Getting the skunk out
Skunks are poor climbers on smooth vertical walls but can manage a gentle ramp.
Wait for dark if possible
Skunks are mostly active at night and will try to leave once things are quiet. Daytime stress raises the chance of spray.
Offer a ramp
Moving slowly and staying low, lower a rough board or a length of lumber into the well at a shallow angle, then step away. Many skunks will climb out overnight.
Check in the morning
Look from a distance. If the skunk is still there, or seems injured or behaves oddly in daylight, call a licensed wildlife control operator or Denver's animal services line through 311.
Cover the well afterward
A sturdy, properly fitted cover keeps the next animal out. On a bedroom egress window, the cover must still open easily from inside; ask the installer how it meets egress rules.
Why basement rooms take the hit
Many older houses around Washington Park have had their basements finished over the years, and a window well is often the only natural light in a basement bedroom or family room. Those windows are frequently old, single-pane or loosely fitted, and sometimes left cracked open for air. A spray in the well lands on the glass, the sill, the gravel and the well liner, and enough vapor slips through gaps to saturate the room.
Fabric in that room absorbs it quickly: bedding, curtains, an upholstered chair, carpet and pad. Drywall and wood trim around the window can absorb residue too, especially if the window was open. Because window wells collect rainwater and sprinkler runoff, the gravel and soil at the bottom can release the smell again for weeks unless they are treated or replaced.
Cleanup checklist for a window well spray
- Remove and bag the gravel or soil at the bottom of the well if it took a direct hit, or have it treated
- Clean the well liner, window glass, frame and sill with a sulfur-reacting neutralizer, testing a hidden spot first
- Check the window seals and caulk; gaps that let odor in will also let moisture in
- Pull curtains, bedding and cushions from the room and treat or launder them separately
- Check whether the carpet pad near the window smells when lifted at a corner
- Keep the room closed off and the HVAC fan on auto until the room is treated
- Install a well cover before the next foraging season
Common questions
Can I just pour something into the well?
Not while the skunk is in it. Afterward, avoid improvised mixtures of household chemicals; never mix bleach with ammonia or acids. Removing contaminated gravel is often simpler than trying to treat it.
Is the basement bedroom safe to sleep in?
The smell is an irritant rather than a poison for most people, but it can cause headaches, nausea and watery eyes. Sleeping elsewhere until the room is treated is reasonable, especially for anyone with asthma.
General information for Washington Park, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.