CITRUS HEIGHTS, Calif. — Love is in the air... literally.
February and March are skunk mating season and the stinky animals are getting romantic under people’s homes.
Make no mistake, that pungent order wafting through the air is not necessarily pheromones of love, it's most likely the result of a female rejecting a male suitor. Rebecca Ragle has two skunks under her house in Citrus Heights, and they didn't like it when she attempted to block off their entrance.
"One skunk came in through the cat door and into our bedroom," Ragle said.
The skunk eventually left, but somehow found its way back under the house. Ragle and her husband have since moved to the guest room to avoid the smell.
That smell comes from a scent gland in skunks' rear ends. Anysia Avila has never been sprayed by a skunk, but she does care for many of them at Sacramento’s Wildlife Care Association.
"Skunks go under houses because they like living in dens underground, but they will find other abandoned dens because it’s warm and safe place to have their babies," Avila says.
Thankfully, the winter mating season only lasts a few months, and if you do end up getting sprayed by a skunk, Avila has a remedy to get if off.
"So, use a mixture of Dawn dish soap, hydrogen peroxide, and baking soda," Avila said.
Skunk removal is not an occupation normal people just fall into. That is, unless you're Brad Irwin. He's been trapping skunks since he was a teenager.
"I am a heavy equipment operator by trade, but I was always doing this as hobby," Irwin said.
Trapping skunks is kind of a weird hobby, but Brad is the guy you call when you want the skunks out.
"I only trap if it is a problem skunk because I have to put it down," says Irwin.
Before you get angry with Irwin’s trapping method, you have to understand that he is only following California state law.
"California state law requires that if you trap them, you must kill them on the spot or release them on the spot, and releasing them on the spot defeats the purpose," Irwin said.
Skunks are the most common animal to have rabies and can't be relocated. So, instead of trapping and killing skunks, Irwin puts an underground fence around the house.
"Yes, but we put a one-way door that allows them out, but not back in," Irwin noted.
Just in case you are wondering, skunk-proofing your house is not cheap. Basic underground fencing cost around $1,500. However, Irwin says it’s a lot cheaper than the damage the skunks can cause.
"Skunks like to tear up insulated air ducts," Irwin said. "I have also seen them chew through the floor and get stuck. Once you have one skunk under your house, the smell will attract other skunks. The best way protect yourself from the smell is to prevent them from coming in.
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