Armed Polite Society
Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: Standing Wolf on August 18, 2009, 06:55:50 PM
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I thought I saw a skunk in the back yard about 2:00 in the morning a week or so ago. I definitely smelled a whiff of skunk in the house a few evenings ago. I saw a skunk sneaking under the deck in the back yard after this afternoon's rain and hail storm.
The deck is close to the ground, and covers an area about the size of a small bed room. I'm glad the skunk is there rather than in the crawl space beneath the house; I'd greatly prefer, however, the critter made its home elsewhere.
Does anyone know a good way to encourage a skunk to look for greener pastures without causing the varmint to unleash stink?
Thanks, eh?
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The Marlin model 60 does pretty good. In a pinch I have used a 250 grain .45 but that may have been a bit much. =D
jim
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Rat poison?
Meat soaked in antifreeze?
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(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ableammo.com%2Fcatalog%2Fimages%2Fmedium%2F22CB_S_L-med.jpg&hash=2e24078df4bd0847bd0983ca521f3d0f602f513d)
You might also want some of this (http://www.amazon.com/Thornell-Skunk-Off-Shampoo-8-oz/dp/B000HHQ8BQ/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1250637677&sr=1-4)
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Supposedly moth crystals work. Apply liberally - as in if you think you spread enough, go get another box and add that to the anout already applied.
Havahart traps are OK if you have someone else who will be pulling them out and dealing with the polecat. If you are elected, a few gallons of tomato juice may be a good additional item to have on hand.
Do you need/want to keep the house? If not, burn the sucker out! :angel:
stay safe.
skidmark
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Tomato juice is a waste of time. Get a bottle of the Skunk-off I linked to in my previous post. I've used it a number of times over the years on a couple different dogs and it works great.
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Touch off and nuke it from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.
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My friend and I were recruited to deal with a similar problem a couple of months ago.
Things we learned (that the internet won't tell you):
1) A skunk 18" long, standing 7-8" high, and 8 or so inches wide will fit through a hole 2x3". Plan accordingly.
2) Skunks are impervious to 95% of air rifles/ pistols available at Wal-Mart.
3) Skunks are silent, and move silently too. Don't even try listening for them. They will approach close to you, intentionally or not. They can charge you.
4) Skunk-stink: insoluble with water or water-based anythings (including tomato juice). Lighter fluid, gasoline, or denatured alcohol might work, but this remains untested. Skunk-stink smells like new tires and garlic up close.
5) Skunks will eat anything you or your pets eat. Smellier bait attracts better, of course, but a trap will just as likely catch possums or local cats. For some reason, egg and tuna salad works best.
6) Skunks are primarily nocturnal. Lights and/ or noise will scare them back into their hiding place, not away from it. Plan accordingly.
7) Skunks are far smarter than the average pest. About the level of an intelligent cat. Thus, trying to drive them out from behind garbage cans by throwing baseballs, the baseball bat, and angle-iron does not work.
8) Skunks can't climb very well. They are, however, adept diggers. Plan entrance-sealing accordingly.
9) Being mammals, skunks might have a weakness with mace/ OC. This remains untested.
10) Have someone help with everything from flanking to driving to hours-long conversations whispered while waiting for the skunk to show up.
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Moth balls! Works like a charm, except the yard will smell like,,,moth balls.
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we use a bakeing soda/hydrogen peroxide/dish soap mix at work on skunked dogs. it usually works. as to getting the little critter away....
black cat with white markings as a lure? :lol:
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More than likely you have beetle grubs in your yard, and that is the food source of the skunks. If you notice spots dug up in your yard, that is your smoking gun. Apply the proper pesticide to your yard to kill grubs, and the skunks will leave when the food supply is gone. This is also the easiest, best way to get rid of moles as they eat the same.
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More than likely you have beetle grubs in your yard, and that is the food source of the skunks. If you notice spots dug up in your yard, that is your smoking gun. Apply the proper pesticide to your yard to kill grubs, and the skunks will leave when the food supply is gone. This is also the easiest, best way to get rid of moles as they eat the same.
Nah, that's too easy. You've got to use fire. Lots and lots of fire!
