Best way to "deal" with a skunk without getting sprayed?

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  • Indy_Guy_77

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    Apr 30, 2008
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    There's at least one, and probably more, that have taken up residence in/around our quiet little suburban cul-de-sac.

    My wife & I are tired of it...and the neighbors even more so (They have dogs).

    Any thoughts / advice on trapping & removing this little polecat without getting sprayed?

    Note: Cannot involve the use of firearms due to legal restrictions.

    -J-
     

    CHCRandy

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    Feb 16, 2013
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    Set a box trap. Once you get the critter.....walk up with a tarp covering your body in the front and throw the tarp over the trap. Now you can pick the trap up leaving the tarp over the trap. I guess you could then set the trap on another tarp and wrap the bottom tarp over the top tarp. Then transport to where you want to release and reverse to release.

    You could always use a bow.......
     

    SkullDaddy.45

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    Dec 25, 2012
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    0hio
    Rent a live trap from any of the pest control places near you. Put a little bowl of cat food in it. When you catch him, take a regular bed sheet, wet it down real good. Hold it up in front of you as you approach the cage, and gently throw it over it. I used to be a maintence man at a apt. complex in Portage. We had to do this at least twice a week. The wet sheet really works. Good luck and have fun!
     

    Indy_Guy_77

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    You know - I never thought of the "approach trap while shielding yourself with a tarp" deal.

    Interesting. In other words - spraying's gonna happen no matter what, might as well just mitigate it.

    This critter just oozes stink. It's walked under our open bedroom window twice in the last few weeks. Gotta shut the window or stink up the whole house. Sheesh.

    AND it's crapping in my yard.
     

    Kurr

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    May 18, 2011
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    LOTS of trappers use 10cc of acetone in a syringe on a pvc pole. Google "skunk pole" or "skunk dispatch pole", you'll get the idea and application technique.
     

    Indy_Guy_77

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    Don't you have any friends with some NFA goodies that might camouflage the use of firearms to eliminate this pesky pest?

    I may know a guy or 12.... Ahem.

    But a suppressed .22 is still illegal. And I'd just as soon not get myself (or someone else) jammed up over a pest elimination.
     

    mom45

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    Nov 10, 2013
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    They don't necessarily spray when you approach them. Don't leave them in the trap too long...the longer they are in there, the more irritated they become. We've trapped several. My husband has a big tractor innertube that he cut to make a "sheet" of rubber. He has a hole in it for the handle of the trap. He walks up slowly and CALMLY talks to the skunk as he approaches so it isn't surprised when that piece of rubber is placed over the trap.

    He then puts it on the truck and takes it to where he wants to release it.

    Don't forget to take a stick or something to prop the trap door open with so you can open it and walk away from it before the skunk exits the trap!

    We've released many this way and the only one that ever sprayed was in the trap for several hours as he had forgotten about it. By the time he decided to take it for a ride, it was pretty cranky from being in that trap. It sprayed before he got the rubber "shield" in place.
     

    poppy

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    May 4, 2012
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    I use a trap made from round PVC pipe. Skunk goes in, door closes. Skunk cannot spray since it cannot lift it's tail. FIL has my trap now so I can't check for sure but I believe the trap has a 6" opening, but not sure. Do a search for pics. Forgot where I ordered from but was not that expensive.

    edit-check snare shop.com trap i have is very similar to the 2nd one down on their home page.
     
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    Expat

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    Approaching the trap walking backwards. They will think you are walking away and won't spray you.
     

    mbills2223

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    5_56mm_M193_Ball_455x338_r.png


    Don't miss

    PS This was a joke... :n00b:
     
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    pirate

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    Trapped dozens of skunks over the years due to pole barns around us. Best method that has never failed me. Canned cat food in a box trap you can buy from any rurul king/bigR/tractor supply. When you catch the skunk...and you will because that cat food is like crack to them....Approach the cage with a soaking wet towel. Throw towel over cage pick up and haul away/dispose of as you see fit. The wet towel absorbs the spray if they choose to. However, I have never once had one spray using this method I have probably trapped close to 50.
     

    BehindBlueI's

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    Oct 3, 2012
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    Bribery.

    Oh, or paint a white stripe on the back of your neighbor's cat, then the skunk gets all stalker and moves to your neighbor's place.

    pepe-le-pew-warner-brothers-animation-30976078-1024-768.jpg
     
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