Not caught yet but how to remove a skunk from Havahart live trap?

[sixdogs]

I haven't caught it yet but my quest for a raccoon may find me with a skunk in a Havahart live trap. If that happens, how do I get it out of the trap?

Trapped possums and raccoons go to a local wetland area for release and I would like to do the same with the skunk, should I catch it. Maybe better to just let to go and hope it leaves town? But how do I do that to get close enough to the trap to open the door? I'm a tough guy but not when it comes to skunks. Any advice welcome.

 

[Oaktree]

Had that happen maybe 5 years ago. What made it even more challenging was that the trap was between 2 woodpiles, and you couldn't get around it or easily escape. My wife was braver than me, and just snuck up and opened the trap. The skunk wandered out and apparently was grateful enough that it did so without spraying.

 

[riptides]

Get a nice vinyl plastic work tarp. A big one, hold it over your head (covering your body outline) as you slowly approach the skunk in the trap. Place the tarp over the trap, make sure you know where the handle is, don't leave too much tarp over the entrance. Relocate accordingly.

As long as your calm and patient, you should have no issues. They are pretty docile animals. With poor vision.

 

[BigBlue1]

When I've had that issue with unwelcome visitors I usually place the trap a good 50yd from the house. When one gets caught I send it a little sleeping pill (usually .22") and then wait a half day to go out to scoop the trap up with the loader and take it to the back 40 to empty.

 

[stucknutz]

.22 from a distance always did the trick for me!

 

[ponytug]

Get a nice vinyl plastic work tarp. A big one, hold it over your head (covering your body outline) as you slowly approach the skunk in the trap. Place the tarp over the trap, make sure you know where the handle is, don't leave too much tarp over the entrance. Relocate accordingly.

As long as your calm and patient, you should have no issues. They are pretty docile animals. With poor vision.

I use a large towel, or blanket, and do as you suggest; hide behind the towel and move slowly.

My $0.02: Know where your handle is, and where the release is before you start! Our trap design is one that is not trivial to release one handed.

We often see skunk families around here, but rarely on our property. One memorable occasion was encountering two adult and six little ones on a nearby trail. Almost as soon as we saw them, they all got spooked as we rode by on horseback. Eight tails and butts were suddenly pointing our way. The horses didn't seem to understand why we were suddenly insisting on getting out of Dodge pronto.

All the best,

Peter

 

[LHF2019]

Have trapped many skunks and never had one spray. I release right where at. Walk up to trap open dump walk other direction.

 

[RSKY]

Very simple. Once you see the skunk in the trap get a large sheet or tarp and walk toward the trap holding it up in front of you. I wrap in around my hands and walk on it kicking it forward. I don't let the skunk see a hand or foot. When you get to the trap drop the sheet over it and wrap it tightly around. You can then feel around and find the handle and pick the trap up and take it out to a field or in the back of a truck. One young lady at our church would put them in the back of her mother's minivan and the mom would drive them miles away before releasing.

Anyway, once you are at the release point stand the trap on end, uncover the door keeping the sheet around the trap and carefully open it and use the hook to hold it open. (I also use a wire tie) The skunk will be on the bottom watching but will not spray. Set the trap down, grab an end of the sheet firmly, and rapidly walk away pulling the sheet as you go. Then you wait until the skunk finally decides to leave the trap and wander off.

Now for the rest of the story.

I release everything I trap except skunks. We had one spray under our house about 10:00 at night ten years ago and it was a nightmare. I had to go back in the house to get my billfold and keys and holding my breath with a hand covering my mouth and my nose pinched shut I could still TASTE the smell. We were out of our house for two weeks. Had the house cleared of the smell in a week when another sprayed outside and put us back out again. So the skunks I trap usually die of lead poisoning. Specifically 12-gauge, 3 inch, #4 buckshot with 41 pellets lead poisoning. I shoot them in the trap then go purchase a new trap. Let the trap set for a couple days then put it in a large heavy duty trash bag using gloves. I tightly close the bag with the gloves inside and put it in the trash for pickup.

I know people say that skunks are beneficial and should not be killed but we were out over two thousand dollars and our insurance company over ten thousand when that one sprayed under our house. The agent said that they had some people leave their house on vacation for two weeks and skunks got in the air conditioning vents and sprayed. When that happens the central unit and ductwork have to be replaced. Everything in the house has to be replaced. The agent said that the people and the insurance company would have come out cheaper if the house had burned to the ground and it was a large expensive house. When the one sprayed under our house my wife had to throw away flour and sugar stored in (supposedly) airtight containers.

