Belcaro in brief, for this topic
- Typical homes
- Larger brick ranches, mid-century and custom homes, many remodeled or rebuilt
- Lot features
- Bigger yards with patios, decks, and in some cases pools and outbuildings
- Nearby corridor
- The Cherry Creek trail and greenway lie just to the north, a natural travel route for wildlife
- Mechanical systems
- Often multiple furnaces or zones, and sometimes fresh-air ventilation
- Likely den sites
- Under decks, pool equipment enclosures, sheds and garden structures
More structures, more places to check
On a bigger lot, a skunk has more options. Besides the house itself, there may be a large deck, a pergola with a raised platform, a pool equipment enclosure, a garden shed, a play structure and dense perimeter landscaping. Each one is a potential den. The search for where a spray happened can take longer, and the walkthrough has to include the whole property.
Inside, many Belcaro homes have been remodeled to be quite airtight, with multiple heating and cooling zones, and sometimes a mechanical ventilation system that draws in outdoor air through a dedicated intake. If a skunk sprays near that intake, the system can deliver odor straight into the living space. Knowing where the intake is, and keeping its surroundings clear of skunk shelter, matters more here than in a drafty older house.
Proximity to the Cherry Creek corridor means skunks and other wildlife travel through regularly. Even after one animal is removed and the openings are closed, others may pass through, so closures need to be durable.
Matching the problem to the system
- IfOdor appears only in one zone of a multi-zone houseCheck which furnace or air handler serves that zone and where its return draws from.
- IfOdor appears everywhere at once, including rooms far from the sprayLook for a fresh-air intake or ventilation unit near the spray area.
- IfThe smell is around the pool or patioCheck pool equipment enclosures and the gap under any raised decking.
- IfThe attached garage smells firstLook at the garage door seal and any gaps at the slab; odor can move from an attached garage into the house through the connecting door.
Belcaro checklist
- Walk the entire lot, including outbuildings, pool areas and perimeter plantings
- Locate any fresh-air intakes and note what is near them
- Identify which air system serves which part of the house
- Check the bottom seals on attached garage doors
- Close the bases of decks, sheds and equipment enclosures once confirmed empty
- Use durable closures; the nearby creek corridor keeps bringing new animals
General information for Washington Park, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.