The technical manager of a distribution warehouse located on the edge of Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu asked us to intervene after noticing that skunks had settled in a hollow space under the warehouse’s loading dock. A historic village in the Montérégie region established on the east bank of the Richelieu River and known for the battle of 1837, Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu retains a rural and agricultural character, surrounded by cultivated land and riparian strips that encourage the presence of wildlife near the buildings. Two individuals had been spotted by the building’s exterior security cameras, moving regularly between the dock and a wooded embankment at the back of the lot. The presence of skunks in a warehouse poses a risk to workers, especially during overnight loading and unloading operations.
Industrial Risk Assessment
The site inspection revealed a cavity of about two cubic metres under the loading dock, formed by the space between the concrete slab and the gravel fill. Two side openings, left by concrete blocks moved during a recent delivery, allowed access. Traces of scratching, hair and faeces confirmed regular occupation. The warehouse manager had already experienced two incidents of spraying employees in the previous month, which had created an urgent occupational health and safety issue that needed to be addressed.
Our exterminator in Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu also inspected the wooded embankment at the edge of the property, identifying several potential secondary burrows near the security fence. This type of edge habitat is typical of skunks in northern regions: they exploit transition zones between wooded and open environments, including industrial areas.
Multi-Point Capture Plan
Given the risk of spraying workers and the presence of two confirmed individuals, a simultaneous capture strategy on all identified accesses was deployed. Six cage traps have been installed: two at the openings under the wharf, two at the foot of the wooded embankment and two at the edge of the fence. The traps were secured to prevent them from being knocked over by forklifts and clearly marked within the safety perimeter of the construction site. The animal capture and relocation service was coordinated with the warehouse’s working hours so as not to interfere with logistics operations.
The two skunks were captured in three nights. A fourth night of surveillance was maintained to confirm the absence of any other individuals before proceeding with the closure work. The capture of skunks in an industrial context benefits from rigorous coordination with the site managers to guarantee the safety of all.
Structural securing of the loading dock
The closure of the two side openings under the quay required the installation of prefabricated concrete blocks wedged and fixed with mortar, supplemented by a galvanized steel mesh covering the entire accessible base of the quay. The wooded embankment at the edge of the property was inspected for secondary burrows, and openings within five metres of the fence were filled. Work has been done to systematically close entry points on all infrastructures likely to offer shelter to wildlife.
Team training and prevention protocol
In addition to the physical work, the technical manager and warehouse foremen received training on how to behave in the presence of wildlife: never approach a skunk suddenly, keep loading areas clean and free of food waste, and report any sightings to management immediately. Nova Extermination integrates this awareness component into all its workplace interventions. These trainings reduce risky behaviours among staff and help prevent sprinkling incidents, which are often the result of an inappropriate knee-jerk reaction to an animal. The technical manager was also informed of the obligations arising from the Safety Code for construction work in the presence of wildlife on outdoor sites. To consult other comparable projects in Montérégie, see our file on raccoons in logistics zones.