skunks

[lagpmgdsls]

how do you "deal" with a caught skunk?

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Personally...I'd work a plastic bag around it so that it can't spray you and put it in a barrel of water with weight on the top so that when it releases the sac...you won't be around to enjoy it.

Or...you could just shoot it.

 

[terrib]

From http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/epublic/pages/publicationD.jsp?publicationId=864

"...Once a skunk is captured, approach the trap slowly and quietly. Gently cover the remaining portion of the trap with another blanket. When kept in the dark, skunks are less fearful and less likely to spray. Avoid jostling the trap as the skunk may become frightened and spray...."

"...Skunks that cannot be released within 100 yards of the capture site, should be euthanized. They should not be released in another location because of the risk of rabies transmission...."

There's additional informat on that site that might be helpful. Remember that another skunk will fill the niche left by this one, so you will need to make some changes, removing or blocking what attracted them.

 

[Love my Critters!]

I definately wouldn't relocate it. We choose to shoot the ones we catch. You will need to cover the cage with something to keep the skunk calm if you are going to have to move it to get rid of it. My husband shoots them with his 12 gauge and they are dead before they hear the shot, but they do spray. Just about anyway you kill them, they are going to release the scent. I prefer not to drown them just because I can't imagine the panic they must go thru before dying ( thats just my opinion, others will disagree). We just shoot 1 clean shot and they die instantly. We buried the skunk we recently shot on our property, I buried it 3 feet deep and another skunk came and was digging it up

so my poor DH had to dig it up and take it out into the country and rebury it. He said it was the worst thing he had ever smelt in his life (it had been buried about 1 1/2 weeks, plus the skunk scent smell) So choose wisely what to do with a dead skunk

 

[deerman]

A good shot with a 22, from 20 feet away. at that range anyone should make a clean shot. clean shot no spray, they still have a smell nothing like if they spray. Noway would I try to move one in a trap.

Have trap many , have never been spray ,not going to risk it now.

 

[19Dawn76]

I know that if you pick up a dead skunk then toss it somewhere like over a fence it will STILL "spray". Found that out the hard way.

BTY I have found that a mixture of baking soda , peroxide and dish detergent (like Dawn) will help if you get sprayed.

 

[deerman]

If you hit the scent gland, or break in any way you will release the contents. Shot Guns , cars , or throwing one , all can break the gland open. Also when the dead skunk starts decaying.