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Cherokee County, Northwest Iowa | Caught a skunk in Hav-a-hart trap yesterday in old barn. Asked the brain trust at noon lunch today what to do-of course got all kinds of advice, but everybody too busy to stop out and actually help. Realized that my sentimental old 4430 was sitting about 15 feet away, hated to see that thing start smelling, so found some courage and got a game plan. First covered trap with a piece of black plastic at end of pitchfork, all the while singing "Silent Night" (that time of year). then covered trap a second time with an old quilt. Started tractor and backed it out in a hurry- still good-to-go, parked tractor in other shed for winter.
Came back to barn, now starting to smell just a little, not a full blown job. Since the only Christmas party I get invited to every year is tonight, decided to stop, let skunk spend a nice warm night under the quilt in the dark.
Suggestions of what to do tomorrow? put a piece of plywood next to trap, gently roll trap 90 degrees and pull out into the field. shove a pipe under quilt and hook up to pickup exhaust? Leave well enough alone and do nothing? not enough water in creek around here to drown a skunk.
Will check back after party looking for advice. thanks. bruce. |
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| My wise old neighbor told me once, "shoot him in the ass and he can't spray you." I've never tried since he told me that but my dad has and he said it worked well. (no warranty is either expressed or implied) |
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central Indiana | I just put an old sheet over the cage and hold my nose |
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West Central Wisconsin | datyerdog? - 12/5/2012 19:15
My wise old neighbor told me once, "shoot him in the ass and he can't spray you." I've never tried since he told me that but my dad has and he said it worked well. (no warranty is either expressed or implied)
Old wive's tale. Never worked for me! I'd try sticking a pipe under the quilt and see what a can of 80% JD ether would do spraying it down the pipe. Matches would be plan "B". Joe |
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Central Il Morton | You have the trap covered so attach a leash and teach it to swim!
Or the exhaust under the tarp works to. |
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NM | If you keep him covered, you can just walk in, pick the trap up, and walk out. He won't spray. |
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| The next thing to do after trapping it is of course posting a picture, it kills them when you take their pictures, something about trapping their soul in limbo... ;) |
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Gettysburg, PA | soak a partial roll of toliet paper in gasoline and then put it under the tarp. And if I lived near you, I'd invite you to my X-mas party:)
Edited by conservation cop 12/5/2012 19:32
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SE SD | call humane society or peta, let them know they need to rescue and release him
back to nature :lol |
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Elkhart, Illinois | I have tried diesel exhaust and gas exhaust for an hour at a time. It never worked. I have shot them in the neck to the point where the head was hanging off and still sprayed. Best way I found was a big tarp, wrap him up and drag to the field. Shoot him and go pick up trap later during a very strong wind
Edited by black dirt 12/5/2012 19:49
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Midwest | Call HSUS and have them deal with it. |
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NC Iowa | i caught a skunk in a live trap in the machine shed. i covered it with a rug, tied a rope (long) to the trap, and very slowly slid the whole works across the shed and out the door a good ways. it did spray when i shot him, but at least it wasn't in the shed. |
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| I had a landlord that used to tie a long rope to the trap.Then once he had one caught he would pull the trap and the skunk someplace out of the way and shoot it in the head. |
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thumb of michigan | A few Phostox pellets thrown into the trap should do it and humanely too. |
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Princeton, Indiana | I have successfully removed a skunk from a live trap by throwing a tarp over the cage and opening the trap door. But you must have PATIENCE. It took a lot of talking to Mr. Skunk and a lot take a step forward, wait another step forward, back up wait, step forward. Repeat. |
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| Caught one this fall in the lambing nursury. Shot him through the lungs/chest hoping he couldn't spray if he couldn't get his breath. Didn't work, but the smell did disappear after 2 weeks. Hopefully the smell isn't back in February when the barn gets warmed up. Not sure anything will help. Best thing is just do it and get it over with. |
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Wisconsin | All summer we have been using a old blanket to cover the trap they spray. Being confined under the blanket It hasn't smelled too terrible carefully place on tailgate of truck drive to the open field and unload trap. I let the owner shoot them now after he open's the trap and start's shouting at the top of his lung's to shoot it it's getting away when it hasn't cleared the door yet and I'm laughing so hard I can't shoot from the tear's in my eyes and doubled over. So now I open the door carefully and try to clamp it open with a vise grip but normally they are out and clear too busy running for it as I drop the door and boogie up wind and he plug's them with the 20 gauge. Would like to think we are thinning them down but saw some this weekend running into the culvert's with the warmer weather yet.Also if it does spray something and you want to disperse the smell mix some Dawn dishwash liquid to loosen the oil, peroxide and baking soda to neutralise the smell a bunch. A whole bunch better than tomato skunk perfume.
