SKUNK PROBLEM HELLLLPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Chicks in VA]

okay so i was having problems with a skunk in my pheasant coop and am still dealing with that but it didn't get eggs or pheasant food and it is having a hard time catching anything but it got in to my chickens and i need to be done with it so how do i catch it without luring other predators because i know there is a lot of possums around here that would love to get caught and eat skunk bait
i have 3 month old's and bantams out in a pen right beside y chicken coop and if the skunk gets in there it will be a mass murder
SOMEBODY PLEASSSSSSSEEEEE HELP

 

[coach723]

The most important thing you can do is secure your pen, make it predator proof. I would contact your local wildlife authorities and find out what you can legally do on your property. My understanding is that spotted skunks are protected in Virginia, striped are not, but catch and release of furred animals is prohibited in at least some parts of Virginia. Just don't want you to bring more problems on yourself unknowingly.
When it comes to all predators, prevention is much more important. If they can't get to the birds, they will move on. If they are successful they will continue to come back.
Here are some links that might be helpful.
https://dwr.virginia.gov/wildlife/nuisance/skunks-and-opossums/
https://virginiaprofessionalwildliferemovalservices.com/skunk-removal.html

 

[GermanKennhuhn]

I agree with @coach723

 

[Chicks in VA]

, but catch and release of furred animals is prohibited

well where i live you can legally harvest/kill any predator no matter what time of year if its harming or threatening your like stock but thanks for the heads up

 

[Chicks in VA]

at least according to a game warden who talked to us and i will try to secure it more

 

[Egg Blues]

Animals that dig under fences may be deterred by placing sturdy fencing flatwise on the ground immediately adjacent to the enclosure's fencing. It's tough to dig through a wire mesh, and who is determined enough to tunnel over a meter to get under it? Of course, unless this is pinned down, or has sufficient grass or weeds growing through it to hold it down, it could be lifted by an intelligent critter. But laying fencing like this is much simpler than trying to dig down all the way around the coop and pour a concrete barrier.

 

[BugStalker]

Animals that dig under fences may be deterred by placing sturdy fencing flatwise on the ground immediately adjacent to the enclosure's fencing. It's tough to dig through a wire mesh, and who is determined enough to tunnel over a meter to get under it? Of course, unless this is pinned down, or has sufficient grass or weeds growing through it to hold it down, it could be lifted by an intelligent critter. But laying fencing like this is much simpler than trying to dig down all the way around the coop and pour a concrete barrier.

We did that and covered it on the main run, so they would have a harder time figuring it out. The tractors have skirting that isn't covered, but we put a few rocks and bricks on it. Even when they can't get in, a fox managed to catch a hen through the main fence, only bending the wire a bit, so adding another fence too far for them to reach the main fence is a good idea. (Or, some chicken wire inside so the hens can't reach the side, or small enough fencing that predators can't reach through.)

 

[Chicks in VA]

okay i will try to do wire