I purchased a Havahart trap to catch whatever's been lurking around my chicken pen. But what do I do if I catch a skunk? How does one relocate a skunk without getting themselves or their cars sprayed? I am afraid to set the thing before I have planned for such a smelly contingency.
I've posted before that I have a friend who is a Federal wildlife biologist whose main duty is eliminating troublesome animals. Earlier this year, he was getting rid of a skunk. He live trapped it and his plan was to put it down with a shot from his high powered air rifle. It worked fine. The skunk was in the live trap and he walked up to administer the coup de grace. Suddenly, another skunk raced out of the brush and let him have it and got him good! LOL! Skunks stick together! Neither skunk survived the encounter but the damage was done. He had to drive home in his government truck, fouling it with skunk. Bottom line is, if you get a skunk in that trap you will most likely have to kill it on the spot and be prepared for chemical warfare.
Wife and I were having this exact same conversation when we put the trap out for coons. In fact, the next night I smelled a skunk as we went to bed and I was really worried what we'd find in the morning... fortunately no skunk. I think I heard animal control will come out to our place and take care of a skunk. Even if I had to pay them, or one of those Critter Cather companies I'd do it.
Get a big sheet or sack. SLOWLY walk up on the trap from the door side holding the cloth in front of you SHould be big enough to hide most of you and especially your feet. Slowly drape it over the cage. Walk around behind the cage and with the cloth draped over all but the door slowely open it and back away . If your going to kill it, get ready. They will come out of the trap but it might take awhile. THe key is they never should see you and slow movements. Shot gun works best for killing with usually minimal stink. Let us know the out come. Had to do this 4 times this year and it worked for me. Trap may be unusable for a few weeks till it de oderizes. Coons would not go in mine after the skunks for a few weeks.
Antler's method works for me. I've relocated skunks too, and the best thing to do is move slowly! They can't see very well. I won't tell you how I kill them...... but I've never gotten sprayed.
I had a skunk and couldn't get animal control or wildlife to come and get it. Animal control said to shoot it and Wildlife said to relocate it. Wildlife said to approch slowly and cover trap to keep skunk calm, then just pick up trap, put in back of pick-up and take it down the road to release it. My neighbor waits till they are asleep in the trap (since they are nocturnal) and just slowly gets close enough to shoot it in the head. Still smells REALLY bad.
Depending on how big the trap is they might not be able to spray you. Correct me if I'm wrong but to spray skunks need to be able to lift their tail all the way up. Now I don't really want to test this theory out but it's just a thought. If you are dead set on releasing it then antler's method sounds the best to me.
Quote:That's what I"ve always been told too...that if the trap is small enough they can't get their tail up they won't be able to spray.
Quote:Shooting in the head causes more smell. It kills them instantly but that causes the body to convulse and the muscles tighten and they let go of their charge. A lung shot will not USUALLY cause body convulsions and less ahh.... leakeage shall we say. BB shot in a shotgun will usally kill instantly but not with the body convulsions as a single slug to the head will. After 52 years on a farm I have had a lot of practice....
A show I watched had the guy do the slow approach with a large poly tarp. I'd think this would be a good idea just to make sure nothing permeates through!
