Dead hen in the coop this AM

[chkn]

Boy, they just keep on coming.

You're going to have more visitors I think.

 

[aprophet]

Quote:
if there is any chance of catching a skunk I tie a 20-25 foot piece of rope to the trap I normally put a cinder block on top of the trap if I have to use a cage trap, with the rope. I drag the skunk out where I can dispatch it many ways to do this the best way is a baited conibear trap most do not spray, occasionally one leaks a little. Most skunks if spoken to softly can be calmed the main trick is no sudden movement there is a learning curve to this if they start looking agitated it may be wise to back off and wait a little for the animal to calm down and go in slower some days it takes 2 -3 tries to get it dispatched 30-60 minutes . The best trap is home made it is a cage trap but with no springs the door just fall down behind the animal google "muskrat colony trap" like this trap just a little bigger the good part about the trap is if you roll the trap over on its side the doors fall open then the skunk walks through the baited coni it works well if you cannot discharge a firearm. some folks put a blanket bed sheet etc over the cage trying to calm the skunk I have known a few that still got sprayed this way LOL

 

[Wild Trapper]

My method with skunks in cage or live traps is to slowly approach with a sheet or blanket and cover the trap. Then, after a time, I gently carry the trap away as far as I can carry it, to a place where I can either shoot it or turn the trap and release it alive. This warm spell has brought the critters out of their holes do wander around and get into trouble. My problem is, as I said above, I only have limited use of my right arm and am not supposed to lift with it. (Recent surgery to repair A-C separation). It is a very painful recovery, but the alternative was even worse. I summer heat, I've had them just expire on me before I could deal with them.

In the fall, when trapping season starts, I would set traps for predators around the place, except for catching the family cat, not cool, so I only do the nuisance thing with live traps. That is usually after the fact as well.

ETA: Guess I can't interest anyone in a free skunk!

 

[Cass]

Quote:
Throw a heavy plastic tarp over the cage. Maybe he'll go to sleep.

How much strength do you have in your right arm? Can you use some kind of hooked implement to pull the cage with your right ... like a small hand weeder? Or throw a tarp over it and use a potato hook to pull it out , from afar? Wish I lived closer, I would come deal with it for you, IF you supply the tomato juice.