The Pagosa Springs Town Council recently held a meeting at which council member Leonard Martinez raised a concern that dark sky friendly lighting may not allow residents to continue to use outdoor lighting to deter skunks and other nuisance wildlife.
Life in Pagosa includes living close to and dealing with wildlife, so, of course, this is a valid concern.
His comment led to researching the effectiveness of outdoor lights at keeping wildlife away from homes and businesses.
While lights may initially keep skunks away because they are nocturnal and prefer dark, quiet areas to feel safe, it is not a long-term solution. Animals such as skunks, raccoons, deer and bears become used to lights being on and will not be deterred from a food source once they feel safe.
A better approach is motion-activated lights. Sudden bursts of lights when they approach is more effective than constant lighting.
The best way to deter unwelcome animals is to remove their food source altogether.
Use bear-proof trash cans, hang bird feeders out of reach (or take them down nightly), do not leave pet food or water out, and never feed wildlife.
Shelter is another major attraction for skunks, so blocking areas where wildlife dig or find shelter may also be necessary. They often look for cozy, protected areas like crawl spaces, sheds, and beneath decks and porches.
Motion-activated lights are definitely dark-sky friendly if they are limited to stay on no more than four minutes. Make sure they’re aimed downward at a small area to prevent light from falling where it is not intended or needed.
A motion-detection sprinkler system is another way to humanely deter some wildlife, spritzing them with water when they enter the yard. Scent repellents are also commercially available.
Limitations of lighting deterrents:
• Skunks can get used to constant light if it stays on all night. Motion-activated lights are more effective.
• If there’s a reliable food source (like garbage, pet food or insects), they may ignore the lights.
• Lights don’t stop them from digging or nesting if they already feel safe there.
Combine lights with other deterrents:
• Remove food sources (pet food, bird seed, trash).
• Seal entry points under sheds, porches and decks.
• Use motion-activated sprinklers.
• Add scent repellents (citrus peels, vinegar or commercial skunk repellents).
It is a common misconception that dark-sky friendly lighting takes choices away from homeowners when it comes to protecting their property. Quality outdoor lighting is actually safer by allowing our eyes to see more detail in shadows.
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