I just saw a raccoon around the rabbit cages. What would keep them away without annoying the rabbits?
Another vote for electric fencing. Could be electronet, could be wires, but put something around the cages.
Live traps for sure. Works good for possums too. I bait them with chicken manure. I trick them. The door is set in such a way it looks to be an entrance to the chicken pen. Then they get swimming lessons or a .22LR.
If you are going to have chickens or rabbits, you are going to need a live catch trap. I bait with cat food or 1/2 of a honey bun---once I catch it---then it gets a 22. I do not trap on the other side of the farm---only beside my animal pens-----if they will stay over "younder" they are OK.
my best helper ever has been my Mt. cur dog. I have no close neighbors ,or road so I can let them (the dogs n chickens ) free range . where as before chickens had to be locked up at night and with fox n cyotes even day time was a chance . the rabbits hanging in their cages take no notice of the dogs, and I am able to grow sweet corn to.
Seems odd to me that a healthy skunk would spray a rabbit. Somewhat common for skunks to have rabies. After you live trap skunks, then what? Relocation? Studies have shown that relocated raccoons die of starvation when relocated. Not sure what chances a skunk has.
In most states it's illegal to possess or transport and release wildlife. If you're going to trap it then it's best to kill it.
Watched an episode of Dirty Jobs last weekend where a guy was one of those wildlife control people. They trapped a skunk and ol' Mike Rowe got blasted right in the face as he was trying to sneak up on it to cover it in the trap with a plastic sheet. LOL The only way I'd deal with a skunk in a live trap would be to shoot it from a distance. If you're in the city and shooting is not an option, I think I'd rather pay a service to trap it for me before I'd get sprayed. Anything else I'd deal with, but not a skunk. And Bearfoot's right, most places it's illegal to relocate and release unless you're a licensed professional.
Those that trap skunks for a living generally know how not to get sprayed. I've held up a sheet and walked up to a skunk in a live trap. Drape the sheet over the trap and move it. When you open the trap, raise the sheet as you open the trap. My mistake the first time was to lower the sheet to watch the skunk run away. I got a bit of a parting shot. Some have stated that an easy fix is to drop the trap and skunk into a barrel of water. It isn't a quick death and I do not recommend it.
A Good Pellet Gun works in the City and is very effective on smaller predators like a coon, Possum, etc, etc if you put the pellet in the right area. Shooting a Skunk from a distance?????? I do not know---we do not have those so I get close to what ever I have to take care of. Maybe a clear plastic home-made pvc/hoop over the live trap when I set it---I can get close and shoot through that???