I have never been sprayed but I have had one very close call in fifteen to twenty that I've caught. I used to release them but don't anymore. I released one using the method mentioned above and it was a large male during the breeding season. He was aggressive and stormed out of the trap very angry and hissing. If they are hissing they are about to spray. So I was running backwards and had my shotgun with me. Forgetting that I have a blind spot in my right eye I shot three times missing by a large amount. Once I was at a safe distance I switched aiming eyes and shot him right in the part that was aimed at me.

Good luck.

RSKY

 

[the old grind]

Use marshmallows for coon bait with live traps. Possum and skunks forage by smell and won't be attracted. 'Coons hunt by sight and MMs look like eggs, so they'll find them even in the dark and take an immediate liking to the taste. Stake or weight your traps so that litter-mates don't tip them over and allow escape. (BTDT)

Smaller live traps as used for squirrels are tops for skunks. If they can't raise their tail they can't spray. I take most all catches for a swim off the dock while in the trap. Old bait and critter poo get soaked and rinsed off 'naturally' with minimal mess. Twenty years of saving .22 LR ammo.

 

[CH4Ohio]

I haven't caught it yet but my quest for a raccoon may find me with a skunk in a Havahart live trap. If that happens, how do I get it out of the trap?

Trapped possums and raccoons go to a local wetland area for release and I would like to do the same with the skunk, should I catch it. Maybe better to just let to go and hope it leaves town? But how do I do that to get close enough to the trap to open the door? I'm a tough guy but not when it comes to skunks. Any advice welcome.

I'm pretty sure that you're not permitted to relocate trapped racoons or possums. If they're nuisances, you can trap them and kill them, but can't release them on another property. You cannot and should not relocate skunks either. Shoot it.

As far as skunks, I once had an exterminating company say they would place a trap by a dumpster for free. But they charged $250 to empty it once a skunk was caught. As mentioned above, they dispatched the critter by shooting it with a .22 from a distance. (This was several years back. I'm sure the price is MUCH higher now.)

 

[scootr]

Just wondering if you could not put a remote release pull line on the trap?

 

[oosik]

I use to burn my garbage in a burn barrel. Didn't take long to figure this was attracting - coons and skunks. I quit and now these two pests are rare. If I do see one, I let them go on their merry way.

I still see the occasional porcupine. They are dead meat here. They cause irreparable damage to my pine trees.

 

[MMC]

I haven't caught it yet but my quest for a raccoon may find me with a skunk in a Havahart live trap. If that happens, how do I get it out of the trap?

Trapped possums and raccoons go to a local wetland area for release and I would like to do the same with the skunk, should I catch it. Maybe better to just let to go and hope it leaves town? But how do I do that to get close enough to the trap to open the door? I'm a tough guy but not when it comes to skunks. Any advice welcome.

I am fortunate to live on a farm and enjoy wildlife...to a point. I guess I am the sort of person that says, "If it doesn't need killing, leave it alone." Enjoy the privilege of observing - most of the country doesn't have that opportunity anymore.

I understand some might look upon a skunk with affection. I am not one of them. The stories in this thread really explain why. The skunk's spray is one of the most concentrated liquids around. They can temporarily blind a dog...much less yourself. The spray soaks in and remains on surfaces for a long, long time. That includes you and your pets.

Additionally, at least in KY, they are a reservoir for rabies. Trying to psych a skunk out of a Hav-a-Hart trap is going to be hard (getting the door up and open when dealing with one is going to be difficult without a bad outcome). And I use these traps a lot.

Shoot it in the trap - you don't need this animal around your home or your pets. A .22 is fine - if the round deflects, shoot again. Enjoy skunks on TV show documentaries...

By the way, plus one on marshmallows for raccoons. And please don't tell me how cute they are (I have a garden and orchard)...

 

[drssg]

Have trapped many skunks and never had one spray. I release right where at. Walk up to trap open dump walk other direction.

I'm surprised that you had good results with releasing the skunk right where you caught it.

I periodically get skunks that are determined to live in my barn, within the pallets that hold my hay. I tried relocating one to the far corner of my property. It was back in my barn within a few days. (At least I think it was the same one.)