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if possible, close up holes under deck. leave one opening for skunk to leave by, then close that when sure pest has left. i use loose sand to watch for tracks leaving. have heard ammonia doused rag works, but don't know.
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I had a skunk problem at the old house. There were about 6 neighbors in the area and the skunks kept moving from location to location.
We hired an exterminator and he clued me in on the secret.
He'd loosely put newspaper over the holes we THOUGHT they were in. Once we found out where they were, he set have a heart traps.
He baited them with wet dog or cat food, I don't remember which.
Once caught, and this is where it takes some testicular fortitude, he'd grab a blanket and walk up to the cage slowly.
When the animal looked like it was getting agitated, he'd stop and talk calmly to the animal.
Once it calmed down, he'd slowly advance again.
Once he got to the cage, he'd put the blanket over it and he'd put it in the back of his truck.
He said that the skunks wouldn't spray if they couldn't see.
He had been doing it for 20+ years that way and was sprayed once... a swift wind had blown the blanket up and the skunk got scared and sprayed him.
Once in the back of the truck, it's your call. Let them go several miles away? Trash barrel full of water? .22? Your call.
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Be careful how close you are to them and how close they are to the house should you decide to dispatch one. It might let go.
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Be careful how close you are to them and how close they are to the house should you decide to dispatch one. It might let go.
No. It will let go. Same as your sphincters loosening upon death, the skunk will reflexively release its musk. It can't be helped, as best I can tell.
Drowning it in a large body of water will disperse the musk, and keep it out of the air but if you have to reach in to pull out the trap and the corpse, you're likely to get the stuff on you.
jb
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Several times when we had a skunk problem, we got live traps from the local police department and set them up in our back yard.
Over time, we caught possums, a grey fox, and even a blue jay in addition to several skunks. Animal control USED to use the "approach slowly with a blanket" ploy, but after getting sprayed more than once the normal SOP is for the officer with a .410 in the trunk to dispatch the skunk from about 10 yards distance.
It still lets go, but at least the officer isn't sprayed.
Note that skunks can carry any and all likely diseases including rabies. When the skunk is out in the daytime, or if he's acting peculiar, be especially careful.
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Leave a card for the skunk with Ladysmith's address on it and some money for bus fare. She seems to like all critters.
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Don't laugh....people have the stink glands removed and keep them as pets....
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12 gauge in the head. If you shoot them in the head, they will not spray. You have to use enough gun. Wife shot one with her 38 and paid the price. We could not live in the house for 2 weeks. I use mothballs at my camp and never have had a problem. Armadillos don't like them either.......chris3
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I've baited them with cat food- they love the stuff. I have shot them every way you can shoot them and a mature skunk will stink no matter what you shoot him with or where you shoot him. only the immature ones don't spray.
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Leave a card for the skunk with Ladysmith's address on it and some money for bus fare. She seems to like all critters.
Yes, I do. I also have no problem with others dispatching critters they consider pests, however…
Does anyone know a good way to encourage a skunk to look for greener pastures without causing the varmint to unleash stink?
…it doesn't appear that Standing Wolf was asking for means of dispatch.
Why is it whenever someone posts a question asking for non-lethal means of removing an animal, be it relocating skunks or finding another home for a cat, people feel the need to chime in with means, often gruesome, of killing it?
Strange that this "kill it!!!" bias doesn't extend to dogs.
In this, the most public of forums, what image of us does that portray? Are we a bunch of Bubbas who seem bent on killing something…anything…just because we have guns? ???
Just something to consider.
And no, I'm not mad. I honestly would like to know.
If the answer is "it's just jokes", then know that it gets tiresome after the billionth time. :|
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I wonder how grilled skunk would taste.Assuming the meat could be harvested w/o being oil contaminated.
Like bear or racoon probably?
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Strange that this "kill it!!!" bias doesn't extend to dogs.
With the exception of aggressive/uncontrolled dogs, canines are widely regarded as likable - man's best friend, and all.
That isn't the case with rodents, mustelids, felines, armadillos, and other damaging/dangerous/nuisance vermin.
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My neighbor across the river actually encourages people who have caught skunks to release them on his place. Seems they work great for gopher control.
