The ranch house and the skunk
Much of Cory-Merrill was built in the years after the Second World War, and the typical house is a one-story brick ranch over a full or partial basement. Those houses sit low to the ground, with a concrete front stoop, a back step or small patio, and basement windows set in shallow window wells along the foundation. Bedrooms are on the main floor, often only a few feet above the yard.
That layout puts skunk encounters close to where people sleep. A skunk under the back step or in a window well below a bedroom is separated from the room by a thin wall and an older window. Concrete stoops poured against the foundation sometimes have a hollow space beneath that skunks dig into from the side.
Many original ranches have been expanded or replaced with larger two-story homes. The new houses typically have deeper basements and egress window wells, and construction disturbs the den sites skunks were using, sending them to neighboring lots.
Original ranch versus replacement home
Original postwar ranch
- Shallow window wells, often uncovered
- Hollow concrete stoops and back steps
- Main-floor bedrooms close to grade
- Older windows that let odor in when closed
- Original ductwork in the basement
Newer or rebuilt home
- Deep egress wells serving basement bedrooms
- Raised decks off the main floor
- Tighter windows and building envelope
- Odor that gets in tends to linger
- Larger air systems serving more rooms
Cory-Merrill checklist
- Tap and look along concrete stoops for a hollow space or a gap at the side
- Cover window wells, especially those under bedroom windows
- Check that basement windows close and latch tightly
- Look at the basement return ducts if the smell follows the furnace
- If a neighboring house is being demolished, check your own openings promptly
- Keep fruit, birdseed and compost under control in the backyard
Common questions
Can a skunk get under a concrete stoop?
Yes. Stoops poured against a foundation decades ago often have settled fill beneath them, leaving a void. Skunks dig in from the side where soil is loose. Filling or closing the gap after confirming it is empty usually solves it.
Who handles permits if a stoop or window well is rebuilt?
Inside Denver, questions about permits go to the City and County of Denver's Community Planning and Development. Small repairs may not need one, but egress window well changes can, so ask first.
General information for Washington Park, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.