I caught a skunk, now what???????

[stinkbelly]

I have been trying to trap whatever made a hole through the skirt of my house to the underside. My wife and I both saw an opossum on two occasions in the area so we thought that is what I was after. I have been gentle in trying to trap because we had skunks mating under the house this past spring and I wasn't positive it was an opossum. Long story short, I caught a skunk about 2 feet from the hole. He is in a live trap with a pile of fruit. I need to do something with him, but I don't want to stink up the house again. He is also on the south side of the house and my wind always blows from the south.

What are my options. I have heard of using black plastic to cover and remove him. That is supposed to work 50% of the time. I have heard to shoot him in the head with a 22. That is supposed to work most of the time. The problem with this is the holes are 1/4" x 1/2" . A shotgun will cause a little leakage, but may destroy the trap.

He appears to be a younger (smaller) skunk. I am not sure if they spray more or less than older ones.

I know, whatever I do video it and post it.

[singleshot]

The bag sounds good, but don't you have to get close to put the bag on the trap? Sounds a little risky. If you do that, cover yourself with trash bags first in case you get the spray. I personally would shoot him.

[bowmedic]

Cover it, move it slowly covered away from your house. Animal control will give them a shot with a pole and they die without spraying.. if your out n the county a 22 behind the ear will do the same thing but I have seen them spray doing that too.. good luck

[chris1911]

and dont forget the video!!!!!

[southpaw]

If you shoot it, keep a little distance. When I was a kid my aunts had a skunk living under their house. We saw it run out one day and I took off after it with my 410. When I found it in the weeds it was about 15 feet from me. I let her have it and her last move was onto her back and there was a solid stream of the stinky stuff that shot out and missed me by only inches.

[doug.murray]

I had a bad skunk problem at the shop a few years ago and had to call a private animal control company to come out and take care of it. He used the solid plastic traps that kind of looked like a mail box. Once a skunk entered the trap he would simply turn the trap up on the back end so it was standing vertically with the open end up. Then he would fill the trap with water and drown the skunk inside the trap. Never sprayed but he always let them sit for an hour or so before removing so there wasa no chance. Not sure if you can get in a situation to drown this critter but it will work. We ended up catching over 20 skunks without getting sprayed one time. Good Luck!!!

[18ncs]

and dont forget the video!!!!!

Glad this is not my problem and I candor back and watch. Good luck.

[Joe H]

Use a pole and slowly drag the trap away and shoot him. I have done this and the skunk never got excited.

[Andy]

OK Ihit this by accident once shot a skunk with my longbow. Perfect heart shot no smell this was in my back yard at night. Had my son hold flashlight to do it. I later found out all my years of trapping and catching skunks when growing uo out of the chicken house. We would shoot them in the head with a .22 still get the spray no matter what. Somebody on here had posted shoot them in heart no blood pumping to muscule no stinking spray comming out. I caught several in hav hart traps at boss house in Bulverde two people very carefully pick up trap from each end don't tilt carry it away down wind sit it down to where you can get a bullet into the heart of skunk. It works no smell but you have to hit the heart.............Andy

[Andy]

Are you trying to live up to your name there Stinkbelly or change it to just STINKY...... LOL....... Andy

[Peacock]

hhhmmmmm.....I bet things might get a little stinky either way you go.

[texan16]

Congrats on the catch, but now you are in a bind. I have trapped many a skunk while trying to catch coons and possums and I have yet to find a guarenteed method of killing them without them spraying. Since it sounds like you live in town, I guess you should just carefully drag the trap as far away from the house as possible, stick the barrell of your .22 right behing the ear, and shoot him. He may spray a little or he may not. It's a crap shoot. Good luck.

[denimdeerslayer]

A buddy would leave a rope tied to the trap so he could drag it over to the tank.

[scooter1982]

call a professional... or call peta and tell them that you are going to drown it unless they come get it... then pi$s it off and take a video!

[Blood Trail]

Dude, can't wait to see how is unfolds.....