Skunk trapping advice

[runamuk]

So it seems I have some skunks and last thing I want us my dog tangling with them.  If a person were gonna tackle eradicating them how would you go about it? I have a couple live traps.  I have an aversion to getting sprayed so specific advice on avoiding that would be great.

prepares for the inevitable slew of ridiculousness

[huntandjeep]

Live trap and a .22 to the back of the head.

[Woodchuck]

Step 1: Have a friend with a camera hold your beer...

[DOUBLELUNG]

Set the live trap inside a burlap sack, pillowcase or other porous cover.  They won't spray if enclosed.  I'm confident enough in that, I've transported numerous live-trapped skunks in the trap inside the sack in the backseat of my car (I did my early control work out of a 1980 VW Rabbit).  Take them somewhere quiet, open the trap and let them wander out on their own time.  Once they are 20 yards or so hit them with a load of fours.

[runamuk]

Live trap and a .22 to the back of the head.

Umm the back of a skunks head aligns kinda directly with its but and where the stink comes from.

[runamuk]

Step 1: Have a friend with a camera hold your beer...

Volunteering for the job there Commodore?

[jackelope]

Step 1: Have a friend with a camera hold your beer...

Volunteering for the job there Commodore?

[Woodchuck]

Step 1: Have a friend with a camera hold your beer...

Volunteering for the job there Commodore?

Rain check. 

[runamuk]

Set the live trap inside a burlap sack, pillowcase or other porous cover.  They won't spray if enclosed.  I'm confident enough in that, I've transported numerous live-trapped skunks in the trap inside the sack in the backseat of my car (I did my early control work out of a 1980 VW Rabbit).  Take them somewhere quiet, open the trap and let them wander out on their own time.  Once they are 20 yards or so hit them with a load of fours.

I have a rather abundant water situation thought swimming might be more convienent.

[idaho guy]

totally enclose the live trap with carboard or something. if they cant see out they wont spray.(would work the same as the burlap sack idea)This sounds cruel and you can let em out and shoot them if you want but best thing is to put the cage in a horse trough or something and drown them. FYI I got sprayed and my truck stunk for a week after shooting one in the head in the live cage. Works sometimes but that method is definitely not fool proof 

[Bofire]

I have always been told set the trap, leave it, when you come back to trap throw a cover over it and they will not spray, just like a sheet or something.  Let me know if it works??
Carl

[runamuk]

Any reason a black trash bag wouldn't work?  Have lots of those. 

OK so best bait options?  I can't run to the store so kinda need to find something I have here.

[idaho guy]

I have had issues trying to cover a live trap after the fact. I have done it but a lot of times a person coming at them with  a big sack or something gets them spraying. I like sardines for bait because they send a lot of stink out!

[DOUBLELUNG]

Any reason a black trash bag wouldn't work?  Have lots of those. 

OK so best bait options?  I can't run to the store so kinda need to find something I have here.

I don't know that a trash bag won't work, give it a try.  Canned catfood, sardines, tuna, bacon, scrambled eggs, peanut butter all work - my go-to was sardines.

[runamuk]

I have had issues trying to cover a live trap after the fact. I have done it but a lot of times a person coming at them with  a big sack or something gets them spraying. I like sardines for bait because they send a lot of stink out!

Yeah no desire to create more stress to the animal or risk to me.
I have wet dog food, chicken bones, cans of skipjack tuna.

[Machias]

I have trapped about 400 skunks.  Best bait in town if you just want to catch skunks and not the neighborhood cats etc.. is Vanilla Wafers.  Every once in a while you'll still catch a cat but they don't return after the first time.  Drowning works, BUT you have to lower the trap in slowly.  If you plop it in, there will be an oil slick and it will stink and so will you.  99% if you slowly lower the trap in they drown without any smell.  If you shoot them about 75%+ of the time when they die they will release their musk.  I have driven them around and as long as you are gentle you can put the trap in your vehicle and drive around, just don't take any corners too fast and have your cage roll around and don't get into a fender bender!  Reason you DON'T want to use a black trash bag is most of the bag will be in pieces, inside the trap when you come back.  Reason you don't want to cover the trap AFTER you catch them is about 75% of the time they will get nervous and spray as the blanket is put over the trap.  Cardboard or a heavier tarp taped around the trap is best, or even better is to use a solid side trap, such as the PVC pipe traps.

