Outdoor Animal Control - Skunk in crawl space?

Just purchased a home - final walk through was uneventful. Next day return to home and the living room (w/crawl space beneath) smells like skunk - Very strong smell - I can smell it while standing outside exterior door leading to this room.

I don't think much of the idea of crawling under this room to see if the skunk is there dead or alive! I'll probably have an exterminator come in.

How do I get rid of this smell?

I bought a place several years ago that wound up infested with them. I called the county , the city, and fish and game who all told me I was on my own. So I got a live trap and a barrel, filled the barrel with water, and began trapping and drowning them. Thirteen skunks later, they were gone. I tried every concoction known to man to get rid of the smell. I even went to a vet and asked about it, all to no avail. It took about two weeks for it to wear off each time they sprayed. If it hasn't sprayed, the odor is intense while it's in the vicinity, but will dissipate fairly rapidly when it leaves. If you find something that will actually neutralize it, I'd sure like to know about it.

13!!!!!! Our town provides free trapping - I called today and they set a live trap tomorrow. Problem is it may already be hibernating.. Its supposed to be in mid 40's this weekend I'm hoping that;ll lure him out for one last feast.

Exterminator says for $25.00 they'll deoderize one room (which is all I need). I'll let you know how it works.

The deoderizing of course is dependent upon the skunk not living under the living room. THe access doors are about 12 x 20 I sure don't want to have to go in and see if its there!

Wish me luck

It could be worse...our friends had a skunk spray the their AC unit in the middle of summer. Every time the AC kicked on, the smell went all over the house. It took months for the smell to dissapate!

Cant say about the rooms there. But I know it sure works on dogs . When they get a skunk. Take and wash them down with tomato juice. They might look red for a time but it works

ED ;)

Hi Kathie,

Congratulations on your new home! I have given this link, with the recommended solution, to others and they say it works.
http://unexco.com/pub/hints.html

Good luck,
Newt

Enzyme digester deodorizer, likely multiple applications, will digest organic odors. Odor will dissipate in time on its own, but if odor is invading the living space, purchase OdoBan, Nature's Miracle, Out or other enzyme digester deodorizer. Air fresheners & products that mask odors will provide a temporary fix and not eliminate the odor.

I'll try the "supermarket" blend first then move on to the commercially prepared one.

I buy fixer uppers to rent out all the time never had a skunk in any....this one I'm moving in to....must be pretty good choice...seems the skunk thinks so!

I stopped in this morning...the house is vacant but I left heat on last night as winter has hit NE PA and I learned about frozen pipes the hard way last winter :( Anyway there was no smell at all....I don't get it.....not that I'm complaining, I just don't understand it???? I'll see what happens when heat is off this weekend (supposed to hit 50!!!)

If it were a normal thing...it wouldn't happen to me.

The lack of smell tells me two things. The odor was due to its presence, not any gifts it left behind and it probably isn't living there, it was just passing through. If they aren't scared into spraying and move on, the odor dissipates fairly rapidly.

Lucky you! Now, it's time to inspect the foundation and perimeter of the home. Seal all gaps and openings that would allow for any animal or insect pest to enter. Exclusion is the best control.

Should be simple then there is only one way in - I noticed yesterday that there is a small hole in access door mayb a little bigger then circumferance of say a soda can. If skunks are like rats that's all it takes. I'll check to see again about the smell if there's still nothing I'll block it tonight - fix it tomorrow! Here's hoping!