Skunk Woes

[smoke-eater]

I'm in a bind here, and need some advice.
There's a big skunk living under my shed. If not for the fear of rabies, and the bother of walking my dog out to do his after dark 'business', I could happily co-exist with him (or her, I'm not checkin'!). The dog did get sprayed once - a memorable occasion - 1:00a.m. and 5 degrees out, and I had to bathe him outside w/ a dish soap-baking soda-hydrogen peroxide mix and lots of buckets of warm water. :shock: (it really did take away the smell)
I really want the varmint gone, but shooting him is out of the question, neighbors in every direction. I thought of trapping it in my Havahart trap, but then what's the next step?!!
Any suggestions?

Jeff

 

[huntsman22]

Stick yer havahart in a plastic trash barrel. When you cotch the varmint, stand it up and stick the garden hose in..... When drowned, take him out and toss him a bag and set him on the curb for the trash man to haul off.......

 

[Kevin]

What?

Skunks are so nice. We had one in Jersey. He was white with a black stripe.

Much better than possums or mapache. They cause trouble, Skunks dont...

 

[graygun]

pellet gun?

 

[skeeter]

They sell poisonous smoke bombs.

 

[redhawker]

Use one of these traps...

https://www.animal-care.com/index.cfm/id/10/category/151/secondary/314/Traps-Baits?

...keep it in the box it came in with a hole cut for the handle and one end opened for the trap door. Once caught cover the opened end with a trap or blanket by approaching it from the closed end of the box. Place it in the back of an opened pickup and transport it to some place far away from your home and then, once there, place the trap on the ground and turn it upside down and back away. This type of trap the door will fall opened when it is turned upside down and the skunk will eventually walk away and you can go back over and retrieve your trap.

 

[powder smoke]

Stick yer havahart in a plastic trash barrel. When you cotch the varmint, stand it up and stick the garden hose in..... When drowned, take him out and toss him a bag and set him on the curb for the trash man to haul off.......

Very good idea! When I lived in NH I did almost the same except I used a local pond, Barrel sound good. ps

 

[stevemb]

In the non-lethal category, what sometimes works is moth balls. Wait until the varmint goes out for the night and then pitch the moth balls into the hole he's been using. I prefer .22mag Single-Six myself, but I'm rural. Critter control on a professional scale is Contender's domain. If he doesn't find this thread, ask him.

 

[H.H. Hipshot]

Go to Home Depot or Lowes or other pest supply store and get some Fox Pee. Follow the directions.

Non-lethal, non smelly, and the skunk will leave.

HHH

 

[contender]

Ok I'm here & yes, it's my profession.
First; DO NOT USE ANY POISONS AS IT IS ILLEGAL IN MOST STATES TO POISON WILDLIFE.
Next, in many states it is illegal to relocate wildlife to "other places". It is illegal to relocate wildlife onto federal and most state owned property. Next is private property, and you would need the owners permission to trespass upon their land & release an animal,. IF IT"S LEGAL to do so.
Next, trapping is also regulated in most states to where "trapping out of season" has regulations. In NC, a permit is required, even on your own property to trap out of season. We are NOT allowed to charge for a permit, and in states that do require a permit for personal property protection do not charge. Check your state's wildlife division to get the legal low-down.
But, trapping is the best option.
Once trapped, most states also have regulations about how to kill an animal. In NC, it is illegal to drown an animal in a creek or barrel while in a trap under the normal depredation permit. (Yet, if I set a trap adjacent to water, with a drowning system, it is legal during furbearing trapping season & with a trappers license. Stupid laws, but I obey them.)
In NC, we are allowed to shoot an animal in a trap, or use a chamber to put them down. I use a chamber.

