Best animal removal specialists near Wise, VA

Skunks spray as a defense mechanism to ward off predators. The active ingredient in their sulfurous, oily musk is n-butyl mercaptan, which evaporates into a powerful and smelly gas. Once the spray hits the skunk’s target, the stench can linger for days, and water and common cleaning kits aren’t enough to wash it away.

If you happen upon a skunk in your yard, try to back away slowly to reduce the chance of them aiming at you. Encouragingly, they don’t use their weapon casually, as it can take up to 10 days for their life-saving weaponry to refill. Paw stamping, hissing, lifting their tail, and arching their back are early signs they feel trapped or under threat and that it’s time to make a careful retreat.

Squirrels hate not having access to secure shelter or food sources. Your best line of defense is to make your property less attractive by removing access to these things. There are chemical squirrel repellents, but these have mixed success. According to Pennsylvania State University, you can apply products containing the bittering agent denatonium saccharide to a squirrel's favorite fence, tree, or roof spots. However, you need to reapply repellents regularly, which aren’t scientifically proven effective.

Raccoons are more social than badgers. Badgers are solitary creatures, with the exceptions being mating season and rearing their young. Raccoons are more adaptable and often found in groups, especially in urban areas. Raccoons form loose social structures and frequently forage together and share dens. This social behavior helps them thrive in diverse environments, from forests to cities.

Besides using the best bait for an opossum trap, other things that can attract them to enter include covering the base with soil or leaf litter and placing it along their path of travel near the denning spot. Leave the trap out overnight, as opossums are nocturnal animals, and check the trap daily.