The situation

Illustrative example. Not a real job or customer.

In a hypothetical Denver Square near Washington Park, the basement has been finished as a bedroom and is rented to a graduate student. On a warm August night, a young skunk falls into the uncovered window well outside the bedroom. In the morning, the tenant opens the blinds, startles it, and it sprays against the window, which had been left open a few inches for air.

  1. The tenant closes the window, leaves the room, and closes the bedroom door.
  2. The tenant texts the owner with a photo of the skunk in the well and a note of the time.
  3. The owner asks a wildlife operator to come; meanwhile the tenant places nothing in the well and keeps away.
  4. That evening, a board is lowered into the well as a ramp; the skunk climbs out overnight.
  5. The tenant bags bedding, curtains and clothes from the room and washes them separately at a laundromat.
  6. The owner arranges odor treatment: the gravel in the well is removed and replaced, the well liner and window are treated, and the bedroom carpet near the window is checked.
  7. The carpet pad under the window smells when lifted, so a section of pad is replaced and the slab beneath is treated.
  8. A cover that still opens from inside for egress is installed on the well.

The tenant sleeps in a friend's spare room for several nights. After treatment and pad replacement, the bedroom smells normal, and the cover prevents a repeat. Both sides kept dated notes and photos, which made the conversation about laundering costs and the room's use straightforward.

Why this went smoothly

The tenant reported quickly and with specifics: a photo, the time, where the spray hit, and that the window had been open. That let the owner move straight to the right people. The tenant also avoided two common mistakes: trying to lift the skunk out, and spraying air freshener in the room, which would have added another layer of smell to clean up.

The owner treated it as a building issue rather than a tenant's problem, which is the usual expectation for an animal getting into a window well. The owner also fixed the cause, the uncovered well, rather than only the symptom.

One thing that could have gone differently: if the window had been fully closed and well sealed, much less odor would have entered. Older basement windows in the neighborhood are often loose, so even closed windows can let some in.

Questions a tenant in this position might ask

  1. When will the wildlife operator come, and what should I do until then?
  2. Who will treat the room, and when can I sleep there again?
  3. Will the carpet or pad be replaced if the smell stays?
  4. Who covers the cost of cleaning my bedding and clothing?
  5. Will the window well get a cover so this does not happen again?

Lessons for owners of basement rentals

  • Cover every window well, using covers that keep egress windows usable
  • Check basement window seals and latches; loose windows let odor in
  • Give tenants a clear way to report urgent problems
  • Keep a wildlife operator's contact on hand before it is needed
  • Expect to replace carpet pad if spray reaches it

General information for Washington Park, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.