The managers of an administrative office building in Delson, on the South Shore, contacted Nova Extermination after detecting a persistent and strong skunk smell in the ventilation ducts of the central air conditioning system. Several employees had reported the smell as early as Monday morning, suggesting an incident that had occurred the previous weekend. A quick inspection of the perimeter of the building revealed a skunk moving under the access steps on the north side of the building. The single-storey building with a partial basement is located in a transition zone between downtown Delson and an industrial sector along the Saint-Jacques River, a very active natural corridor for the South Shore’s wildlife that connects the green spaces between Saint-Constant and Delson.
Identification of the incident and precise location of the animal
The inspection carried out in the early morning, before the arrival of the employees, made it possible to precisely locate the skunk’s burrow: a cavity dug under the concrete access steps on the north side of the building, with a second secondary access running along the foundation about two metres from the first. The strong odour inside the ventilation ducts was directly related to the proximity of the outdoor air intake system, installed at a low height on this side of the building. A projection of the skunk’s anal glands had occurred less than two metres from the air intake grille, saturating the air sucked in by the air conditioning system and distributing the odour throughout the offices. Our technicians confirmed the presence of a single adult individual, with no visible litter, which allowed for immediate intervention without waiting delays.
The preliminary inspection also assessed the outdoor air intake and found that it was protected only by a simple deteriorated plastic screen, which was insufficient to prevent an animal from approaching or trying to enter. This vulnerability would be addressed during security work.
Skunk capture and emergency odor management
A cage trap covered with an opaque canvas has been installed at the main entrance of the burrow, with a sardine-based food bait, which is very attractive to the skunk. The system was activated at the end of the day, after the departure of the employees, to avoid any disruption to office activities. The skunk was captured the following night, without additional projection, thanks to the calm and methodical handling of the experienced technician during the trap removal early the following morning. The animal was relocated to a suitable natural area, a good distance from the Delson area. In parallel with the capture, the ventilation system was treated with a powerful enzymatic odor neutralizer applied directly to the accessible ducts, allowing employees to return to work in better conditions the same day. Our animal capture service systematically includes odour management in skunk interventions in occupied environments. See also our realization of skunk capture in tertiary building for a comparable case recently treated.
Decontamination of the technical attic and ducts
After capture, a complete decontamination of the technical attic and the building mechanical spaces was carried out to ensure that residual odours would not persist in the work environment. The ventilation ducts were inspected, mechanically cleaned and treated along the entire accessible length with registered enzyme neutralizers. The outdoor air intake has been equipped with a new anti-intrusion, bite-resistant and securely attached metal mesh to prevent a skunk or any other animal from approaching this sensitive point again. A qualitative indoor air test was carried out before the full reopening of the offices to confirm the absence of any perceptible residual odour.
Securing the foundation and annual preventive plan
The burrow under the access steps was filled with gravel compacted in successive layers, then covered with a mortar slab. A galvanized L-shaped mesh was buried twenty centimeters around the entire perimeter of the steps. The entire lower perimeter of the building was inspected to identify and seal other spaces that could house animals in the future. Our exterminator in Delson intervened effectively to minimize the impact on the building’s activities. The management received a comprehensive intervention report and maintenance recommendations adapted to the administrative buildings: inspection of the outdoor air intakes twice a year, verification of the foundations and access steps in the spring and autumn, and prompt reporting of any suspicious odours. Check out our collection in the tertiary sector on the South Shore to see how we adapt our interventions to offices and service buildings. Nova Extermination, a certified exterminator on the South Shore and the South Shore, is available for all types of commercial and administrative buildings to deal with invasive wildlife problems, with quick response times and lasting solutions.