I think I have a skunk.....

[ladybug99]

I think I have a skunk living under one of my coops. I noticed a few fairly large tunnels forming under each corner of one of my coops. I thought it might be rats, or even chickmonks. So I closed them up with some fresh dirt. I just went out today and noticed one has already been dug out again, upon futher observation I noticed some type of tracks in the soil. They are round in shape and not quite big as a nickel. The dirt has literally flung from the hole about 5 to 6 feet... so this little critter can dig!! Last evening I smelled for the first time SKUNK. And around the edges of the hole I can see traces of black and white fur.

I am not very concerned about my chickens as the coops are made from old box trailers, and there is really no way any animal can get in at night and thier run is pretty secure as well. My concern is the dog.. he is a foxhound/ cocker spaniel mix and loves sticking his nose in where it does not belong and the last thing I need is for him to be sprayed or worse yet bitten by this little fellow.

Any ideas on how to deter this stinky critter from living under my coop??? I don't own a gun so please do not tell me to shoot him...

Thanks

 

[nivtup]

Well, I feel sorry for your situation.

Having a skunk move in is no fun, been there, done that.

Rumor has it that moth balls work, although it did not work for me in the end.

We ended up at the county extension office, leaning how to build a skunk trap. Note that this is not a live trapping method.

Take a garbage can, and fill it 1/3 to 1/2 way with water.

Tape a page or two of newspaper over the top of the garbage can.

Place a ramp up to the top of the can, use a wooden plank, or a couple of boards.

Using a tin can, like a tuna fish can, place bait in can, and add water to cover 1/2 to 3/4 of the bait. For us crab shells were king.

When the skunk finally get up and into the bait, it gets water all over the newspaper, newspaper becomes weakened, and skunk, can and bait fall through into the water below.

After a period of time, skunk tires and drowns.

No smell, no mess.


I would advocate live trapping, however the trip to the forest would be horrible.



Good luck.

 

[zazouse]

Throw some moth balls in the hole and cover it back up if they are in there they will leave ASAP just make sure there are not any moth balls laying around after it leaves, very bad for birds that may eat them