Edited by Farmer at heart OG. 12/5/2012 20:16
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swmn/soin | Had an uncle who caught them alive....if he saw one in an open area he would start circling around it and all the while getting closer and closer till he could pick it up by the tail, then they can`t spray ya anymore. In the trap tho I think some swimming lessons would be the best. |
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Central ND | How about a propane weed burner without the flame to gas him to death? Do it slowly under the tarp though.
Skunks are quite tuff is some ways. the have many lives more than a cat does .It takes hot sun to dehydrate them...-0 f weather in the snow won kill them in weeks of exposure as long as can lay "into the snow"
Tuff smelly littel boogers |
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Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot | I can't believe the number of people that shoot them, seems like asking for it. I've never had one spray. Once you have them trapped it is so easy, throw a tarp or black plastic sheet over the trap and take it for a swim. Stock tank is more than enough. Unless your into being humane, then take it to a liberal neighborhood where being humane is appreciated, and turn it loose. |
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Kettle River, MN | Well whatever you do Do Not throw a blanket over the trap and then tip the trap into a 55 gal drum filled with rain water.... unless it is a smaller trap which can completley submerge in the water. According to the neighbor it will climb to the top 8 inches of exposed trap and spray all over the garage and you will end up shooting it anyways. |
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Eastern Half of Kansas | One neighbor says they'll live forever if you wait on them to die. I caught one last week so I sent the neighbor kid that has been in critter control and is half nuts, he just walked up no sheet or tarp and opened trap and then shot as it went out. His dad says walk up and cover with sheet or tarp and relocate and drown or take and open trap and blast him. I caught one again two days later I decided to take care of, it was near pond dam, I shot and killed him in head, rolled trap upside down, used 18" channel locks and dumped trap and left it and trap to air out, stunk a little but had a good wind. 11 coons and 8 possum, now caught two skunks in a row................I think it's time to move traps. |
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| We have trapped lots of skunks,and we just put a blanket or plastic over the trap and baptize them in a 55 gal barrel. Or you can do like my brother did when his wife caught one! He made her go open the door and he ran the shotgun! Had a neighbor in critter control that says skunks are no big deal,just dont get nervous! I dont care if I never have to get another one. |
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Ohio | Give him a dunk in the water trough. |
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S.E. Sask. | I had a skunk get caught in the live coon trap this fall. We don't have enough of them to be a pest so I wanted to let it go alive if possible. Maybe I was just lucky but I was able to slowly and carefully use a couple of long sticks to open the trap hoping this would keep me out of range if it did get a little defensive. The skunk ran off without leaving a scent. Takes time and patience though. Not sure if I'd have that much patience again. |
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Mid Michigan | I let one out once without any trouble at all. The skunk was sleeping in the trap during the day and I just used a long 2x4 to push the trap door back open and left the board in the door with it wedged open. Later that day or night he just left and never sprayed anything. |
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| nt |
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| Call Billy |
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Sac & Story county IA | I have always just shot them. Dump it out of the trap and into the loader bucket with a pitch fork. It only takes about half a minute. Hold your breath but the smell starts coming in your eyes.
One time I had to drive to the bridge in reverse, I couldn't stand to be behind the loader. |
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West Central Iowa | Just do as my wife did. Years ago she was up early and heard a small kitten cry out. The skunk had the kitten in it's mouth just behind our house on the patio. So she grabs the closest thing laying around, which was an old kitchen skillet. She then proceeds to knock the skunk on the head with the skillet and runs back into the house. The skunk drops the kitten and of course it sprays it's load. She's yelling for me to get the gun as I'm still lying in bed trying to open my eyes. By the time I find the gun and shells the skunk is gone. Never saw the skunk again and the kitten lived to a ripe old age. True story. Smell went away eventually. Thanks for helping remember the story. |
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| I usually just leave them alone. Last one I HAD to shoot was so sick could barely stand up, plus was blind as a bat. Most sick ones I guess has rabies and didnt want that around. Picked my spot where I did, always heard shoot thru the lungs so they cant pee. This one didnt stink till I shot him and his relaxed muscles let her leak..
I took the skid loader and dumped a nice load of dirt on him and no more stink. always heard of throwing the blanket over and carry it away. Long sticks to open a trap? You gotta be kidding they dont make sticks that long.
When I was a kid we had the bright idea of shooting a skunk at 40-50 yards. We decided that we would shoot and as quick as possible roll up the car window. We did but he was quicker,,,,they can shoot the stink a very long way. (REALLY fast too) |
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NW Iowa. / SW Arizona | Funny story, thanks for sharing. You need to work this into one of your sermons sometime, they'd get a kick out of it :-). |
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West Central Iowa | Good idea Mark. You have me thinking. |
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WC Indiana | Take a cheap tarp without holes, toss it over the trap. If they can't see you they won't spray. I've done this several times. |
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Trapped skunk, now what?
