How to Remove a Dead Skunk

Realizing that a skunk has invaded your house is an annoyance in itself, but when you notice that the skunk is dead, it might be best to get rid of it as quickly as possible. It could pose a risk of disease to your pets and it could also carry other pests on it like ticks, fleas, and mites. Another thing is a live skunk could cause a terrible smell where it has resided, and it could take up to a month to dispose of the terrible smell, but when it is a dead one, the smell could linger much longer. However, you don’t have to worry, as removing the carcass of a dead skunk is not that difficult. You could call an animal control service or just do it yourself.



Three things that you need to prepare are thick rubber gloves, a plastic garbage bag, and a shovel. Wear your gloves when you are about to be in contact with the skunk. Never handle skunk with bare hands, because skunks carry rabies and you can be infected when their saliva comes into contact with an open wound, eyes, nose or mouth.

The first thing that you have to do is scoop up the skunk with your shovel. Try not to touch the skunk although you are wearing the rubber gloves because you never know what kind of bacteria the skunk could infect you with. The second thing is to put the skunk into the plastic bag and then tie the plastic bag tightly so that it is perfectly fastened. Then take the bag far away from your residence to a dumpster or a landfill and discard the skunk there. Do not leave the plastic bag in the bin in front of your house as the foul smell wouldn’t leave and it could attract other animals searching for food. You don’t want your house to become a nest of swarming wild animals or pests.

The next thing you need to do is remove the stench, but first you must identify where the source of the odor is. There have been some alternatives like tomato juice used as a neutralizer, but it doesn’t actually remove the smell; it only masks it for a short time. If the smell has permeated into your floor or walls, using diluted bleach works well on ceramic tiles or concrete areas. To erase the stench from wooden surfaces, you can try applying diluted ammoniac. If the smell is on the fabric materials in your house such as rugs and curtains, you could soak it in a mixture of one part hydrogen peroxide per six part water for one or two hours. For a more delicate fabric, you can soak it in a solution of one part vinegar per four parts water for two to three hours. Next, you can wash the clothes and fabrics with a washer and put one half cup of baking soda into it. This should completely erase the odor.

If the smell sticks on your pet or your body, you can use a mixture of one cup of baking soda, one teaspoon of washing detergent, and a quart of hydrogen peroxide. Apply it on the surface where it smells and scrub it. Rinse it after applying and repeat the action if the smell is still there. Don’t let it sit on your hair for too long or it will bleach your hair.

You may also want to read:

  • How to remove skunk odor from a pet or human


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