One Granite Bay Neighborhood Experiencing Skunk Invasion

GRANITE BAY (CBS) - It's a stinky situation. A pest invasion in a Granite Bay neighborhood is causing some to take matters into their own hands.

"When you think you catch them all then another wave of skunks come in," said Vince Matranga, a resident who is battling the skunks.

CBS13 went to see the damage the foul four-legged creatures are doing to the Granite Bay neighborhood.

The homeowner who lives here tells us it looks like someone took a golf club and practiced his swing on his front lawn. But he soon realized the problem is way stinker than that...literally.

"They're digging up my grass," said Matranga. "They're looking for grubs and insects and making a big mess."

Matranga never thought he'd lose sleep over the small, striped species. But he says skunks are running amok in his upscale Granite Bay neighborhood. He trapped two overnight using eggs and peanut butter as bait.

"There's one here looking right at me," he said.

It's the ninth and tenth he's caught in the last few months.

And they're not just targeting his house, the neighbor has trapped 10 himself. Brandt Jordan with Spiderman Pest Control says the problem is more spread out around the Sacramento area.

"Folsom, Granite Bay -- a lot of outlying areas, Loomis, anywhere where there's open pastures, we're getting calls for that," said Jordan.

So why skunks, and why now? Jordan blames it on extreme weather. Our dry summer followed by heavy rainfall brought out skunks in search of food.

"A lot of the dryer weather too got rid of the food supply," said Jordan.

The skunks are now attracting visitors. They keep a distance, but can't resist.

For Vince, it's torture.

"I got a little too close a few times and got sprayed…just threw those clothes away," said Matranga.

As for those skunks in the cages, animal control will pick them up this week. Experts recommend anyone with a similar problem to keep pet food and water out of skunks' reach.

And if you're in need, most animal-control services provide traps for skunks, which are typically also used for other wildlife like raccoons.

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