Now what do I do?

[3Ts]

Went out to the barn the other morning and opened up the door and saw this:


Crap! I've got a critter that's hiding in the barn. Left the doors open all day hoping it would leave. This morning I go out and find more damage, so it didn't leave. We have possums come thru regularly and there are coons and feral cats that roam thru here that have stopped by but never did any damage. So I bought a live trap cause I didn't want to kill the animal, just wanted it out of my barn. I did find it hiding in the wall so set the trap and caught it tonight. OH OH, it's not a possum, it's a skunk! Now what do I do? The skunk is in the trap, the trap is in the middle of the barn.

Question is how do I get the trap with the skunk in it out of the barn without setting off the odor? Second question is how do I get the skunk out of the trap without getting sprayed. I'd rather not shoot it, but that option does exist as a last resort.

 

[npalen]

I've heard that a skunk can't spray if you pick it up by the tail. (Let us know how that turns out.)

 

[japody]

I've heard that a skunk can't spray if you pick it up by the tail. (Let us know how that turns out.)

Get a blue tarp. Hold it in front of you as you walk up slowly talking in a soft voice. Lay the tarp over the trap and pick it up gently. It's worked for me 3 out of 4 times. Glad no one took pictures of me running around that 4th time with me in my underwear. Took a lot of tomato juice to get rid of the smell.

 

[MossRoad]

Yes! Get a tarp and hold it up wide in front of you. The skunk is a weird animal, in that if it doesn't see you, it doesn't remember you're behind the tarp. Hold the tarp up and out to the sides as far as you can. Don't show your face or feet. Walk slowly up to the trap and lay it over the trap.

Then take a deep breath and calm down. Slowly feel for the trap handle and slowly lift it up and slowly take the trap outside. You may feel the skunk walking around in the trap, but just move really slowly, like the bomb squad!

Take it out in the yard and decide if you want to release it or dispatch it. That's up to you. If releasing it, feel around for the trap door and slowly release it. It can be hard to prop the door open, though, depending on the trap. Then back away and pull the tarp with you as you run!!!

 

[MossRoad]

 

[dirttoys]

Get a blue tarp. Hold it in front of you as you walk up slowly talking in a soft voice. Lay the tarp over the trap and pick it up gently. It's worked for me 3 out of 4 times. Glad no one took pictures of me running around that 4th time with me in my underwear. Took a lot of tomato juice to get rid of the smell.

I thought I was the only one ever to do this!! I think my wife did take pictures......

If you have an x or hoe, bury the tarp, trap, and skunk. If not a hose from exhaust to the inside of the tarp will save the cage............ let the car run just a little longer than you think you need to.

Best,

ed

 

[jaxs]

I seriously doubt Monsieur Pepe Le Pew did all that damage to wall,most likly some dumb critter trying to get at him.
The tarp in front trick sounds good as any to me. The county where I live has animal control so I've called them when I had a skunk in live trap. They appoarch the trap within about 6-7 foot and inject skunk with needle on a pole. They are dead within a few minutes and none have ever sprayed.
Just in case something go's wrong,have your wife video whatever you decide to do.

 

[lpakiz]

My Dad used this exact procedure a couple times, but he used an old over coat. Walked slowly up to the box trap with the coat shielding him. Gently and slowly laid the coat over the trap, picked up the trap, put it in the pickup and drove to a secluded area. Not sure how he opened the trap door, but he said the skunk was so glad to get free, he just ran and never looked back.

 

[Rockbadchild]

lol that sound like fun ... id snipe that thing with a .22 but that's me.

 

[3Ts]

The plan is to release the skunk this morning and the wife is supposed to get pictures. Not sure yet just how far the skunk will be removed, but I don't think it will be as far as I'd prefer. Probably release him down near the creek. Not sure how I'm going to open the trap door. This is my first rodeo with this so planning ahead is not as good as I usually do.

The damage is to the spray foam and that is not the only place. Everywhere he has access it is torn up. There is a 20' section on another wall inbetween columns where there is a 2' gap that he's gotten into and torn up the insulation there as well. The exterior of the barn is the steel "R" panels, then spray foam, and then 3/4" plywood. He's not getting thru the steel and I don't see any damage to the plywood either. The damage is only on the inside and only to the foam. The space between the R panel and plywood is 8" and he's been hiding in the wall cavity.

 

[MossRoad]

Good luck! It's exciting to say the least.

 

[ovrszd]

I suggest releasing it outside the normal travel distance of a skunk.

If not, it will beat you back to the barn.....

 

[JethroB]

Video would be best. It could go Viral on YouTube.

 

[3Ts]

It's free! Took him down to the creek and hope he stays there. Rather pretty and well behaved.

 

[ovrszd]

Of course he's well behaved. He's been living in the barn with you for quite awhile now.

Glad you got him out without incident.

 

[3Ts]

I suggest releasing it outside the normal travel distance of a skunk.

If not, it will beat you back to the barn.....

Yes, that is a concern. That would be about 2 miles. There is a benefit to having them around because of what they eat. Just need them to keep away from the house and stay out of my barn. There are periodic road kills within 2 miles, so they're out there even if this one is relocated.

 

[3Ts]

He's been living in the barn with you for quite awhile now.

There's only been damage to the insulation over the last 2 days so that's when I though he got in. However, now that you mention it, he's probably been there a lot longer. I replaced an air admittance valve on my sewer a few weeks ago because of the smell, but didn't see anything wrong with the old one. I typically open my barn door when I go out there and don't close it until I'm done for the day which can be well after dark. So, yeah, I think you're right.

 

[ovrszd]

Yes, that is a concern. That would be about 2 miles. There is a benefit to having them around because of what they eat. Just need them to keep away from the house and stay out of my barn. There are periodic road kills within 2 miles, so they're out there even if this one is relocated.

Yep.

Although I and most everyone else here would have laughed if you had gotten sprayed, I'm glad it turned out okay.

 

[RandyT]

In Illinois releasing the skunk is illegal. All trapped skunks have to be dispatched due to the risk of contracting rabies.

 

[Jstpssng]

In Illinois releasing the skunk is illegal. All trapped skunks have to be dispatched due to the risk of contracting rabies.

I shot one a few years ago because he was in the pen with my chickens and turkeys... then felt bad because he really wasn’t hurting anything. I sent him away though and he did have rabies.

Odd story... he was the first of only three skinks I’ve seen in the 20 years I’ve owned my place. The third was on my doorstep when I let my dog out... the dog jumped right over him and didn’t even realize he was there. The second was the strange one... I’d had a dream the night before about seeing a skunk cross the road onto my property. The very next day when I left the house, a skunk was crossing from my land onto the road in the EXACT spot I had dreamed seeing him going the other way.