What Exactly Are Skunks?

Classifying what type of animal a skunk is can be difficult. They kind of resemble squirrels, but they are not rodents. If you want to get technical, they have been traditionally classified as a sub-family Mustelidae – which is the weasel family. So, skunks have long been thought to be a type of weasel.

However, the way that we classify skunks has recently changed with new genetic evidence. New evidence has actually placed the skunk in its own family of animal along with animals called Stink Badgers.

And here is where it gets really confusing… Even though skunks are now classified in the same family as the Stink Badger, don’t let that fool you into thinking that the skunk is a type of badger. The Stink Badger has a similar history as the animal used to be classified with other badgers but with recent genetic technology, researchers have been able to find that these animals share a much more recent common ancestor with skunks.

So, skunks are neither badgers nor are they weasels. They are in their own family in the animal kingdom!

How to Get Rid of Skunks?

Skunks rarely cause much property damage, but they are certainly not welcome guests. They can cause quite a mess by digging into pet food, garbage and other types of animal feed. On top of that, they can be quite intimidating to household pets and guests.

When trying to get rid of skunks, take care that there are not any areas that they might be able to take refuge in. Make sure that you seal any ground level openings so the skunks are not able to make their way into your home or outbuildings. It is not generally recommended to use fumigants or repellents when you’re trying to get rid of these animals because none are known to be effective at all.