That's one reason I won't shoot one on my place unless he's causing problems or appears diseased.
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If skunks are good for gopher control, I must not have any at my camp because I have gophers up the wazooo......For gophers, I take a shovel, cut the tunnel, leaving it exposed. I then position a lawn chair opposite the opening and seat myself down with my AK and wait for the glob of dirt to plug the tunnel, then I plug the tunnel. If I am successful, the wife gives me a beer......chris3
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That isn't the case with rodents, mustelids, felines, armadillos, and other damaging/dangerous/nuisance vermin.
...don't forget politicians..... =D
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With the exception of aggressive/uncontrolled dogs, canines are widely regarded as likable - man's best friend, and all.
That isn't the case with rodents, mustelids, felines, armadillos, and other damaging/dangerous/nuisance vermin.
Ah. If a critter isn't considered likeable, then it's ok to destroy it.
That's simple.
But then, I never considered the guys here to be simple creatures. :|
I base this on the evidence I've seen of guys here coming up with complex solutions in the realms of science, computers, weaponry, fuel consumption, etc.
Yet, when it comes to relocating one (unlikeable) animal, the solution is simple: kill it.
Still doesn't seem quite right. ???
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Get a black cat and paint a stripe down her back to draw him out. Then shoot them both. Stop - I'm just kidding.
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Well, there's good news and there's bad news.
The bad news is the local animal control operation funded by my tax dollars doesn't do skunks. The good news is the gal suggested I look under P for pest control in the yellow pages. The bad news is the first place I called wanted $359. The good news is the other place wanted $150, and the fellow said he could come out this evening. The bad news is I'd rather not spend $150 on a skunk. The good news is there are three traps in the back yard, and in theory, at least, they capture skunks and prevent them from looking outside the trap so they won't get upset and squirt, and the fellow will pick up the critter in good order. The bad news is additional skunks cost $50 each. The good news is neighborhood cats and the fox aren't likely to end up in the traps. The bad news is it doesn't look as though there's a good, easy, affordable way to skunk-proof the deck.
Serves me right for not having a loud untrained dog in the back yard like all my neighbors, I guess.
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Strange that this "kill it!!!" bias doesn't extend to dogs.
Unless you're talking to me. =D
(Unlike most of APS, I prefer cats to dogs. )
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Unless you're talking to me. =D
(Unlike most of APS, I prefer cats to dogs. )
And unlike most of APS, we now know perzackly what is wrong with you. Thank you for filling in the missing piece. =)
stay safe.
skidmark
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We had the cutest li'l baby skunk under our shed. The mothballs did do the trick. The yard just smells like grandma's closet. :laugh:
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Count me in with the trap and relocate crowd. I even relocate chipmunks. The older I get, the less bloodthirsty I have become regarding critters other than sentient critters. I'd trap and relocate certain sentient critters too, but then they'd have to make a movie about me. :angel: =D
Internet censors and Obama's Homeland Security JBT's....Juuuuuust kiddin'.
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And unlike most of APS, we now know perzackly what is wrong with you. Thank you for filling in the missing piece. =)
stay safe.
skidmark
Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha...........................
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Ah. If a critter isn't considered likeable, then it's ok to destroy it.
That's simple.
But then, I never considered the guys here to be simple creatures. :|
I base this on the evidence I've seen of guys here coming up with complex solutions in the realms of science, computers, weaponry, fuel consumption, etc.
Yet, when it comes to relocating one (unlikeable) animal, the solution is simple: kill it.
Still doesn't seem quite right. ???
Pests are pests. I'd rather not relocate my problem into someone else's back yard.
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The skunk is gone, and so is $150. Whew!
The critter was quiet in the trap, (think of a large plastic mail box,) and didn't unleash torrents of stink. He'll be "put down," which is to say: killed in plain English. Releasing skunks means other people will probably end up with them: they're not only entirely at home in suburban and urban environments, but prefer them to the wild.
The skunk trapper wanted $500 to add skunk- and raccoon- and dog- and rodent-proof wire to my deck, and said nothing does a good job of repelling critters. I'm going to have to think all this over awhile.
