September is said to be a busy month for most wildlife, mostly to prepare for the cold months ahead. The past few weeks are proof for Alpha Wildlife Control, who has been needed all over Lake Forest. Mostly, thanks to our stinky little friend and it's not Pepe Le Pew. Aside from the odor complaints and the skunk spraying your dog, some Lake Forest residents are finding their lawns pretty damaged; this is caused by the skunks search for the little yummy grubs in the dirt, in your yards!

Skunks are about the size of a small house cat, averaging 22-26 inches in length and weighing 3-12 pounds. They can be found along habitat edges near sources of water, or they can be found near woodlands, fence rows, and urban environments; such as lawns, cemeteries and golf courses.

Skunks have a varied diet including fruit, insects, worms, reptiles, plants, larvae, eggs, small mammals and even fish. The female has 1 litter of 3-11 young per year, babies stay with mom for up to 1 year. Skunks are nocturnal and seen most often at dusk and early morning. Skunks may burrow under buildings, raid garbages, and dig holes in lawn while hunting for grubs, especially in late summer, early fall. They have been known to nest in burrows which were constructed by other animals, hollow logs or abandoned buildings. We can all recognize their scent, the skunk's only line of defense, their mist can spray farther than 10ft, depending on the wind. This stench can linger around for days and be extremely difficult to remove. As like many animals, the skunks are carriers of rabies in Illinois.

There are many items on the market that you can buy, that are said “to deter” these animals from coming onto your property. These items do not work! Based on our experiences and according to the IDNR, there is no spray or powder to keep skunks away. The only effective way of skunk removal is to trap them. You should have a trained and licensed professional, such as Alpha Wildlife Control, asses your wildlife problem and properly remove these animals, humanely.

If you have any questions or concerns, please call Tom anytime (847)873-3720

Visit us online: www.alphawildlife.biz

Alpha Wildlife Control

107 Hawthorne Dr

Lindenhurst IL 60046

(847)208-0015