Skunk? Help identify

[77horses]

We've noticed that on our lawn and our neighbor's lawn there are fairly small holes everywhere, along with dog-like, black droppings(that smell really bad).

The droppings seem to have remains of beetles and bugs in them.
The holes look like they came from an animal with a pointy snout and they are in different places, so it's not from a raccoon(since raccoons usually shred up the lawn).
We found some foot prints and they are about 1 3/4 inches long, with 4 toes and claws. Not sure if these are from something else not related to the creature that is digging the holes or not.
We are thinking it's a skunk. Whatever it is has also gotten into our trash and the neighbor's trash a little, and it has been foraging by night.
Any ideas???
Thanks!

 

[fordmommy]

With a skunk you should be able to smell it in the area. Sometimes up to a mile. Do you keep your windows open at night? If not, try it. If it's a skunk, you'll know!

 

[nnbreeder]

Most skunks don't stink. Many have them as pets that are not descented, a little musky smell but not bad. They may stink a little if they recently sprayed and the wind was right. Most of the time they don't get any on themselves though.

They are big on eating bugs and their favorite seems to be the white grub that lives just below the surface of your lawn. Little dig marks all over like you describe. With the tracks the front claws will be very prominant as they are long. Used for digging and tearing at rotten wood.

And on the trash I would vote Racoon or dog on that one, skunks are not big on climbing unless it's up the steps to eat cat or dog food.

http://www.projectwildlife.org/living-skunks.htm

 

[Mahonri]

I don't know of anyone who has a pet skunk that hasn't been de-scented... That would be dangerous.

 

[BantyRooster]

From the sound of it, the small diggings, it's a skunk. Telltale sign of a skunk, it's rooting for grubs and worms in your lawn.

If you have access to a live trap you should be able to catch it. Buy some night crawlers or red worms and put a few of them in a clean tuna can wired to the bottom of the trap. That's what the skunk is looking for to eat, and will prevent you from catching non-target animals.

Make sure the can is located so that the skunk can't get to it unless it enters the trap(ie: put it dead center so the animal can't reach thru the wire sides of the cage to get the bait.)

Cover the top and sides of the trap with a blanket or old piece of carpet. This will help in two ways: one, it will feel more secure in going into the trap, and two, it will help keep the skunk calm after it is caught and you approach the trap.

Warning: skunks do have sharp teeth and WILL bite you. Use extreme care in handling the trap with a live skunk in it. Also, skunks are known carriers of the rabies virus. Do not shoot them in the head.

If you want info on dispatching the skunk humanely PM me.

Good luck.

 

[Iowa Roo Mom]

Can you post pics of the scat?

 

[deerman]

Yes, thats a skunk, they will stink a little even de-scented ones do, not as bad as the spray, but if you smell around the ground you will know. sound like a skunk to me.


Yes i also know people who had pet ones not de-scented. Unless something scrare them the tame ones dont spray. If tame they are not afraid of you, but watch out for dogs.

Sold many that were de-scent you need to give them a bath daily. Still have a skuck smell ,just not real strong.

 

[deerman]

sorry double post

 

[CMV]

Sounds like a skunk, but honestly if you don't NEED him gone I would not recommend trying to get rid of him unless you plan to hire a trapper to do the deed. Ask Boyd about his experience with trapping skunks.

I have had one living around my yard for almost 2 years now. S/he dug a den under my deck earlier this year, but we evicted it by training a motion sensor light on the den. I contemplated trapping it, but thought better of it. I consulted trappers, but it was too expensive to hire them. In the end, the skunk is still around. It hasn't bothered my birds, but I have secure housing. It sprayed one of my dogs (the puppy) last fall, but now the dog is sensible enough to avoid the skunk. We have an uneasy truce and I can live with that.

 

[77horses]

Thanks everyone for all the responses!

A few days before all the holes started showing up, we did smell a skunk close by.
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Will skunks be a danger to our chickens or our neighbor's chickens?