If something is digging in your yard at night, knocking over trash or living under the porch, skunks and opossums are the usual suspects on rural East Texas property. They come for easy food and dry shelter. The lasting fix is to take those away, trap the animals that have already moved in, and close off the space they were using.
Critter Gitters is based in Crockett and serves Houston County and nearby East Texas towns; see our service area to check your address.
Signs of Skunks and Opossums
- Small cone-shaped holes in the lawn or garden where skunks dig for grubs.
- Tipped trash cans and scattered feed.
- A musky or skunk smell under a porch, deck or shed.
- Tracks or a worn path to a gap under the house or barn.
- Activity at night, since both are mostly nocturnal.
Make Your Property Less Inviting
- Bring pet food in at night and keep feed in sealed bins.
- Use trash cans with tight lids.
- Pick up fallen fruit.
- Close gaps under porches, decks, sheds and the house.
- Clear brush piles near buildings.
When to Call for Trapping
Once an animal has moved in under a structure, it usually has to be trapped before the gap can be sealed; sealing it in place traps it inside. Texas Parks and Wildlife and the state health department have rules on trapping and moving wildlife, so check them before trapping on your own. Skunks can carry rabies, so don’t handle one, and keep pets away from any animal acting strangely.
Wildlife trapping and exclusion are part of our wildlife removal work, and Joey Baker is NWCOA certified in advanced wildlife control.
Skunk and Opossum FAQ
Will a skunk or opossum leave on its own?
Sometimes, but as long as food and shelter are there, another one usually moves in. Removing the draw is what stops the cycle.
Is it a one-time job?
It can be. One-time wildlife trapping is available with a short service agreement, and you get your price after the inspection.
How do I book an inspection?
Call 936-261-7965. Inspections are free in our service area, and most can be scheduled the same week.
