PePe le PEW

[Mobuck]

Contender was correct: banana peel attracts vermin such as possums and skunks-in this case, the latter.
I wasn't expecting the skunk and set the live trap much too close to the shop building(also failed to attach 30' of rope to drag it further away ) so when I discovered a big ole skunk, it wasn't a pleasant surprise. I sneaked up as close as possible and popped it with a 22 hollowpoint which seemed to be final but 2 hours later when I returned to see if the stink had dissipated, PePe was standing up giving me the 'stink eye' (literally). Darn it. Second attempt was successful but even more stinky although the wind stayed consistent in strength and direction (away from the house). After several hours of 10 MPH wind and a bit of freezing rain, I was able to remove PePe to a more acceptable resting place but I'm not resetting that trap for a couple more days.
The stink wasn't nearly as bad as the day older Son popped a huge skunk right in the exhaust pipe with a 22/250. In an amazing display of 'terminal performance' in the split second of bullet impact, the skunk swelled up to what seemed like basketball size and then exploded into a sort of yellowish, gray mist. Son learned NOT to shoot at skunks from downwind.

 

[Wvfarrier]

I caught one in a live trap a few years ago and had to dispatch it.....from a distance. That entire area smelled for weeks.

 

[Hvymax]

I thank God that I haven't had that issue yet. The groundhogs seem to be occupying all of the choice locations around my yard.

 

[the_leper_colony]

Contender was correct: banana peel attracts vermin such as possums and skunks-in this case, the latter.
I wasn't expecting the skunk and set the live trap much too close to the shop building(also failed to attach 30' of rope to drag it further away ) so when I discovered a big ole skunk, it wasn't a pleasant surprise. I sneaked up as close as possible and popped it with a 22 hollowpoint which seemed to be final but 2 hours later when I returned to see if the stink had dissipated,

When I was growing up on a farm in Minnesota, my Dad was famous (within our extended family ;^) for shooting a big skunk with a .30-06. He knew enough not to do it from downwind, but did receive some friendly advice, suggesting he really should have waited until it got a little farther from the house.

 

[contender]

Oops!!!!!!!!

I wish you had spoken with me PRIOR to dispatching the skunk. I could have shared my trade secret for taking care of it w/o causing a stink like you mentioned.

Shooting one,, despite what some may say,, most often results in a release of "Essence that smells like money to me!"

I've trapped hundreds of them over the last few decades,, and have never been sprayed. All in cages.

 

[arfmel]

I would like to know your trade secret, Contender. Best way I have come up with is a little trouble with the additional possibility of getting sprayed up close and personal.

 

[Mobuck]

I've considered buying one of the plastic drain pipe "no spray" traps but we just don't have much trouble with skunks so the expense didn't seem worthwhile. We had some freezing rain/ice overnight which pretty much diluted the stink so I reset the trap this morning but further away from the buildings.

 

[contender]

I can PM my info on how to deal with the skunks.

 

[OMCHamlin]

Had a few definite odors near the house and pole barn lately and caught a nice Ring cam video of one sauntering by the house at about 0300 one morning. I am generally okay with "live and let live", but I have an "angry Collie" boy that does NOT feel the same. In light of that, I have acquired amounts of Peroxide, Dawn dish soap and baking powder, as this is the most recommended remedy for de-skunking.

 

[coachk64]

Last spring my Chocolate Labe got sprayed three by a skunk times in about 6 weeks. You are certainly right about the peroxide / baking soda / Dawn recipe, it works wonders.

I finally was able to trap it and used the tarp method to get it in the back of my truck and to a park a few miles outside of town to let it go. Not opposed to shooting it, but not a good idea in my neighborhood, although I did discuss it with my neighbors and none of them seemed to have an issue with shooting it. I was careful and didn't get directly sprayed but still used the skunk recipe on myself when I got home.

I think if we get skunks again I'll either invest in a specific skunk trap or build a plexiglass box to put around my live trap.

 

[BULL'S-EYE]

I got sprayed once years ago, definitely can't recommend it for a good time!

I was sitting out back behind the barn, out near the bean field reading a book and sipping a tasty adult beverage. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted something black and white approaching, and just assumed it was our cat Tom Tom. So without giving it much thought, I reached down to pet him...Long story short, it was NOT Tom Tom!

