Skunk in a Window Well: How to Get It Out Safely

To get a skunk out of a window well, move slowly and quietly, then lower a rough board or a ramp into the well at a gentle angle so it can climb out on its own after dark. Keep people and pets away, and add a window well cover so it does not happen again.

Finding a skunk at the bottom of a window well is a common fall surprise. The animal is not trying to get into your house. It fell in while foraging and cannot climb the smooth walls. With patience, most skunks leave on their own once you give them a way out.

Why do animals end up in window wells?

Skunks, opossums, and other small animals forage along foundations at night, digging for grubs and insects in the soft soil near the house. Window wells sit right on that path. An animal steps over the edge, drops in, and finds that the walls are too steep and slick to climb. Fall is a busy time because animals are moving more and feeding heavily before winter.

How do you get the skunk out without being sprayed?

Skunks give warning before they spray, and a calm skunk that does not feel cornered rarely sprays. Your job is to stay calm and give it an exit.

• Move slowly and talk softly: Let the skunk know you are there. Sudden movement and surprise are what trigger spraying.
• Lower a ramp at a gentle angle: Slide a rough wooden board, or a ramp wrapped in wire mesh or carpet for grip, slowly into the well. Keep your body low and to the side, and move away as soon as it is in place.
• Leave the area and keep pets inside: Skunks are most comfortable moving after dark. Turn off nearby lights and keep dogs in for the night.
• Check the next morning: Look from a distance. Most skunks climb out overnight.
• Call for help if needed: If the skunk does not leave, seems hurt, or is acting strangely, contact animal control or a wildlife professional instead of trying again yourself.

If you see a skunk stamp its front feet, raise its tail, or turn its body into a U shape, back away slowly. Those are warnings.

What if it is a cat or opossum instead?

The same ramp works for an opossum, which will usually climb out overnight. An opossum may also play dead when it feels threatened, so give it quiet time before assuming it is hurt. A cat may climb the ramp too, but a frightened cat can sometimes be guided into a carrier with a towel. If the cat has a collar or looks like someone's pet, try to find the owner. A shelter or vet can scan for a microchip.

How do you stop it from happening again?

Fitted window well covers are the simplest long-term fix. Choose sturdy covers that seal at the edges, with no gaps an animal can slip through, and make sure any window used as an emergency exit still opens easily from inside. Beyond that, reduce what draws animals to the foundation: secure trash, feed pets indoors, and keep the soil near the house from staying soggy, which brings up grubs that skunks like to dig for.

When is trapping needed?

Rarely for a window well itself. But if a skunk is living under a nearby porch, deck, or shed, it may keep falling in, and trapping might be necessary after checking local regulations, which vary by state and city. Approach any trapped skunk slowly, with the trap covered, and keep the opening pointed away from you.

How does OcuTrap help with skunks?

OcuTrap sends a real-time photo alert the moment an animal is caught, so you know it is a skunk before you walk up to the trap. If you catch a non-target, the remote door release lets it go from the app, so nobody has to get close to the trap at all.

Handle the skunk calmly and know what is in the trap before you approach. See how at ocutrap.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will a skunk stay in a window well?

A skunk will stay in a window well until it finds a way out, because the walls are too steep to climb. Once you lower a rough board or ramp at a gentle angle, most skunks climb out within a night. If it is still there the next day, contact animal control or a wildlife professional for help.

How do you know if a skunk is about to spray?

Skunks usually warn before spraying. Common signs are stamping the front feet, raising the tail, hissing, and turning the body into a U shape so both the head and tail face you. If you see these warnings, back away slowly and quietly. Calm, slow movement greatly lowers the chance of being sprayed.

What is the best window well cover to keep animals out?

Look for a sturdy cover that fits the well tightly and seals at the edges, with no gaps an animal can squeeze through. Clear or polycarbonate covers let light into the basement. If the window is an emergency exit, choose a cover that can be opened easily from inside.

Can an opossum climb out of a window well?

Usually not without help. Like skunks, opossums can fall into window wells and struggle with the smooth walls. A rough board or ramp gives them a way out, and most leave overnight. An opossum may play dead when it feels threatened, so give it quiet time before deciding it is injured.