Skunked

[Beap52 1,207]

For some reason, I have to deal with more wildlife than any of my neighbors.  I've relocated seven squirrels this spring--I'd rather not have them up in the engine bay of my pickup or scratching around on the bottom of our camper plus they seem to enjoy taking bites out of my vegetables and fruit.  

 

A few days ago I notice something scratching around then parameter of the lattice around my front porch. Digging up flowers and the such.  A couple of days ago it finally dug under the lattice.  Out came the live trap.  Well low and behold this morning a big ole skunk was inside.  I relocated it as well. This is the 3rd skunk in five or six years.   Unlike the first two, This one was in a bad mood and I can't say it sprayed but surely has left the area smelling.  I use the trailer in the event they cause a stink and it paid off this time.  I threw the sheet inside my camper on the pickup and have left the tail gate open all afternoon to air out.  I ended up throwing my blue jeans and shirt away. Our daughter said "Dad! you smell like skunk" when we dropped by to visit them this evening.  All I could do is smile. 

[DET 109]

I got one once but fortunately got away without the odor.

[Ed Kennell 40,616]

Ya gotta disable the detonator.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Handy Don 13,373]

17 hours ago, Beap52 said:

I've relocated seven squirrels

Can’t speak to MO regs, but doing this without a permit in NY can earn you a nifty fine.

Biggest concern is possible unknowing spread of animal-borne diseases but disruptions to the destination habitat are also a factor.

Licensed animal control folks typically will manage relocation to an appropriate destination....... 

Edited Friday at 05:11 PM by Handy Don

[Pullstart 64,724]

I have little experience with these stinky creatures.  I’d like to keep it that way!

 

 

[lynnmor 7,593]

3 hours ago, Handy Don said:

MO regs

nifty fine.

concern

possible spread of animal-borne diseases

disruptions

destination habitat

Licensed animal control folks

 

 

Must be difficult to live in such a controlled place.  Around here it's bang... done.

[Ed Kennell 40,616]

6 hours ago, Pullstart said:

I have little experience with these stinky creatures.

I've used that plastic sheet method to relocate several skunks w/o any problems.      I load them in my cart, haul them to my skunk boot hill area and help them exit the trap.  They only spray when I click bang.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Pullstart 64,724]

2 minutes ago, Ed Kennell said:

They only spray when I click bang.

I did not mention in the video, it did not survive the day.  

[lynnmor 7,593]

I borrowed a trap to catch critters that were mining under my garden shed, one day a skunk was caught and I didn't want to damage the trap.  I did the plastic sheet trick and dragged it far away, then carefully opened the door without incident.

 

Years ago, I was smelling skunk for days and couldn't locate the source, it was all around the house.  Then one day I heard scratching noises at a downspout, all my downspouts go underground where they join together and then exit some distance behind the house.  I opened the joint where the downspout meets the underground pipe and the most pitiful scraggly skunk came out and made its way to the woods.  Days later I found out why the skunk didn't exit the way he came in, a downpour washed out the remains of skunk that apparently died behind the survivor.

[Handy Don 13,373]

5 hours ago, lynnmor said:

 

Must be difficult to live in such a controlled place.  Around here it's bang... done.

At times. Discharging a firearm in our county is just too dangerous--way too densely populated. 

The usual solution is to properly prepare the animal to become road kill (), roll over it, and then call the DPW to remove it. 

Edited Friday at 11:19 PM by Handy Don

[Beap52 1,207]

Just like Pullstarts fine video, the first skunk I trapped was rather nerve wracking in dealing with it.  Called conservation office and all I got was scolding because it was not the season to trap.  Tried to explain it was under my porch and that was not acceptable and I was asking them to help with removal or tell me what to do.  Basically was told I was on my own.   Not knowing what to expect, I wore rubber boots, rubber gloves, goggles, old clothes and my best dust mask.  Walked up there with tarp, laid it over and loaded the live cage with skunk inside onto trailer.   The next two, I used sheets that I have to protect floors when painting.  A farmer lets me bring them to his farm and Mr. Ruger makes sure they don't return. 

 

I am mulling around that next time when I remove the sheet to use the sheet to flip the trap up side down and hopefully the door will fall open allowing the skunk to escape.  The farmer doesn't care if I release live skunks in his timber.  One of my concerns is the farm is only 3 miles from my house and from what I understand they need to be ten miles away otherwise they very well could return to pester me.  

 

 

[Horsin'round 168]

The dogs usually take care of them for me.  Unfortunately,  that comes with it's own set of problems...