In a funk about the skunks!

[llombardo]

I have skunks, they were around way before chickens. It really doesn't take much to attract them. They literally play in my front yard. If you have bugs, they are there.

Years ago I was trying to catch one of the cats I have now. She was under a bush, so I laid down and was talking to her, trying to gain her trust. I look up and there is an oppossum about a foot away tilting his head trying to figure why this human was laying on the ground. He went around me because I decided to play dead..lol. Lost the cat and I heard the bushes moving, so I approach and surprise it was a skunk. I was pretty close, about 2 feet away. I froze, he looked at me, turned around and lifted his tail. I spoke softly and walked backwards, once I was about 5-10 ft away he continued on. They really have to feel threatened to spray. Until I caught the cat, the cat, the oppossum and the skunk hung out every night.

 

[Chickassan]

Lol! You had a backwoods zoo!
Yep, you're right i'm doomed to have skunks forever and I know it.
This little guy, the only reason i'm even messing with him is his poor timing.
He's out just as i'm locking up and my flock are jerks to things in the yard.
11 jerks to one little skunk is stinky shenanigans just waiting to happen.
I'm thinking of the skunk as much as i'm thinking of my own cold self.

I have skunks, they were around way before chickens. It really doesn't take much to attract them. They literally play in my front yard. If you have bugs, they are there.

Years ago I was trying to catch one of the cats I have now. She was under a bush, so I laid down and was talking to her, trying to gain her trust. I look up and there is an oppossum about a foot away tilting his head trying to figure why this human was laying on the ground. He went around me because I decided to play dead..lol. Lost the cat and I heard the bushes moving, so I approach and surprise it was a skunk. I was pretty close, about 2 feet away. I froze, he looked at me, turned around and lifted his tail. I spoke softly and walked backwards, once I was about 5-10 ft away he continued on. They really have to feel threatened to spray. Until I caught the cat, the cat, the oppossum and the skunk hung out every night.

 

[surlefeu]

Oh goodness!! If you find something that works let me know!! We had a skunk come up on our porch yesterday and my golden retriever will never smell the same again! ... I’m not sure my eyes will stop watering from her smell.... That is the second one in less than a week. I wish I could help

 

[MissChick@dee]

Do you have animal control where you live? I trapped 10 skunks this summer.
Actually easy to trap. A can of cat food. The trick is to keep the trap covered. I used a tarp and even a sheet after the first four or five ripped the tarp to shreds pulling it into the wire of the trap. I used rocks to secure the cover. This is KEY! They stay calm if your slow about movements and not loud around them. I have picked up a covered trap and walked over and put it in the backend of a pickup. No spraying. Disposal is a different thing. The first one I felt sorry for so I drove it miles away down the canyon and let it loose. It just waddled out of the trap turned looked at me and went on about its way.
When I became bombarded with them...I’d trap them and my friend would take them to skunk heaven.
If you see one...you probably have a whole family.
Trapping and not getting sprayed not a problem. Disposing of them a different story. There are many ways to do this but I’m not going to post them here. Best wishes

 

[MissChick@dee]

Just so you know I feel your pain. We got 7” of snow last night. Two set of tracks coming to my property. I could see perfectly where they went. So....here’s a six toed varmitt that’s poking around. Sigh...now it looks like coon’s have found our yard

 

[Chickassan]

@MissChick@dee, has a terrifying point. You probably don't want to know how many you actually have.
I'm doomed, I live surrounded by woods and a water source and have a loose idea of numbers due to some old peanuts thrown near my fence.
On peanut night I counted 34 skunks of various sizes. Next night no nuts,no skunks.
So if you want to find out for "science" lock your pup inside and put out some peanuts...

Oh goodness!! If you find something that works let me know!! We had a skunk come up on our porch yesterday and my golden retriever will never smell the same again! ... I’m not sure my eyes will stop watering from her smell.... That is the second one in less than a week. I wish I could help

 

[Chickassan]

Easy to take care of, you know their track now.
Put your trap on track and no more coons.

View attachment 1643393 Just so you know I feel your pain. We got 7” of snow last night. Two set of tracks coming to my property. I could see perfectly where they went. So....here’s a six toed varmitt that’s poking around. Sigh...now it looks like coon’s have found our yard

 

[MissChick@dee]

Ima tired...lol
Can’t a girl catch a break

 

[PollyGirl21]

Have you thought about a strobe light?
I've heard that it confuses and deters predators.

 

[llombardo]

View attachment 1643393 Just so you know I feel your pain. We got 7” of snow last night. Two set of tracks coming to my property. I could see perfectly where they went. So....here’s a six toed varmitt that’s poking around. Sigh...now it looks like coon’s have found our yard

I thought I was the only one taking pictures of tracks...lol

The only ones I found were a cat(at least I think it's a cat) and a squirrel. Now the squirrel could have been a rabbit until I followed the track to the tree.