Skunk issue :(

[1970Moparmann]

Anyone have any experience with skunks?    Came home from a week in Hawaii and now under my deck is a hotel for a one or two skunks.

I've tried ammonia to deter them out of the deck--- this only pissed them off to spray all over.   Last night was horrible with the smell.

I put a trap out last night but I think due to it raining, it didn't even come out. 

Ironically, good'ol "Billy the Exterminator" had a skunk episode on last night and just set up what he did.  A rabbit fence to tunnel the skunk(s) into two different live traps.   Of course it looked easy for him to release, I just don't know what I'm getting my self into.   But, I want to use my money for car parts versus someone to get the skunks out.   

Any input is appreciated!

[TruckDriver]

That stinks 


Sorry, I had to say it.

[Finn]

I'm sure someone will chime in with "shoot-shovel-shut up" but if you're looking for non lethal; gas mask and high water pressure through a hose??

[BananaDan]

Finn beat me to it, I was gonna say a 20 gauge aught to do it.  I trapped a skunk by accident a few years ago trying to trap a groundhog.  I used a have-a-heart trap with half of a head of cabbage inside.

[c00nhunterjoe]

I have skunks all year long. Some scrap meat will lure them right into the trap. There is no way to kill them without them spraying. Trust me, I've tried everything. If you have the balls to pick the trap up and transport him for a release then you are a bigger man then I.

[1970Moparmann]

We'll see if I catch one tonight....

Chapter two may get interesting!

[Brads70]

Slowly place a blanket over the cage. Use a big enough blanket so it doesn't see you . Go slow, if you hear it stomp his feet stop for a minute or so then keep going. Then either take it ( in the back of a pickup, not a car) somewhere and release it, or have a rope pre tied on it ( if you want the trap back) and take him to the lake for "swimming lessons"
Or of cource shoot it, but chances are it will spray.

[Old Moparz]

Slowly place a blanket over the cage. Use a big enough blanket so it doesn't see you . Go slow, if you hear it stomp his feet stop for a minute or so then keep going. Then either take it ( in the back of a pickup, not a car) somewhere and release it, or have a rope pre tied on it ( if you want the trap back) and take him to the lake for "swimming lessons"
Or of cource shoot it, but chances are it will spray.

Before I bought my own trap, I hired a trapper to get a raccoon that kept coming in a pet door. (Well, I thought it was one.....lol) He caught several of them in a live trap & released them elsewhere at different times. He also got one opossum & one skunk. I asked him how he gets rid of the skunk without getting sprayed & he said he uses this same blanket method. I forget what he said about how to open it, but I'd imagine if you practiced with an empty trap you'd get good at it.

If not, make sure you buy lots of tomato juice before you even start.   

[Tilar]

Slowly place a blanket over the cage. Use a big enough blanket so it doesn't see you . Go slow, if you hear it stomp his feet stop for a minute or so then keep going. Then either take it ( in the back of a pickup, not a car) somewhere and release it, or have a rope pre tied on it ( if you want the trap back) and take him to the lake for "swimming lessons"

[c00nhunterjoe]

To those with the blanket theory- have you actually tried it? Hahaha, you will get sprayed, if you don't get sprayed directly he will spray and your blanket will not stop the odor. Dead skunks on the side of the road hold nothing to the smell right in your face.

Also, tomatoe juice doesn't work. You just smell like skunk and tomatoes. Trust me, I know. Nothing makes it go away. Nothing.

[Tilar]

To those with the blanket theory- have you actually tried it? Hahaha, you will get sprayed, if you don't get sprayed directly he will spray and your blanket will not stop the odor. Dead skunks on the side of the road hold nothing to the smell right in your face.

Not me personally but the neighbor guy trapped one hanging around my shop and eating my dogs food. He didn't get sprayed and no more skunk.

Also, tomatoe juice doesn't work. You just smell like skunk and tomatoes. Trust me, I know. Nothing makes it go away. Nothing.

That one I can believe.

[c00nhunterjoe]

I'm amazed. Number 1 he got the cover on without getting sprayed, and 2, he moved the cage without getting sprayed. Every skunk up here will lift their tail at the 1st noise or movement. Your skunk must have been "domesticated" from being in buildings or used to people.

[sunfire69]

ok....this has been used for years in rural areas...I assume you have a place you can fire a shotgun without being arrested....
Take a Hawiian punch size can and use a church key to completely open one end...don't push the "fingers" into the can to far with the church key....work all the way around the can so it forms sharp fingers pointing in....so a skunk can shove his head in....but won't be able to pull his head out do to the sharp "fingers"...now tie a heavy string thru small holes you punched in the other end...6 to 8 feet long.....tie a bell in the middle somewhere..( your choice as long as it rings)..stake the other end down running it up a "Y" shaped stick so the bell can hang freely and ring ( VERY IMPORTANT)..now put a large glob of strawberry jam in the far end of the can.....stake it and set your bell......here's how it works.....
When the skunk sticks his head in for the jam ( and he will, they love the stuff)...the bell will ring ( you had better be able to hear it)....while he's got his head in the can....grab your shotgun and unhook the string and lead the skunk a safe distance from your house.....and shoot him.....if you made the "fingers" in the can long enough he can't pull free...but he won't try as long as that jam is there..and you can lead him around for the same reason....gently..don't jerk it or yank the string....just pull gently as the jam moves away from him he'll try and follow...he won't spray because he can't see you or smell you with his head in a can full of strawberry jam.....as long as there is jam in there he'll follow it...so you have until then to lead him away and dispatch him with out getting sprayed.....
just remember when the jam runs out all hell breaks loose...lol..so you have to hear it and get him ....as soon as the jam is gone he'll try and pull out of the can..when he can't he's going to get pissed real fast.....

