Skunks? And how to trap: UPDATED!

[what did I do]

Skunks go here when they start eating pet food. A skunk will get mad and spray if not fed. Skunks eventually have to go.

 

[Gargoyle]

I read that if a trap is tight/small enough that they can't raise their tail, they won't spray. But don't take my word for it.

 

[colburg]

I read that if a trap is tight/small enough that they can't raise their tail, they won't spray. But don't take my word for it.

I have a couple of Havaharts, but I think I ended up with some trap-wise coons after a while. There would be fresh prints AROUND the trap, but nothing IN the trap. I needed to mix it up and layer my defenses to catch them.

The dog also needs to stop diggin out of the yard so I can set some regular foot traps to get the fox I saw yesterday morning.

 

[Greyfox Farm]

Try a Duke dog proof trap; they're great for coon AND will take skunk as well. They only run about $12 or $13. From my experience, if you get a clean head shot on a skunk in a trap he's much less likely to spray. .17HMR to the head and it's instant lights-out on a skunk and he won't spray, or at least not much.

 

[chickortreat]

Drowning is not an option with a DP. Lead poisioning is the only option. A small bit of lead at around 1200 feet per second.

Why in the world is drowning not an option with DPs?

 

[Gargoyle]

Why in the world is drowning not an option with DPs?

Because you would have to pick up the skunk and hand carry it to the body of water. After you do that, you wouldn't have to buy perfume for months.

 

[chickortreat]

I would think that logic would apply to ANY trap used, and not just to DPs specifically, which is what I inferred from Greyfox Farm's post.

 

[Gargoyle]

I would think that logic would apply to ANY trap used, and not just to DPs specifically, which is what I inferred from Greyfox Farm's post.

with a havahart, you can put a blanket over it to calm the skunk and carry it, then release it. Not with a DP.

This image should explain the difference. (it's a big file, 2 mb)
http://cdn.backyardchickens.com/2/2b/2bbda5e5_2012-07-02_08-35-19_349.jpeg