Thank you for all the suggestions, one and all, along with the hare-brained notions and goofy thoughts that keep the internet 43,892% more interesting than television.
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we have skunk that visit our yard, but my dogs rovings and markings must make them move onward
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Aw, shucks, you didn't use fire. Lots and lots of fire. What a boring outcome.
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Pests are pests. I'd rather not relocate my problem into someone else's back yard.
Understandable. Your problem, your solution. But if it's someone else's problem and they came for non-lethal advice…
Nevermind. The lesson learned is that one shouldn't ask a certain people in certain places about such things.
=(
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Understandable. Your problem, your solution. But if it's someone else's problem and they came for non-lethal advice…
Nevermind. The lesson learned is that one shouldn't ask a certain people in certain places about such things.
=(
If someone came here saying "I want to get the roaches out of my house, but don't want to kill the poor dears" would you still be unhappy with us for saying "Kill em"?
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Balog, what would your course of action be if she did?
IOW, consider your audience here at APS - Everybody.
I know I sound like a broken record these days, but one person's elimination of vermin is another's wanton carnage.
Know what I mean?
Measured responses, people. Please.
That's not saying this is the LadySmith Save the Furry Little Critters Forum, but I'd rather not see folks tweaking others just because they can, either.
We can all agree to disagree, no problem. Just be cool about it. A crusty old Chief Master Sergeant once told me, "You can always tell somebody to go to Hell - just make sure they enjoy the trip". Truer words were never spoken, IMHO.
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I wasn't being challenging, I am honestly curious. It just seems a lot of double standards going on, and not just from LadySmith.
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I don't disagree.
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That's not saying this is the LadySmith Save the Furry Little Critters Forum, but I'd rather not see folks tweaking others just because they can, either.
Irony, thy name is G98.... :lol:
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S2, if you want a piece of me, you can certainly take it to PM.
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If someone came here saying "I want to get the roaches out of my house, but don't want to kill the poor dears" would you still be unhappy with us for saying "Kill em"?
No double standard.
The person asking the question made it clear that they did not want the roaches dead, so why offer suggestions on killing them?
To me it's no different than someone asking how to repair a car and people chiming in with suggestions on blowing it up.
It's simply a matter of relevance to the question asked and my not understanding why the answers are often so cloaked in destruction. ???
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(Unlike most of APS, I prefer cats to dogs. )
I agree.
No double standard.
The person asking the question made it clear that they did not want the roaches dead, so why offer suggestions on killing them?
Hatred? Greater than average bloodthirstiness? Because one scared the person when they were a kid? Such emotions, though completely natural, can be irrational and in many cases voicing them is juvenile. The former two partially explain my opinions on the proper punishment of criminals. At least in the case of punishment acting out my emotions would be beneficial to society.
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Hatred? Greater than average bloodthirstiness? Because one scared the person when they were a kid? Such emotions, though completely natural, can be irrational and in many cases voicing them is juvenile.
Thank you, Freedom Lover for an answer to my question. =)
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because "Kill it with Fire" is a meme
but Millhouse is not
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I suppose my point is that killing pests is generally the best (or most effective) means of dealing with them. Relocating is more difficult, expensive, and time consuming; not to mention it merely bestows your problem on someone else, which seems a bit unneighborly to say the least. When someone asks for help doing something in an innefficient way the natural tendency is to suggest the better way. Add in the people who don't really pay that much attention to the OP and that explains it, I think. No need to resort to explanations involving bloodthirstyness or childishness.
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If I may chime in as well;
Most folks that deal with pests regularly know that killing them is pretty much the only long term solution, indeed Standing Wolf DID kill this skunk, he just hired someone else to do it. I got the feeling the more serious (non fire) suggestions were taking in to account that the pest was going to die, so you might as well do it yourself, rather then engaging in random bloodthirst.
It might have been more clear if they'd thrown in a comment to the effect of "well we know you said you'd rather not kill it, but face it it's gonna have to die" but that seemed to be implied pretty clearly.
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In point of fact, the skunk was "put down," which was to say: killed. According to the skunk capturer, that's mandated by state law.