If I knew anyone that wanted my skunks, I would relocate them somewhere else, but I think it's rude (and probably illegal) to relocate them without permission.

I drop the trap in the shallow end of my pond, so it's mostly submerged. Then I shoot the skunk while it's under water. This helps to minimize the odor. After burying it, I still need to wash all the clothes I'm wearing, but the general smell in the area isn't too bad.

 

[CH4Ohio]

I'm surprised that you had good results with releasing the skunk right where you caught it.

I periodically get skunks that are determined to live in my barn, within the pallets that hold my hay. I tried relocating one to the far corner of my property. It was back in my barn within a few days. (At least I think it was the same one.)

If I knew anyone that wanted my skunks, I would relocate them somewhere else, but I think it's rude (and probably illegal) to relocate them without permission.

I drop the trap in the shallow end of my pond, so it's mostly submerged. Then I shoot the skunk while it's under water. This helps to minimize the odor. After burying it, I still need to wash all the clothes I'm wearing, but the general smell in the area isn't too bad.

You are correct that it's illegal to relocate them -- even with permission. Not allowed in Ohio.

You have to get permission to place a trap on someone else's property, but otherwise, "permission" doesn't enter into this discussion.

 

[LHF2019]

Trying to psych a skunk out of a Hav-a-Hart trap is going to be hard (getting the door up and open when dealing with one is going to be difficult without a bad outcome). And I use these traps a lot.

Open drop walk away. Works every time.

I'm surprised that you had good results with releasing the skunk right where you caught it.

I periodically get skunks that are determined to live in my barn, within the pallets that hold my hay. I tried relocating one to the far corner of my property. It was back in my barn within a few days. (At least I think it was the same one.)

If I knew anyone that wanted my skunks, I would relocate them somewhere else, but I think it's rude (and probably illegal) to relocate them without permission.

I drop the trap in the shallow end of my pond, so it's mostly submerged. Then I shoot the skunk while it's under water. This helps to minimize the odor. After burying it, I still need to wash all the clothes I'm wearing, but the general smell in the area isn't too bad.

Usually catch 1 a year when trying to catch raccoons in sweet corn. Have never caught the same one twice. Have nothing against them so let them out. I don't know why I have good results.

 

[Dftodd]

We had a skunk. And a weiney dog that kept trying to sniff said skunk

I tried a live trap for about 5 hrs, then had to come up with a different plan.

Caught a stray cat.

Caught the weiney dog.

Caught a different stray cat......

I ended up just waiting for it to show up and put a bullet in it

I then put some skunk repellant crystals around the areas it usually went to.

Surprisingly enough, after we got our German shepherd, the skunks stopped showing up

 

[BnRidge]

If it looks like a skunk is facing you, don't assume it needs to turn around to spray you. One little tail flick and your it. A blanket between the two parties works fairly well. Even tiny skunks have working sprayers.

 

[CH4Ohio]

Surprisingly enough, after we got our German shepherd, the skunks stopped showing up

Ditto on the effectiveness of German Shepherd Dogs. My GSD started snarling and growling and dived into some weeds and immediately tossed some black and white fluffy thing into the air about 6 feet high. He got point-blank plastered with spray and the smell didn't ease up for over a week. He was a teary snotty drooling miserable mess. But he DID kill the skunk.

Glad I was lucky enough to be about 20 feet behind him when this encounter started!

 

[ponytug]

Just wondering if you could not put a remote release pull line on the trap?

True Hav-a-Hart traps can do this if they are staked or weighted down. My knockoff, has a latch that prevents animals from prying the door open, but for skunks, it means that you need two hands.

I use to burn my garbage in a burn barrel. Didn't take long to figure this was attracting - coons and skunks. I quit and now these two pests are rare. If I do see one, I let them go on their merry way.

I still see the occasional porcupine. They are dead meat here. They cause irreparable damage to my pine trees.

That's exactly why we don't compost here either.

We've only caught one live skunk, but we released it 40' away and it went on its merry way never to be seen again. In twelve years, we've caught two skunks in squirrel traps.

I alway handle skunks assuming that they have/had rabies, and I handle ground squirrels as if they have fleas (plague risk).

FWIW: The baking soda plus hydrogen peroxide plus Dawn works really, really well in my experience. One wash gets 99+% and another bath a week later gets the stuff sank into the skin and hair and leaches back out.

Deodorizer wash for skunk sprays

All the best,

Peter