How do you handle a skunk caught in a live trap????

[woodmort]

Quote:
Don't scare them though unless they've been descented. Also you may be required to have a permit to own one, legally you can't just go out, capture one and tame it. I had a friend that captured a baby skunk, brought it home in a box and put it on the kitchen table--was ok until the cat jumped up to examine the box.

BTW, not all coons, skunks, bats, cats, etc automatically have rabies but suspect those that are acting atypical: out in the daytime, unafraid of humans, staggering or acting aggressive.

 

[FarmerRob]

Quote:
In our recent attempts to foil the raccoon predators around here, we inadvertently live trapped a skunk. Fortunately, I had draped a tarp over the back half of the trap the night I set it b/c we were expecting rain and I didn't want the bait to get washed away. It turns out that was a good move. When I saw Pepe le Pew in there in the morning, I sloooowly approached the cage and pulled the tarp all the way over the cage. I then got a second piece of heavy duty construction grade plastic and draped that over the top of the tarp. Next, I took an old bed comforter and placed that on top. I secured the sides of those coverings with nearby rocks.
I then proceeded to hook up the tailpipe of my car with aluminum foil and a drain pipe and tucked it under the tarps. Twenty minutes or so later, Pepe was asleep and pushing up daisies shortly thereafter. That's how we dispatched all of the critters we caught. No mess, no drama.

Rocky. Our first trap tenant. He was the SMALLEST (that trap is 42 inches long).
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/43104_7-11-10_raccoon.jpg

Brilliant!!! That I will have to try. I have used tarps draped over the closed and baited end of the trap, just to keep them from attacking the trap at that end. It seems to help get them inside if only one end looks open. But I never thought of dispatching them that way. I don't live in skunk country per se but those stinky rascals have been seen in my neck of the woods from time to time over the years. When I was a kid we ran over one on a dark country road. Daddy had to sell that car, it was never right again.

 

[aprophet]

Quote:
Don't scare them though unless they've been descented. Also you may be required to have a permit to own one, legally you can't just go out, capture one and tame it. I had a friend that captured a baby skunk, brought it home in a box and put it on the kitchen table--was ok until the cat jumped up to examine the box.

BTW, not all coons, skunks, bats, cats, etc automatically have rabies but suspect those that are acting atypical: out in the daytime, unafraid of humans, staggering or acting aggressive.

Many an entire family has had to receive the rabies shots because a skunk they kept as a baby did not develop rabies symptoms until they had it as a pet for a while, and the animal had to be destroyed as well . . Skunks are available for purchase a number of different ways capturing one and trying to keep any wild animal is always a bad idea.

 

[chickenboy21]

Quote:
In our recent attempts to foil the raccoon predators around here, we inadvertently live trapped a skunk. Fortunately, I had draped a tarp over the back half of the trap the night I set it b/c we were expecting rain and I didn't want the bait to get washed away. It turns out that was a good move. When I saw Pepe le Pew in there in the morning, I sloooowly approached the cage and pulled the tarp all the way over the cage. I then got a second piece of heavy duty construction grade plastic and draped that over the top of the tarp. Next, I took an old bed comforter and placed that on top. I secured the sides of those coverings with nearby rocks.
I then proceeded to hook up the tailpipe of my car with aluminum foil and a drain pipe and tucked it under the tarps. Twenty minutes or so later, Pepe was asleep and pushing up daisies shortly thereafter. That's how we dispatched all of the critters we caught. No mess, no drama.

Rocky. Our first trap tenant. He was the SMALLEST (that trap is 42 inches long).
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/43104_7-11-10_raccoon.jpg

what a cute raccoon

 

[woodmort]

Quote:
True, the same is true of an adopted kitten--happened to my aunt and her family(cost them the family pet dog too) but that doesn't automatically make it a fact for every one.

Actually there are domesticated skunks that can be purchased from pet outlets that are raise specifically for pets. If I remember correctly, however, one needs a permit from NYS DEC to own one though.

 

[Rooster#3]

i have caught aquite a few skunks over the couple years i have ben trapping the best method i have found is quietly sneahing up on the trap and shooting the skunk with #5 shot in a 20 gau o/u shotgun at 10 yards with a full choke it kills instantly and there isint any (mess) the skunk dosent spray and the shotgun dosent ruin the trap. i have tried to youse 22s before but it isint as easy or humane kill and if you get unlucky the skunk will spray and theres a chance of denting your trap.



Roo#3

 

[chickenwhisperer]

Quote:
FALSE

Actually, the smell of another skunk is the best bait for a skunk trap.
Especially during spring.

A sprayed trap will attract a skunk faster than any other bait any day of the week.

Always make sure a trap is covered, you never know what you might catch . . .



Quote:
It would be wise to assume that EVERY skunk you see is a carrier for rabies.
It is estimated that 80% of all skunks carry it, and the other 20% WILL be exposed to it . . .

 

[woodmort]

Quote:
I'd be interest to know where you're getting your statistics since rabies is fatal that would pretty much eliminate the skunk population. It isn't working around here--it is increasing since they are no longer a valuable fur bearing species.

 

[The Tinman]

I just prop the door open and wait until night time for it to walk out. Skunks are very heavy sleepers so If you want you could move it with care. I never had a problem with a skunk attacking my chickens and I don`t think I will.If I catch a critter in the trap it gets put into the critter relocation program.

 

[Lbrad7]

Quote:
I'd be interest to know where you're getting your statistics since rabies is fatal that would pretty much eliminate the skunk population. It isn't working around here--it is increasing since they are no longer a valuable fur bearing species.

I can tell you his facts are exactly right, at least in North Georgia. The rabid skunks and coons have had over 80% infection rate and I found that out from personal experience. We trapped a coon and a few days later found its kits in the yard. Mom was already dispatched so we tried to find a home for the one kit that was still alive.

We have an animal rescue center here but its accross the line in TN. They reluctantly took the baby in but had to report it to the state and since we lived in GA both TN and GA health depts were notified. My youngest daughter had mentioned that she had let the kit suck on her finger and within two days we had state health depts from TN and GA and the CDC in Atlanta ringing our phones off the hook and local ASPCA banging on the door. They had sent the kits head to the lab in Nashville to be tested and warned us that if the results didn't come back within another day, we would all have to get our rounds of Rabies vaccinations. It is some serious stuff...they told us that exact figure that the chickenwhisperer gave you of 80 percent and higher infection rate and said that they were actually dropping vaccination bait blocks into the wild to try and bring that number down but werent having much success. Soooooooooo long story short..the Whisperer is dead on at least according the Tennessee and Georgia departments of health.

Better safe than sorry....dont even handle the dead unless its with a shovel.

James