How to keep skunks out of my garbage cans

Skunks are omnivores, which means that they will eat just about anything, and when we say anything that is what is truly meant here. While they love to eat such things as grubs, bugs, and the eggs of other animals, they are not averse to eating just about anything to satisfy their hunger; that includes the stuff you have thrown away in your garbage can.



What you see as garbage, a skunk will likely see as a great meal. The sad part about that is that you can be taking your garbage out one night and find a skunk making its way around your cans. When it sees you it is going to be startled, and we all know what comes next. That spray is as bad as it gets, and the last thing you want is to invite a skunk to your property. If they know they can find a regular meal in your garbage can then they will keep coming back.

This means that you have to take some precautions to keep the skunks away from your trash. It starts with how you carry your garbage out. You cannot have stuff dripping out of your bags as you head to the garbage can. This is like creating the yellow brick road leading to the wizard that is the garbage cans. This is where the skunk will go to find food every time.

You also want to make sure that you do not let any garbage fall around the cans. Clean these messes up. Don’t leave anything that will invite the skunk to your garbage cans.

You want to make sure that the cans have the lids on tight. If you can get the kind where the lid clamps in place then you should get that. This will keep the lids from coming off, even if the skunk is able to knock them over.

If you do not have this kind of garbage can, you can keep the lids on much tighter by using some bungee cord. Tie the cord around the handle on one side and loop it through the other handle and back to the first side, where you tie it on. You need it so tight that it is tough to get the lid off. That will mean it will be tough for the skunk to get it off as well.

If you can put the garbage cans in a place where they are hard to get to that will make it better. If this is a shed or a garage that will really help to keep them away your garbage. If you are able to keep doing this you will keep the skunk from returning to your home. Read more: Skunk Control, how to kill skunks.