 

[contender]

Bull's-Eye,, at least you weren't like my BIL's oldest son from his first marriage. He walked out on his porch one evening,, and got a serious dose in the face,, AND MOUTH!

After I quit laughing,, I told them what to do.

 

[Mobuck]

" just assumed it was our cat Tom Tom."
First time I noticed we had a skunk visiting was about 3 weeks back. I stepped out onto the deck for a weather check in the blurry pre-dawn thinking our black and white cat was at the feed pan. I was three feet from the critter when I realized--NOT THE CAT. Back inside, grabbed the 410 from the little gun safe behind the door, and back out to take care of it. Little B&W bugger went under the raised walkway to the shop and wouldn't come out--but it didn't spray so I gave up before it did.

 

[KS25-06]

Shoot them in the head, preferably right between the eyes, and they will not spray. May take a little time to get the right aim but it is worth the wait. This is the funniest skunk story I have ever seen and heard. Good friend lived in a house with window wells in the basement. One window well had a cracked window patched with duct tape. Skunk falls in window well about 3:30 AM, dog is raising a ruckus, friend investigates. Tries to drag skunk out of well with a rake, breaks window and skunk goes in basement. Friend panics, shoots skunk with 410. You could smell skunk in that house for over 2 years. Surprised it did not cause a divorce.

 

[contender]

I have several funny stories involving skunks & the actions taken. Let's just say that to me,, "A skunk smells just like money!"

 

[Lt92]

Contender was correct: banana peel attracts vermin such as possums and skunks-in this case, the latter.
I wasn't expecting the skunk and set the live trap much too close to the shop building(also failed to attach 30' of rope to drag it further away ) so when I discovered a big ole skunk, it wasn't a pleasant surprise. I sneaked up as close as possible and popped it with a 22 hollowpoint which seemed to be final but 2 hours later when I returned to see if the stink had dissipated, PePe was standing up giving me the 'stink eye' (literally). Darn it. Second attempt was successful but even more stinky although the wind stayed consistent in strength and direction (away from the house). After several hours of 10 MPH wind and a bit of freezing rain, I was able to remove PePe to a more acceptable resting place but I'm not resetting that trap for a couple more days.
The stink wasn't nearly as bad as the day older Son popped a huge skunk right in the exhaust pipe with a 22/250. In an amazing display of 'terminal performance' in the split second of bullet impact, the skunk swelled up to what seemed like basketball size and then exploded into a sort of yellowish, gray mist. Son learned NOT to shoot at skunks from downwind.

Yikes!

 

[Delbert]

The two skunks I've gotten, one was coming in the yard and I had time to grab my 17HMR and pop it in the head as it was already at the house. I guess it smelled the barn cat's food I put out on the back deck. Grabbed a shovel and scooped it up to walk 1/4 mile away to drop in a ditch for the buzzards to take care of.

The second skunk I saw was walking like a drunk sailor after payday heading towards my house in roadway. I again popped it with my rimfire. Honestly believe this one had rabies the way it was acting of walking weird and turning in circles every now and again. Didn't see any foaming at mouth after inspection, but doesn't mean it wasn't infected. Just wasn't acting right.

Both were during the daytime, which is not a time for skunks to be out and about during summertime when food is plentiful.

 

[contender]

Just because skunks (as well as other normally nocturnal critters) are seen in daylight, doesn't automatically point to rabies. The disoriented walking could also be a potential sign of rabies,, OR other potential sicknesses such as a distemper or such. I would have taken that skunk out as well.

 

[Mobuck]

We had a significant distemper outbreak in my area 20-25 years ago. Lots of raccoons were seen walking around seemingly lost or disoriented during daytime which seemed to be one of the most noticed symptoms.
I've had the good fortune to have never encountered any rabid wildlife that I'm aware of. We did have a couple of 'sick' raccoons tested several years back but both were negative.

 

[6GUNSONLY]

I once caught three young skunks in a cage trap at the same time. Never did figure out how all three got in there before tripping the pan. Shot all three from a safe distance with a .22 WRF from an old Winchester model 1890.