Now, how to catch one.
Get a cage trap, (I use traps that are 16"x16"x38") & make sure it's easily tripped. Next, I use an old cat food can, wired to the middle of the cage behind the trip pan, for bait. (In some of my cages. I have a few other tricks too.) Place a sweet bait, such as a honey bunn or sweet roll in the can. That way, most dogs & cats will ignore the bait while the skunk will go after the treat.
What to do next.
Inexpensive plastic tarps (blue cheap ones,) about 4'x5' are excellent to use. I unfold one, holding it 4'wide, 5' tall in front of me & slowly approach the cage. If the skunk were to squirt, it'll get the plastic & not me. Once I get to the cage, I gently fold the top edge of the tarp over the cage to where the top edge is about ground level on the far side. And at 4' wide, it's wider than the cage. I then pick up the cage & tarp together, back up, allowing the rest of the tarp to fold under the bottom of the cage. Once I've gotten that done, I reach down & fold the rest of the tarp up & over towards me. I fold in the ends, and use a couple of bungee cords to hold it all together. Pick up the wrapped up skunk & handle according to the laws.
I place cage, tarp & all in my chamber.

 

[smoke-eater]

Thanks. my friends, for showing me lots of options, most of which never occurred to me. I never thought of all the legalities involved in live-trapping and releasing. It is a beautiful animal, and really inoffensive (when left alone), so I'm going to try nonlethal methods first, in hopes that he'll just go away, then close off access to his home under the shed. Mothballs seems a good way to start. In the meantime, my animals are up to date with their rabies shots, even the two "stray" cats (that get fed twice a day), were trapped, neutered, and given their shots.

 

[smoke-eater]

While we're on the topic of skunks, I found one in my yard, late at night, about 6 weeks ago, that seemed to be partially paralysed, unable to walk, but full of "piss & vinegar", with a large wound on his side.
Again, shooting was not an option, and I didn't want to get close enough to dispatch him with a shovel. In the morning it was still there, and still quite alive. I called our town's animal control officer, who showed up armed with a "grab stick" (I'm sure it has a proper name), and a plastic pet carrier - openings on top and sides :roll: .
I said, "Are you kidding? You're going to put a skunk in that and put it into your van?!!" I gave him a plastic storage tote w/ locking lid (making it clear that I did NOT want it back!). After I reassured him that my dog had not come into contact with the critter, he radioed for a patrolman to meet with him so they could take it out into the woods and shoot it. That's animal control, New Jersey style!

 

[Scout943]

huntsman22 and i do it the same way !

 

[AJGUNNER]

Here is one more option that seems to be working for me. Skunks like dark quiet places to spend most of their time in. I have 2 different sheds/barns that they have taken up residence in---under the plywood floor. I would block and entrance and they would dig a new one. Then I heard this tip----make their life loud and abnoxious. So I went to a thrift store and bought 2 old clock radios. I put them on the floor right above where I figure they like sleeping. Find the classic rock station, turn up the volume to loud and with lots of static, and leave it on 24/7. It seems to be working. I have put sticks over all the entrances and they go undisterbed now. I started this in December and we have not seen or smelled a single skunk since. In years prior I have killed at least 1 per month. You might give it a try and see if it works for you. The cost is less than 5 bucks and you don't have to get dirty or smelly.

 

[toysoldier]

I like AJGUNNER's method. Might also try putting a small strobe light under the shed. That would probably annoy them no end. :D

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

I like AJGUNNER's method. Might also try putting a small strobe light under the shed. That would probably annoy them no end. :D

I would try one of those strobe lights that attaches to a life jacket (Red takes one D cell battery). Have used that in the brooks range to keep bears away from meet. I have no doubt you can beat him at his own game. I've confidence in you!!!

 

[hogan]

Had one die of lead poisoning in my front yard yesterday evening.

 

[Dan in MI]

Had one die of lead poisoning in my front yard yesterday evening.

He shouldn't have eaten the old paint off the garage.....


Like most things of this nature, research the options and learn the three S's, or a variant thereof. The final S always being the most important.

 

[contender]

I forgot to mention, in general, moth balls do not work. Especially if a skunk has a 'family" in there. They can & will just dig them away from the hole.
Noise can alter them & their activities, sometimes. Never heard any proof about strobes. They could be a possibility.

 

[haymaker]

I've dealt with a lot of skunks over the years. A 12 ga. shotgun is quite affective but it stinks up the whole yard. I've tried bright lights and loud music. The best and least smelly way to deal with them is to live trap them and then throw a tarp or large cardboard box over the trap after they are caught. Attach the appropriate size hose to the exhaust pipe on your car/truck and stick the other end under the tarp or box. Within 30 minutes you have a dead skunk that died very peacefully.