Month by month

Timing shifts with weather; treat these as typical patterns for the Front Range.

December and January
Skunks do not truly hibernate but slow down and stay denned during cold snaps, sometimes sharing dens. They come out on mild nights. Quiet months for odor, but a skunk denning under a porch now may still be there in spring.
February and March
Breeding season. Males roam widely at night looking for mates, cross streets and alleys, and get into conflicts. This is often when neighborhoods notice skunk smell most often and when road-killed skunks appear.
April
Pregnant females look for secure dens: under porches, decks, sheds and in crawlspaces. A good time to check and close openings, provided nothing is already inside.
May and June
Young are born and stay in the den for several weeks. Sealing or disturbing dens now risks trapping kits inside. Get professional help before closing anything.
July and August
Young follow their mother out to forage, often in a line at dusk. Lawns and beds show digging. Window well falls by young skunks are common.
September and October
Juveniles disperse to find their own territory, and all skunks feed heavily before winter. Grub digging peaks. Another active period for encounters.
November
Skunks settle into winter dens. Late fall is a good time to confirm the house is sealed after the young of the year have moved on.

Using the calendar

The two biggest risk windows for spray near the house are late winter, when roaming males are everywhere, and late summer into fall, when young skunks are learning the neighborhood. The biggest risk window for a mistake is late spring, when a well-meaning homeowner seals a porch opening without realizing kits are underneath.

For odor work, season matters too. Outdoor treatments go better when the ground is not frozen and the forecast is dry for a few days. Indoor treatments are easier in spring and fall when windows can be opened. A winter spray that gets into the ductwork is harder to air out because the furnace has to keep running.

Seasonal checks around the house

  • Late winter: check porch, deck and shed edges for new digging after any mild spell
  • Early spring: close empty openings before females choose den sites
  • Late spring: watch, do not seal; look for signs of a mother coming and going
  • Summer: keep window well covers on, and pick up fallen fruit
  • Fall: walk the perimeter again once young have dispersed, then close any remaining gaps
  • Year-round: keep trash and compost carts closed, and feed birds with trays

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