I have a stinky question!

Columbia,SC. · #1 03/03/07, 12:41 AM

We have a skunk living in our woods, and I am talking close by! I have 2 hava heart traps, one for squirrells and one for coons. What should I bait them with (cat food ect.) And after the deed is done with out killing Peppe' La'pue how should I get it out of the trap??? I thought about covering the trap with a heavy blanket and then putting it down under the water in the creek, opening the trap door and dump him out then run like h#ll!
That has to be better than shooting the poor guy in the trap.
Any ideas? I need help! I am getting older now and do not want to kill anything that doesn't NEED killin'.
Thanks for your ideas, and help!

liveswithinlogs · #2 03/03/07, 12:56 AM

After you trap the smelly rascal, take trap and occupant, in the dead of night, to the nearest neighbors house, set the package on their front porch, and let them figure out the best way to tackle the task at hand. If you tie a red bow around Mr. Skunks neck first, they may just decide to keep him as a well dressed pet.

Or, you could try taking trap and occupant a ways away in the woods, and releasing the traps door with a length of cord that you've affixed to it prior to trapping skunky.

tnhomestead · #3 03/03/07, 02:09 AM

Cat food will work usually. Before you set the trap, cover the top and sides with burlap or plywood -- less likely to get sprayed. LOL To rid trap of skunk, take in field, back far away, shoot said skunk in head, come back in year for the trap! Use the smallest trap to try and keep said skunk from rising tail! A 7 by 7 is ideal! There are skunk traps you can buy as well that are solid, so the skunk can be drowned in them. If you want to release it -- just open door and back away from trap! good luck!

uncle Will in In. · #4 03/03/07, 04:08 AM

After I catch the skunk I get a piece of plastic about 4x4 and hold it in front of me as I slowly walk up to the door end of the trap. Once at the trap I gently lay the plastic over the trap. I then reach down and grasp the handle through the plastic, and set it in the pickup. I lay a board on top the trap to hold the plactic in place until I get at least 4 miles away. Iset the trap down on the road and open the door setting a can under it to hold it open. I get back in the truck and watch the trap in the mirror until the skunk walks out. He will then trot away from the road as I load up the trap and go for a cup of coffee. They never will spray unless you scare them, and I've learned that carrying them around in a trap doesn't bother them. Just move slowly.

jamesdel · #5 03/03/07, 07:36 AM

What Will said but I may add that if you talk to them in a low tone and let them get ysuedto them then you have a netter chance of sucuess.
Jim

wrongwayrick · #6 03/03/07, 09:49 AM

I've caught a few by mistake while trying to trap woodchucks and never had a problem letting them go. I could be wrong but I believe they wont spray if they can't lift their tail and they cant do so in my trap.I just tie a string to the wire latch on the trap to release the door and they will get out by themselves when they push on it.

dcross · #7 03/03/07, 09:52 AM

Crush two or three aspirin, chip a hole in the end of an egg, and mix in the aspirin. Put the egg where the skunk will find it.

Keep away from cats.

WolfWalksSoftly · #8 03/03/07, 01:15 PM

When you walk up to the cage, you can use a sheet or anything that isnt see through....one suggestion..MAKE sure your feet are NOT in view as you walk up to the cage. I wouldn't talk or anything, just slowly walk up and place sheet over the trap.

Columbia,SC. · #9 03/03/07, 01:17 PM

Thanks for the ideas, I like the plastic idea. That sounds like the way I will go! Thanks

uncle Will in In. · #10 03/03/07, 05:09 PM

Two years ago, I caught 10 skunks in 11 days out in the barn. I feed the cats out there, so keep a live trap set to keep from feeding other critters. I missed catching a skunk on one day because a possum got in there first.

widfam · #11 03/03/07, 09:08 PM

Will has it right. My father who has a pest removal business just walks up to them slowly with a towell and basically does what Will said

Tracy Rimmer · #12 03/03/07, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamesdel

What Will said but I may add that if you talk to them in a low tone and let them get ysuedto them then you have a netter chance of sucuess.
Jim

So... would you call that being a "skunk whisperer"??

pheasantplucker · #13 03/06/07, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcross

Crush two or three aspirin, chip a hole in the end of an egg, and mix in the aspirin. Put the egg where the skunk will find it.

