Skunks Are Expert Diggers in Freehold, NJ

Recently, I went out on a service call for a homeowner in Freehold, NJ who believed he had groundhogs infesting his yard.

Once I arrived and began my inspection, I came across a small hole near the foundation in the backyard. As I took a closer look, I discovered that it wasn't groundhogs invading the homeowner's property — it was skunks. How did I know that? Holes left by groundhog are usually 6 to 8 inches in diameter, and this hole is only about 3 inches — the perfect size for a skunk.

Many people don’t think of skunks as burrowing animals. Usually, when they see a pile of dirt and a hole going underground they automatically think it’s a groundhog. Skunks actually have very long and sharp claws they use very well for digging. 

To safely retrieve the skunk I’ll cover the hole with a nose cone and then set-up a one-way exclusion device. Nose cones are used as an extension to the device to guide the animals directly from the access point into the device. The “one-way” has a spring door that allows the skunk to exit but prevents their return. In a short amount of time, we will retrieve the skunk and the home will be pest free!