclusion & damage repair for details.