[1970Moparmann]

Sunfire, holly crap, of course I didn't see this one surfing around.  Like the idea, but can't do this where I live.

Well, the saga continues.  Waking up today, both my traps where moved and the food was removed - crackers with jelly.  Sooooooo, now a must have a possum issue also.   WTF.

The only good thing out of this is the skunk hasn't sprayed and I haven't smelled anything in the last 2 days.  Maybe it left the deck and is even gone. 

[nh_mopar_fan]

My dad got one in his trap last summer while trying to get rid of a groundhog. The skunk can't spray if he can't get his tail up. The cage must've been tight enough that this skunk couldn't spray.

[Brads70]

To those with the blanket theory- have you actually tried it? Hahaha, you will get sprayed, if you don't get sprayed directly he will spray and your blanket will not stop the odor. Dead skunks on the side of the road hold nothing to the smell right in your face.

Also, tomatoe juice doesn't work. You just smell like skunk and tomatoes. Trust me, I know. Nothing makes it go away. Nothing.

Yep I caught one last summer, the blanket think worked like a charm. The only problem was I was anticipating catching a raccoon that I thought was tearing up my garbage .  After I got the blanket on it , I thought now what? I don't have a pick up truck to take it somewhere ( no way I was putting it in the trunk of my car) and I live in town so I couldn't just shoot it....so I just opened the cage and let it go again.

[Fitz73Chrgr]

a 20 gauge aught to do it. 

[1970Moparmann]

The saga continues.   Just baited the trap with cat food.  I put a heavy ass brick on it so I'm hoping the possum won't move it AGAIN.  I put a camera on the trap last night and the possum came by for 5 minutes and left.  He must have came back tonight just before I baited again, because the traps were moved again and no more food.   

To top it off, the freak'in skunk sprayed again around 11:00 am and it smells like crap.  Due to this I called a local pest control place and the owner told me how the IL laws changed a few years ago and there are so much red tape involved with trapping an animal he said FU to the state and hasn't been doing it.  More good'ol politics in IL.  I wish I was in a position to get the hell out of this crap hole.   Anyway, he referred me to "reasonable" price place that is licensed to do this and it's almost $400!!  Screw that.  The only thing they are going to do is what I am.  6 days of baiting and they move on. 

I'm ready to put my cover my face up and freaken start taking up boards to my deck and pellet gun the crap out of this worthless animal.

[c00nhunterjoe]

All I ever caught on cat food was the neighbors cats........ change your bait.

[Musicman]

Get yourself an owl, they love skunks, rats, opossum etc... eemmmm taste just like Chicken
Of course he may keep you up all night whoot'n 

[oldcarnut]

Couple more suggestions
http://www.electronicpestcontrolpro.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Store_Code=pestcontrol&Screen=PROD&Category_Code=dog_cat_repellers&Product_Code=BIR-YGARD&gclid=CLyaneiRx68CFQUHnQodRWPrZg

http://www.howtogetridofstuff.com/outdoor/how-to-get-rid-of-skunks-under-deck/

[Musicman]

Electronic pest repellers will only irritate them for about five minutes, then they just get use to it and ignore it. Much like the man listening to his wife bitch about how he spends more time with his car than he does her.

Just stay up 24/7 drink'n & party'n with your friends... they hate loud rowdy drunks!

[b5blue]

Your county animal control "should come pick them up for relocation" for free. They are natural wildlife not vermin. Google your Animal Control for there guidelines.
The Havaheart #1089 trap works very well and would hold skunks and possum fine. 

[1970Moparmann]

Well.... Woke up and found the door on the trap open - crap.  BUT, when I went to check the cat food this afternoon dumb ass (me) had the safety latch on the cage engaged.  The skunk ate the bate and had a full stomach. Had a party today and no skunk smell.  My wife and I were relieved that it didn't smell today.

I set it up tonight and feel pretty good now.  I put a camera on it to record what happens.     I hope to have good news tomorrow......

[Old Moparz]

Well.... Woke up and found the door on the trap open - crap.  BUT, when I went to check the cat food this afternoon dumb ass (me) had the safety latch on the cage engaged.  The skunk ate the bate and had a full stomach. Had a party today and no skunk smell.  My wife and I were relieved that it didn't smell today.

I set it up tonight and feel pretty good now.  I put a camera on it to record what happens.    I hope to have good news tomorrow......

Who cares about a video recording of a skunk eating bait in a trap?  

What we want to see, is a video recording of you letting the skunk out of the trap.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvjGdtE01PY