Is It Okay To Poison A Skunk? (the answer should be no)

Poisoning a Skunk

Skunks are a serious problem when they decide to move in to your property. They create health hazards and concerns that need immediate addressing. If you have children or pets, there is no time to waste on taking action.

There are solutions available, such as trapping and exclusion. One solution that many choose, though, is poison. Many assume that poison is the best solution whenever there is a pest. There is no handling of live animals, nor is there a giant cost or effort involved. It seems like the smart choice.

The problem is, there are too many problems with it. Poison is a dangerous solution to a problem that you could otherwise handle easily. It is not what you should do.



Dangers of Poison

Poison is, well, poison. As poison, it can kill and seriously harm living things. Yes, this means the skunk you are trying to kill, but it means so much more than that. Poison can harm everything it touches. Other animals, the environment, children, and pets are at risk when you put down poison. You can end up harming far more than just the skunk.

Killing the skunk is not a good plan, either. Yes, it ends the risks associated with a live skunk, but it presents new problems. A dead animal brings with it diseases, insects, an awful odor, and the risk of attracting other animals. If the skunk dies somewhere inaccessible on your property, getting it out is not going to be easy. On top of that, if it dies on your property, it is on you to remove it.

There is no guarantee that the poison will work at all, either. The skunk may completely ignore the poison, keeping it as a danger on your property for longer.

Another Option

Poison is not the right option. It is not going to help with your situation as effectively as you would hope. It is going to cause far more trouble than it is worth.

With options like trap and release, exclusion, and other safe and effective methods, there is no reason to go with poison.

You have more to lose than gain when you use poison. It may seem like the best option for a hands-off solution, but you are not going to get the simple fix you want. Poison is not a good solution to a skunk problem. It can create more trouble in the end and there are far better options available to you.


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