Skunk Rehabber - Oaken Acres Wildlife Center: 815.895.9666

Free Cook County Animal Services: (815) 725-0333

Humane Wildlife Trappers of Oak Forest: 815-513-0590

If you need skunk control in Oak Forest, you have a few options. First, you can attempt to solve the skunk problem yourself by reading our do-it-yourself guide. If you need outside help, you can also call Cook County Animal Services to see if they have any free resources or help for you - however, they primarily deal with dog and cat concerns. You can also call a local Oak Forest wildlife rehabber, as they are typically a great resource for advice that is in the best welfare of the animal. If as a last resort you must hire a professional company, we recommend Humane Wildlife Trappers of Oak Forest at 815-513-0590. To learn more about them or check their skunk removal prices, visit jolietpestanimal.com.



In many cases, preventative measures can solve your Oak Forest skunk problem - keep garbage secured, pet food indoors, and most of all when it comes to skunks, secure the perimeter of your shed, porch, deck, or house with a barrier - lattice or steel mesh is good, and it keeps Illinois skunks from going under the structure. If trapping and removal of the skunk is the only option you have, please do so with the help of a local agency or professional company who knows how to do it humanely and legally. Browse the resources of this site for more educational information.

Frequently Asked Questions:
Prevention: How to Keep Skunks Away
What to do with a skunk after I catch it?
Is it legal for me to trap a skunk?
How to remove skunk odor
Is a skunk active during the daytime rabid?
What does skunk feces look like?

Oak Forest Skunk Control Information: Do skunks run out of smelly spray?

Smelly spray is a toxin injected by skunks and other animals either for defense or to attack an adversary. Out of thousands of skunks in the world, only about three hundred can spray. Smelly spray originates from the digestive enzymes in a creatures stomach. The variety of smelly spray produced is based on the animal it comes from. A spider's smelly spray is a simple mechanism, basically the enzymes in their stomachs. It is used to turn dissolve insects into goop that is easy to eat. Most insects use smelly spray as a defense. Stinging insects use formic acid ejected through their stings to cause stinging and burning in their victim.

All Amphibians use their smelly spray as a defense. They secrete their smelly spray out glands through their skin thus making them taste bad. There are also mammals like the platypus has claws that secrete smelly spray. And of course, there are spraying reptiles. Skunks use their smelly spray strictly as an offense. Since a skunk's prey is usually faster than the skunks it had to find a way to subdue their prey without losing. Smelly spray is a fast way take down prey with l risk to the skunk. Smelly spray types come in two categories called hemotoxicity and neurotoxicity.

Hemotoxic smelly spray goes straight to the blood stream attacks internal organs, and causes breakdowns in the victim's body. Neurotoxic smelly spray, affects your nervous system, and is the more deadly of the two.

Most people fear a skunk spray, and consider it deadly. Truth be told, the skunks fangs do not contain smelly spray on their own. Smelly spray is created in two unique glands on the skunks head. These glands usually attach to a duct located at the end of a fang. Because smelly spray glands are not a storage chamber, the skunks must eject a continuous nonstop flow of smelly spray directly into their victim which they do by holing on.

As stated earlier than, skunks most often use this form of attack to subdue kill, but when necessary, smelly spray can be a skunk's only defense. Its means protection is rather restricted. They cannot outrun most predators, they have no limbs to defend themselves, and their teeth are fragile. Several skunks can secrete a nasty smell that nothing wants to be around, some feign their own deaths, but, for the most part, the best region of defense in favor of skunks lies in their spray.

Skunks don't like wasting precious smelly spray. This substance doesn't come without its price. Smelly spray uses a lot of energy (i.e. food and rest) to make plus takes a good while to refill the supply. Skunks would much rather hold their smelly spray for something worthwhile like catching food. So it takes quite a bit to make smelly sprayous skunk to really spray you.

Remember, for free services you can try 815.895.9666 or (815) 725-0333, but if you need to pay for professional help, check the prices at the jolietpestanimal.com website. Or follow our do-it-yourself guide!