Missouri, private property
Dead Skunk Removal in Missouri
A dead skunk announces itself, usually from under a deck, porch or shed. In Missouri there are two things to check before it is moved: whether anyone or any pet touched it, and whether it is the common striped skunk or the protected spotted one.
Before you pay anyone. Look at the markings. The striped skunk is common. The spotted skunk is much smaller (MDC gives 0.5 to 2 pounds), with a white spot in the center of the forehead and broken stripes that look like spots. It is on Missouri's state-endangered list, which prohibits possessing or transporting one (3 CSR 10-4.111), and MDC asks for reports of spotted skunks, including road-killed ones. If it might be one, contact MDC or your county conservation agent before anyone moves it. If it may have bitten or scratched someone, or touched a pet, do not throw it away. Call your doctor or local public health agency first, or the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) on 573-751-6113 (after hours 800-392-0272).
What this covers
- A striped skunk in a yard or along a fence.
- A skunk under a deck, porch or shed that can be reached through an existing opening.
- A skunk in a crawl space reached through the access door.
Where the limit is
Live skunks, trapping and relocation are outside what this site passes on, and so is spraying, fogging or any odor treatment. A spotted skunk, a protected species that should be reported to MDC before anyone moves it.
Missouri health officials say rabies in Missouri is found mostly in bats and skunks, and the Missouri Department of Conservation calls bats and skunks the most significant rabies carriers in the state. MDC advises avoiding contact with dead wildlife, and wearing gloves and washing your hands if you must handle it.
How long the smell stays depends on the size of the animal, the temperature, humidity and airflow, and where it is lying. Skunk musk can linger in a closed space under a deck after the carcass is gone. No one can promise how long.
How a call goes
- Call or send the form with your ZIP code and where the skunk is.
- Say whether a person or pet touched it, and what its markings look like.
- If an operator covers your ZIP code, you settle the price and timing with them directly.
- If an operator takes the job, the skunk is bagged and taken for disposal.
Questions about this animal
Do skunks carry rabies in Missouri?
Yes. DHSS says rabies in Missouri is found mostly in bats and skunks. If a dead skunk may have bitten or scratched a person or pet, keep it and call your doctor or DHSS on 573-751-6113.
Is a spotted skunk protected?
Yes. The spotted skunk is on Missouri's state-endangered list (3 CSR 10-4.111), and possessing or transporting one is prohibited. MDC asks for reports of spotted skunks, including road-killed ones, so contact MDC or your county conservation agent before anyone moves a dead one. The common striped skunk is not on the list.
Will removing the skunk get rid of the smell?
Removing the carcass takes away the source, but musk on soil, wood or a crawl-space floor can linger. This site does not offer odor treatment.
Not sure this is the right page? Who removes a dead animal in Missouri works through the public and private split, and the locations page sets out what the larger cities publish.