The Essential Oil Scent That'll Stop Yard Skunks Right In Their Tracks

When you live in the suburbs or urban areas, skunks are a reality. Though generally thought of as non-aggressive creatures, when they feel scared, they can spray their stinky liquid as far as 15 feet. Unfortunately, skunks can also carry diseases and cause damage to your garden. Plus, they make it their business to visit your house to forage for food. They will either bust through a weak garbage can to scavenge, or they'll dig up your garden indiscriminately to search for grubs to eat.

Though they look extra cute with their dramatic white-striped black fur, they are destructive and need to be rerouted away from your home. There are a few natural, humane ways to get skunks out of your yard — and we like using a liberal amount of eucalyptus essential oil outside as a repellant. Skunks detest the smell of eucalyptus. If you don't have any on hand, it's an inexpensive purchase from a homeopathic drug store, or you can get it online, like this bottle from Cliganic. Use this essential oil, and your yard will be skunk-free in no time.

First, ask yourself where you have noticed the most skunk activity — are they congregating near the garbage or just having a field day on your grass or near any plantings? You might target those areas first.

For instance, a great method to troubleshoot your trash cans is to saturate cotton balls with eucalyptus essential oil and surround the shed or cans with your own stinky preparation. If you can't determine any one spot they're visiting most, you might mix the essential oil with a little water in a clean spray bottle. Walk around your property and spray every inch of the perimeter of your garden, front and back, as if you were putting up a force field.

There is an important caution here: Your pets are sensitive to essential oils. In fact, according to Cabbagetown Pet Clinic, eucalyptus oil, among others, is "straight up toxic to pets," so exercise caution when you let your furry friends out or walk them after you've doused your property with eucalyptus oil.