[runamuk]

Thank you that helps a bunch.  House cats are not an issue not even a tiny bit.  The only other things I might get are opossum, coon, squirrel, bobcat, cougar.  I live miles and miles from any other people.

[huntandjeep]

Live trap and a .22 to the back of the head.

Umm the back of a skunks head aligns kinda directly with its but and where the stink comes from.

Boss has killed easily 100 skunks this way over the years. Never been sprayed. 

[idaho guy]

the bait you have on hand will work great. I am pretty sure anything will work on a skunk!Some definitely better than others  but that stuff will work good.  I agree the plastic bag will be shredded. 

[Axle]

Chicken eggs are great bait too. They love eggs!
And if you decide you really want to shoot one, aim for heart/lung. A head shot will just get a lot of flopping and spraying and OMG stink! 
With a heart/lung shot, they spray much less.

[4fletch]

Leave them at PETA a  headquarters

[gramps]

Drown as Machias says.  I  have never shot one in a trap in the head that did not spray..  I use a plastic trap now that is built for drowning.  Good Luck

[runamuk]

One more question where to set the trap.  I know where they are going under one bldg. As for regularly used trails these things run around like they are drunk. I have never seen so many tracks everywhere.  They don't seem to have a regular path.
How about this trap ?

[4fletch]

When winter breaks try spreading moth balls where you don't want them

[runamuk]

When winter breaks try spreading moth balls where you don't want them

If I am here then I will.

[Squidward]

I recommend putting a board under the trap. they can and will dig like crazy. I had one pull about two inches of dirt, grass and roots up in the cage. it was at this point the cage was stuck to the ground. shot in the head of a skunk even without being in a trap just eating will still spray, say clear. Good Luck. Squid

[pnwmtnmn]

Live trap and a .22 to the back of the head.

Umm the back of a skunks head aligns kinda directly with its but and where the stink comes from.

Boss has killed easily 100 skunks this way over the years. Never been sprayed. 

I can almost guarantee he shot them in the back of the neck, severing the spine and not in the back of the head.

[jasnt]

Every skunk I ever shot sprayed no matter where. Water bath or injection pole with acetone has been my best luck.  Little fish for bait has worked very well for me but striped skunks is all I've delt with

[stockingfoot]

OK, I have to admit to not trying this yet. A few skunks have hung around my place [Glenoma, Wa.] the last two years for a little while but moved on before I felt urged to take action.
My idea is to fill one of my metal stock tanks with water. Lay two 2x4s length wise on the tank. Place live trap on top. Move the 2x4s apart to side edges of trap, bait and place a cover over
trap. They will not spray if they don't see you. Place a ramp so skunk can reach trap. When tripped check from a distance at end to be sure it is not your cat. Have a previously
fastened cord or rope tied to one of the 2x4s near each end of trap. Pull cord and drop trap into water. Bubble Bubble. I don't see why this should not work. My tanks were being used as chick breeders, but now they are laying eggs, so I will try it if they return.

[Machias]

When you yank the boards out the trap is going to drop into the water.  Your going to end up with an oil slick and one stinky area.  When I drowned skunks in the past I would slowly lower the trap into the water.  If you drop it the will be startled and spray.  If your trap is covered, you can just walk right up and quietly pick your trap up and then take it over to your tank and take care of business.  Also, very unlikely the skunks will walk up the planks and into your traps.  Skunks rarely climb.

[stockingfoot]

Machias, thanks. I will take that into consideration.

[runamuk]

I just wanted to thank everyone, I trapped the one that was under the house. Let's just say I now have a designated pair of skunk trapping boots.  I under estimated how heavy a skunk might be, and overestimated the depth of my swimming hole.  It was messy to say the least.  But I learned something, next time use a skunk trap and have a dedicated tank.  There are worse things in life than smelling a little skunky.  As long as the skunks don't cause problems with the guests I won't have to do any more trapping. And if I do well then I will figure out a better system.

2016 the year if 12 packrats.
2017 so far 1 skunk.

[runamuk]

Make that 2 skunks.

[Timberstalker]

2 for the good guys!  Nice work Run.