Keep away from cats.

Never heard of this. What does it do? Kill the skunk or keep it from getting a migrane? Please explain.

dcross · #14 03/07/07, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pheasantplucker

Never heard of this. What does it do? Kill the skunk or keep it from getting a migrane? Please explain.

I was told that cats and skunks cannot tolerate aspirin, I use it when skunks are bothering my beehives, I've never found a dead one, but they stop visiting

pheasantplucker · #15 03/07/07, 10:41 AM

Thanks, I didn't know that. Isn't it strange how some creatures can't tolerate certain substances and others aren't affected by the same thing in any way?

phrogpharmer · #16 03/07/07, 12:34 PM

I have captured many skunks in a live trap. I usually use a dead fish for the bait.
Don't kill the skunk, it means you no harm.
Slowly walk up to the trapped skunk holding a large piece of canvas or black plastic with a small hole in the middle in front of you. Slowly drape the canvas over the trap. Pick up the trap with the handle that is sticking through the small hole and carry it to your pickup and put it in the back. Drive several miles away from the capture site to a pond or stream and put the tailgate down, back up to the waters edge with the tail gate over the water. I go to a boat ramp on the river 4 miles from the farm. Climb in the back and slowly open the end of the trap and dump the skunk into the water. Skunks are good swimmers and can't spray when in the water. Make sure the skunk doesn't see you until it is in the water.
They will come back if not taken several miles away.
I only trap skunks that have taken up residence near my setup. Skunks that are just passing through aren't a problem.

JayinCT · #17 03/07/07, 12:49 PM

Well, I can tell you that I caught someone releasing a raccoon out at my place about two years ago now. I went up one side of him and down the other. His defense was, it was getting into his garbage and tearing it apart, so he went to Agway, bought a trap, caught the coon and was going to let it loose to live on the farm and be happy. I wish I could have been there with a gun while he was turning it loose, I would have knocked it off 10 feet out of the trap. Wouldn't that have made the guy happy. My point is, when you transplant a problem animal to someplace away from your home, you're only dumping it on someone else. I prefer to dispatch the problem animals I get at my place, rather than make them someone elses problem.

Jay

stanb999 · #18 03/07/07, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayinCT

Well, I can tell you that I caught someone releasing a raccoon out at my place about two years ago now. I went up one side of him and down the other. His defense was, it was getting into his garbage and tearing it apart, so he went to Agway, bought a trap, caught the coon and was going to let it loose to live on the farm and be happy. I wish I could have been there with a gun while he was turning it loose, I would have knocked it off 10 feet out of the trap. Wouldn't that have made the guy happy. My point is, when you transplant a problem animal to someplace away from your home, you're only dumping it on someone else. I prefer to dispatch the problem animals I get at my place, rather than make them someone elses problem.

Jay

I can't agree more.
Kill it or leave it. Here in PA. It is against the law to release any animal "into the wilds" unless you are a wildlife welfare agent. If it is a problem animal do your duty. If you can't bear to do the deed yourself hire a trapper to do it.

phrogpharmer · #19 03/07/07, 09:36 PM

I would never release a skunk on private land. Idaho is 60% public land and I turn them loose in the wild. Also racoons, bobcats, mink, rock chucks, weasels, and snakes. House cats get a good spraying with the hose and are released, feral cats get a lead pill.

Gracielou · #20 03/08/07, 08:21 AM

Trapped a bunch of skunks around the barn-coming in for chicken feed and any late laid eggs. I have an older live trap-both ends are solid. Just picked it up, put it in the truck and took them several miles away where it is all forest and turned them loose. My trap can be opened from both ends or just one. I open one end and stand still -the skunk walks off-no problem. Coons are another matter-for me the only good coon is a dead one. If I can get to the gun it's over for the coon.