Why skunks get special treatment

Rabies is a virus that affects the nervous system and is almost always fatal once symptoms begin, though it is preventable with timely care after an exposure. In Colorado, bats have long been the most commonly reported carrier, and in recent years skunks have become a significant one along the Front Range as well. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment publishes rabies surveillance information and is the place to check current conditions.

Because of that, Colorado places restrictions on how skunks may be handled and moved. Relocating a trapped skunk to a park or open space is generally not an option for a homeowner. A licensed wildlife control operator knows the current rules, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife can answer questions about what is allowed. Denver residents can also reach the city's animal services through 311.

For odor work, the takeaway is simple: anyone treating spray residue should not be handling a live animal, and no odor treatment should begin until the animal is confirmed gone.

Reading a skunk's behavior

  • IfA skunk ambles through the yard at night and ignores peopleNormal behavior. Give it space and let it leave.
  • IfA skunk stamps its front feet, hisses or raises its tailA warning before spraying. Back away slowly and quietly.
  • IfA skunk is out in daylight and seems disoriented, unusually bold, wobbly or partly paralyzedKeep everyone away and call animal services or 311. Do not approach it.
  • IfA skunk is found dead in the yardDo not touch it bare-handed. Ask the city how to report or dispose of it, especially if it might have had contact with people.
  • IfYou find a skunk inside the house or garageOpen an exit route if it can be done from a distance, leave the area, and call a wildlife professional.

Household precautions

  • Teach children to keep their distance from any wild animal, sick-looking or not
  • Never leave food or open trash where skunks forage near doors and window wells
  • Wear gloves when handling anything a skunk has nested in or sprayed
  • Keep porch, deck and shed openings closed once animals are gone
  • Do not try to trap a skunk yourself without understanding Colorado's rules
  • Keep vaccination records for any animals in the household current, as local rules require

Who handles what

Bites and possible exposures
A medical provider and public health
Sick or strange-acting wildlife in Denver
City animal services, reached through 311
Removing a skunk from under a structure
A licensed wildlife control operator
Rules on trapping and relocation
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Spray residue in and around the house
Odor treatment, after the animal is gone

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