OT Skunks

[HCooke]

Have a large deck with a distinct odor of skunk coming up from underneath it. Dog has been excited about something there for week or so. Deck is less than six inches high and I cannot see back that far to confirm my suspicions. Any way to discourage it (them) and encourage them to move on? Mothballs?

 

[LisaK]

Maybe its dead under it? We have a shed out at the farm and one day the yard just reeked of skunk...upon further investigation in the front corner we could see the dead skunk just under the shed. Wasn't enough room to pull it out and I wasn't about to dig it out either. So i'll be interested to hear if theres any preventions that can be taken

 

[steve19438]

I have read that cat food makes them sick. never had reason to prove it though.

 

[R Geiger]

Get yourself a short legged dog. We had one that was death to skunks. miniature dachshund.

 

[js305]

Don't believe it, they will eat just about anything. I used to feed the wild cats out in one of my sheds, mainly to keep them around for mice, etc. I noticed the cat food going faster and faster and decided to try and see what I was feeding besides cats. One night I slipped back out about an hour after feeding and found a mama and three little ones all chowing down like there was no tomorrow. I moved the feeding place up on top of a large barrel and the consumption went down.

 

[teddy52food]

Lewis Lye where it goes in and out.

 

[Bob]

You don't suppose there's some of the new, more potent "mary jane" growing under there, do you? (No, I don't touch the stuff, but it has been brought to my attention by some folks that DO that some of the newer varieties REALLY stink!)
WIKI

 

[reddogge]

Hav-a-heart trap baited with canned peaches. When you catch it approach the trap with a small blanket hiding you and your feet from the animal. Talk gently to it as you drap the blanket over the trap and wrap it around the trap. The skunk will not spray and you can transport it to where you let it go. Prop the door open with a stick and pull the cover off of the door area. It should just walk out and away. I've trapped quite a few of them under my house.

 

[CBull]

Pipe trap is easier than a box trap and blanket.

6 inch stove pipe or PVC pipe and make your own doors for one end or both ends, rig up a door trigger and toss in some bait.

The 6 inch pipe is small enough that the skunk has a hard time or can't spray at all, also dark inside so the skunk relaxes, so much so that they seem to not want to leave once you move them elsewhere.
Tip, just open one door and step back and wait, shaking them out could be bad!

With a box trap you can also fasten wood or cardboard to all sides and not have to mess with the blanket.

Neighbor had skunks in his wood pile several years ago; tossed moth balls in as far into the entrance as he could... next day he found a pile of moth balls a couple feet outside of the entrance. "Smart little stinkers, probably back in there just laughing".
Same neighbor is a master electrician, that night he rigged up a bright light above the wood pile, no more skunks for him... so they took up new residence under my shed and two trips with the pipe trap got the female and 4 cute little ones.

I hear they make good pets, not for me.

CBull

 

[Ken(Ark)]

Can you you use a pump sprayer with a bleach mixture ? Ten to one mixture will kill most germs and make it look pretty too . If your deck is solid you could drill a 1/4 hole in the back corner and pump in a stronger bleach mix . might be enough they decide to leave .

 

[Billybuck]

Snare at entrance. Simple, effective, economical, 24/7. Kinda like an N tractor.

 

[jon]

I can assure you that shooting one in the trap is not a good idea....
Good luck though.

 

[teddy52food]

When trapping foxes I get some skunks in the traps too. I shoot them with a .22 short with no stink. Just like taking out a cat or rabbit etc. Got to know where to hit them.