All other things being equal, I'd rather have seen the critter turned loose far from Homo sapiens; realistically speaking, however, although I feel badly for the critter, it's my house, and I don't feel obliged to put up with its smell.
As long as I've to scoop the cat's litter box daily, I've been tossing the feline byproducts under the deck in the hope other critters will figure there's a predator in the vicinity, and will look into other repellants.
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wheren i live you have to kill em by law
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Dunno if that's much of a solution, knowing all the dogs I do that love those crunchy/chewy treats from the kitty's litter box...
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Thank you, Freedom Lover for an answer to my question. =)
You're welcome.
As long as I've to scoop the cat's litter box daily, I've been tossing the feline byproducts under the deck in the hope other critters will figure there's a predator in the vicinity, and will look into other repellants.
That's not the best idea for a deterrent. Cats are on the bottom of the predator food chain and I doubt a skunk would be afraid of them. Have you ever seen a video of a skunk spraying a dog? They just sit there, shoot, and waddle away.
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The best option to keep them away is to urinate around your yard regularly. Unfortunately, that's not an option for most people.
Our place is very private and I urinate outside all the time, mainly to take some of the load off the septic system. In the fifteen years we've lived here, we've never had a skunk close to the house, although I'm sure there are lots of them around.
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Unfortunately, that's not an option for most people.
Ha! You've never met my dad Larry. That guy prides himself at peeing all over the yard. Of course they live on a farm in the boonies, so it's kind of a big yard, but still, I've never met a guy who likes to mark his territory as much as that guy does. :laugh:
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Bet he doesn't have a skunk problem either. :cool:
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The best option to keep them away is to urinate around your yard regularly. Unfortunately, that's not an option for most people.
I definitely fall into the category of "most people" I'm pretty sure my neighbors would have something to say about that, and it'd probably be along the lines of "indecent exposure." Too bad though, because I have lots of little critters in the area.
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pretty sure my neighbors would have something to say about that
Exactly. But if my neighbors are watching me, they're probably violating a law or two.
Our place is 35 acres of private river bottom. Not exactly an estate, but it's as close as I'll ever get. Heck, Standing Wolf has been to our place, he could tell you.
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Why not urinate in a receptacle and then pour it around?
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Why not urinate in a receptacle and then pour it around?
You had to go and inject common sense into this, didn't you?
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I tried doing what Larry suggested, with a couple of problems.
My dogs always try to go where I do.
My late female weiner-spaniel walked into my stream. Explain that to the wife as I'm toweling off the poor thing.
My big doofus St. Bernard/Catahoula will either run in and mark while I'm still going, or pee on my foot. =D
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Speaking of skunks, whatever happened to Skunkabilly? :laugh:
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He tried a career at the U.S. Border Patrol, with varying degrees of success.
He popped back up at one or the other of the Siamese THRs not too long ago, dunno what he's been up to since.
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You had to go and inject common sense into this, didn't you?
:laugh:
I'm sorry. =D
My late female weiner-spaniel walked into my stream. Explain that to the wife as I'm toweling off the poor thing.
My big doofus St. Bernard/Catahoula will either run in and mark while I'm still going, or pee on my foot. =D
:lol:
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My big doofus St. Bernard/Catahoula will either run in and mark while I'm still going, or pee on my foot.
You need to put your foot down.
My spot! Mine!
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My big doofus St. Bernard/Catahoula will either run in and mark while I'm still going, or pee on my foot. =D
You need to put your foot down.
My spot! Mine!
The mental image that conjures up is just plain funny. =D
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Heck, Standing Wolf has been to our place, he could tell you.
Well, heck. Any time I'm in Larry's neighborhood, I stop by to initial the ground, too. Country fun.
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Ah, the real challenge is to write your whols name... :lol:
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Ah, the real challenge is to write your whols name...
A bigger challenge is to leave your whole name in someone else's handwriting. :angel:
DD
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:laugh:
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A bigger challenge is to leave your whole name in someone else's handwriting. :angel:
DD
Uh, waiter? New keyboard please! :laugh:
Sawdust
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Speaking of skunks, whatever happened to Skunkabilly? :laugh:
He keeps a pretty up to date blog:
http://skunkabilly.wordpress.com/