Wildlife control, Columbus
Skunks and opossums under the porch or the deck
A skunk or an opossum will settle under a porch, a deck or a shed with a gap at the edge. An opossum is often just passing through, and we tell you when waiting is the honest answer. A skunk is a matter of care, because a frightened one may spray.
Signs you have one
A smell near the porch or the deck, strongest at dusk
A dug-out gap at the edge of the skirting or the shed
Small cone-shaped holes in the lawn, often a skunk after grubs
Tracks and a trampled path to the opening
What we do
How we handle it, in four steps
- 01
Look
We find the opening and photograph the porch, the deck and the shed from every side.
- 02
Confirm
A dusting of flour at the opening shows what is coming and going, and whether it is still in use.
- 03
Let it out
A one-way door where the rules allow it, or a trap placed slowly and checked every day.
- 04
Close it
Once the animal is gone, the gap is closed with wire buried along the edge.
Your part and ours
What to do before we come, and what we do after
Before we come
Keep pets and children away from the porch, the deck and the shed
Do not poke at the opening or block it
Tell us if you can smell it, and where
After we leave
We text you when the opening is confirmed empty
We close and photograph the gap
Lawn digging from grubs is a lawn matter, and we say so if that is what we find
Questions about skunks and opossums
Will it spray?
A frightened skunk may. We work slowly and tell you what to avoid, and we cannot promise it never happens.
Will you get the smell out?
We deal with the animal. Smell fades with time and airing out, and we tell you honestly what to expect. We do not treat odors.
Do I need you for an opossum?
Sometimes not. If it is passing through, we say so on the phone after a photo, and we only come if it has settled in.
What if it comes back?
If an animal gets back in through an opening we closed, we return at no charge within 60 days. It does not cover a new opening, a different animal or damage already done.
Something living under the porch?
Text a photo of the gap, the tracks or the lawn, and we will tell you what it looks like.