live trap+ skunk + labor

[skyjoshin]

Hi everybody. So, here an interesting story/dilemma. We posted about a severe wing injury to one of our ducks a couple weeks ago. She is healing up good. We caught the culprit within a couple days. It was a medium sized male skunk. We were trying to figure the best way to dispatch of him, when a friend offered to haul him far away and release it. Which he did. Anyway, we caught another skunk 2 days ago. I figured we would just drop the trap and all in the holding pond. I have a theory that leaving them in the trap for a couple days and offering cat food and water, will calm them down enough to approach the trap and put a garbage over it without getting sprayed. It worked on the last one. Well, I went out this morning to do the deed and noticed something small and kinda bloody in the trap with the skunk. At first I thought maybe a mouse had wandered into the trap and been caught, but on closer inspection, I realized the skunk was in labor. She gave birth to 3 babies there in the live trap. I'm quite a bleeding heart anyway. The calming is mostly an excuse for me taking that long to steel my nerves to kill them. So, now we are facing killing a new mommy skunk and 3 babies... ugh. I'm not sure I can do it.
What do you guys think?

 

[KettermanHillCoop]

See if your friend will relocate the family to where he released the other one?

 

[skyjoshin]

See if your friend will relocate the family to where he released the other one?

It was my brothers boyfriend, and A)he isn't around and B) my brother said NO MORE SKUNKS IN HIS CAR. Lol. And I highly.doubt I'll find anyone else to help relocate it. Nobody wants to haul a skunk around. I'm considering just letting her out, I think I know where her den is. It's on the property. Maybe I can just leave cat food out for her. Plus I keep the trap set up in the one place they were able to dig under the fence. So, if she tries to get in again, she'll just end up back in the trap. Damn, this is an interesting dilemma. Lol.
Also, have you ever seen newborn baby skunks? They're at least cute as any kitten, puppy, chick or anything else. Maybe cuter, with their stripes. Let me see if I can get a pic

 

[Lazy Farmer]

We were trying to figure the best way to dispatch of him, when a friend offered to haul him far away and release it

Here in Florida, we are required by law to dispatch anything we catch in a live trap. Except panthers.
Even if we relocate a small snake, if we are caught we could face charges for cruelty to animals. We were told by State officials that relocation of wild life subjects them to cruel and unusual torture and punishment by other animals already occupying the area and defending their territory.. to the extreme. We were told it is more humane to shoot a nuisance animal in a trap than to torture it by subjecting it to territorial deputes.
We use to relocate too, until we spoke to a state law enforcement officer.

So, now we are facing killing a new mommy skunk and 3 babies... ugh. I'm not sure I can do it.
What do you guys think?

Call the humane society or someone similar to take them off your hands. They are licensed for such duties.

 

[CCUK]

Wow. This is a dilemma. If you release the mother and babies they will still be around. Could you fortify your coop and run more so they can't get in?

 

[KettermanHillCoop]

Baby skunks grow up to be adult skunks. An adult skunk injured your duck. Skunks are a rabies vector species. I would rid yourself of potential problems.

 

[KettermanHillCoop]

Where are you located? Each state has their own regulations in regards to nuisance wildlife... Here in PA, this is ours...

 

[skyjoshin]

Where are you located? Each state has their own regulations in regards to nuisance wildlife... Here in PA, this is ours...

We are in rural Utah. Our fish and game have told us we are on our own, unless it's a dangerous predator, like a cougar, wolf or bear or an endangered species. We found an injured peregrine falcon a couple years ago, and it took almost a month for them to come get it. I think we had healed it by the time they contacted a rescue and somebody came to get it. For the most part, the services here in our county are very poor.

 

[skyjoshin]

Here in Florida, we are required by law to dispatch anything we catch in a live trap. Except panthers.
Even if we relocate a small snake, if we are caught we could face charges for cruelty to animals. We were told by State officials that relocation of wild life subjects them to cruel and unusual torture and punishment by other animals already occupying the area and defending their territory.. to the extreme. We were told it is more humane to shoot a nuisance animal in a trap than to torture it by subjecting it to territorial deputes.
We use to relocate too, until we spoke to a state law enforcement officer.
Call the humane society or someone similar to take them off your hands. They are licensed for such duties.

I never thought of relocating animals in those terms. I guess it kind of makes sense. Though, I think I would want to do some research. Also, there may be a huge difference in population density between where you're at and where we are. Thanks for that info though. Very good information to consider.

 

[KettermanHillCoop]

We are in rural Utah. Our fish and game have told us we are on our own, unless it's a dangerous predator, like a cougar, wolf or bear or an endangered species. We found an injured peregrine falcon a couple years ago, and it took almost a month for them to come get it. I think we had healed it by the time they contacted a rescue and somebody came to get it. For the most part, the services here in our county are very poor.

Then I would dispose of the skunks...