what's that under your deck?


You smell it before you know what it is:

That strong, musky odor that just won’t go away.

You’d say it smells like propane gas . . . except you don’t use propane.

It’s not until you hear the rustling noises coming from under the deck that you realize:

You’ve got a skunk situation. 🦨

Early spring is the prime season for skunks to move into your house - and sneaky spots like under the deck, inside tight crawl spaces, and in the garage (!!) are some of their favorites.

To make sure you, your pets, and your home are protected, here’s what you need to know.

🤔 How can I keep skunks away from my house?

Skunks, like many of us, love a good snack and a cozy place to rest.

Here are a few tips for keeping them at bay:

  • Don’t leave pet food outside overnight
  • Secure all garbage bins and compost piles
  • Trim back dense vegetation and move brush piles away from the house
  • Watch out for grubs in your lawn (surprise - skunks love snacking on these!)

😱 Too late! There’s a skunk under my house. What should I do?

  • Don’t agitate the skunk or try to remove it yourself - this increases the likelihood of getting sprayed!
  • Seal off all entry points except one to give the skunk a clear exit route
  • If the skunk doesn’t leave within a day or two, call a professional to help you remove it.

🚨 HELP! My dog got sprayed. How do I eliminate the smell?

If you or a pet have gotten caught in the blast zone, you can try a home remedy to get rid of the smell.

But sometimes, the odor isn’t on one specific item - it’s just lingering in the house.

In that case, our team has your back. ✅

If skunk odor has seeped into your home’s interior (or you’re dealing with another persistent, non-skunk-related odor that just won’t go away), our professional odor removal services can have you breathing easy.

Interested in learning more? Hit reply or call us anytime for more information. We’d love to help.

Until next month -

Stephen

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3079 Rectortown Road, Marshall, VA 20115 | umpiremitigation.com

Umpire Mitigation

Once a month, I send out an email newsletter with home maintenance tips, resources we think you might find valuable, and other handy links + articles.

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