Outside, in daylight, starting at the front
Keep a distance from any opening that could hold an animal. Look, smell and note; do not reach in.
- Front porch: smell along the skirting at each side; look for digging or a worn gap at the base
- Front steps and stoop: check the gap underneath and any loose soil
- Each basement window well: look for disturbed gravel, debris, tracks, or an oily sheen on the glass
- Crawlspace and foundation vents: are screens intact, bent or missing?
- Side yards: smell along the foundation and the fence line toward each neighbor
- Air conditioning condenser and the wall behind it: check for digging and where refrigerant lines enter the wall
- Any fresh-air intake or exhaust vent near grade
- Back deck, enclosed back porch or rear addition: check skirting and the soil underneath
- Shed and detached garage: look under the edges and at the side door
- Trash and compost carts along the alley: lids closed, carts clean?
- Lawn and beds: look for small cone-shaped digging holes, which show where skunks have been foraging
- Your own clothes and shoes after the walk: if they now smell, you walked through a spray zone, so retrace your steps
Then go inside
Start from the room where the smell is strongest and work outward. Smell high and low; skunk odor tends to settle low and in fabrics. Then turn the furnace or air conditioning on and stand at a register for a few minutes. If the smell gets noticeably stronger with the blower running, write that down, because it means the air system is involved.
Check the basement and furnace room even if they are not where the smell is worst, since that is where outside air most easily gets in. Open closets near the affected side of the house. Lift the corner of a rug or carpet near a window and smell the pad. Note anything that smells only after a shower or on a damp day; that is a clue to residue that moisture is reactivating.
Inside worksheet
| Location | Fan off | Fan running | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front rooms near the porch | |||
| Basement rooms with window wells | |||
| Furnace and water heater area | |||
| Rooms above any crawlspace | |||
| Closets on the affected side | |||
| Bedrooms | |||
| Laundry and bathrooms | |||
| Attached garage or mudroom |
General information for Washington Park, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.