Chigger/tick field rpt with stinkin problem

[Jessie]

I went to the farm again and used a 40% Deet spray and cat flea&tick collars around my boot tops. No ticks and so far, not one chigger!
Now, the stinkin problem....discovered that a skunk has taken up residence in my metal barn. Luckily it did not spray me. I left all doors open while I bush hogged and I think it left but am sure it will be back.
What would be the best way to deal with them? Smoke it out? And then what would be the way to keep it out, a bullet?
I'd rather not kill it but I can't have it living in or around my barn or cabin.
Anyone have a life saving remedy for it?

 

[Texas40]

Live trap and relocation. Youll need to toss a blanket or old sheet over the trap before relocation.
Other than that is a lead injection.

 

[Jessie]

Live trap and relocation. Youll need to toss a blanket or old sheet over the trap before relocation.
Other than that is a lead injection.

How is that done without taking a stink bath, the blanket? If so, is the blanket to catch the spray or calm the beast?

 

[srsmyth]

FWIW, we had a skunk take up residence under our hunting shack. I don't know if your flooring would tolerate this procedure but we drilled a small hole through the floor and poured ammonia through the hole with a small funnel. The skunk left on it's own and didn't come back.
Steve

 

[boxerrider]

cover

How is that done without taking a stink bath, the blanket? If so, is the blanket to catch the spray or calm the beast?

Some of both, plus it calms me while I'm carrying it around. I cobbled together a cover from some scrap paneling after I had one pull the corner of the fabric one into the trap and make a big mess of it.

 

[carpriver]

I have used mothballs to help relocate skunks.

 

[gdnagle]

I've tried all the remedies for chasing out a skunk. Urine, feces both human and animal, moth balls, those guys got upset when I was done castrating them, ammonia, cat food in the middle of the road, trying to block them out, the dog trying to run them off, I wouldn't recommend this one for any reason, etc.. Only one that works is a .22 to the head don't miss, or to relocating them. Don't P them off or you will be sorry. The live trap suggestions work just make sure you take it severial miles down the lane and turn it lose there.

There are threads here as to what to do if you weren't to carful. And I wouldn't recommend moving them in a car or van pickúm up truck is to only way to go.

P.S. once they find food and shelter they will return and if it is moving during the day time be careful it could be rabbit.

 

[drinva]

.22 Air rifle and some patience. I took this one from my shed where he had claimed. I'd sit in the late evening and wait for him to show. No stink, no spray, no noise. Gone, win, win.

DR

 

[Jessie]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I got a live trap and some 'Mouse Magic' hopefully it will drive it out or trap& move it a couple miles over the river.
If not, it gets a .22 pill to the head. Have to get it taken care of before friends show up for black powder season in a couple of weeks. The barn is where the shower is. Not the kind of shower I'd like to have.

 

[moosedog]

I'd say to shoot him in the head. He's probably going to spray anyway.

One of the best shots I ever made was at about 120 yards off my deck in back on a skunk using my pre 23 with handloads.
When he let go, the wind carried the smell into my house on that hot summers day. He soaked the ground and the north west breeze reminded me that he got the last laugh for several days.

 

[DeadAye]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I got a live trap and some 'Mouse Magic' hopefully it will drive it out or trap& move it a couple miles over the river.
If not, it gets a .22 pill to the head. Have to get it taken care of before friends show up for black powder season in a couple of weeks. The barn is where the shower is. Not the kind of shower I'd like to have.

Put something in the trap to keep him low enough so that he (or she) can't raise his tail - Can't spray then.
I've used a piece of sheet rock wired in before I bought a shallow trap. A little cat food or tuna will bring him in - You might catch a cat or two before you get the skunk though.

Be aware = They are a common carrier of rabies!

 

[Jessie]

Put something in the trap to keep him low enough so that he (or she) can't raise his tail - Can't spray then.
I've used a piece of sheet rock wired in before I bought a shallow trap. A little cat food or tuna will bring him in - You might catch a cat or two before you get the skunk though.

Be aware = They are a common carrier of rabies!

Good idea, that had not crossed my mind about keeping it too low to spray. Copy that about the rabies. I watched it closely and it was acting pretty docile and shy, just wanting to hide behind something so I hope that indicates it doesn't have rabies, but you never know.

 

[rwsmith]

Don't take a bath......

Don't take a bath for a few weeks and then stink him out.

 

[meaneyedcatz]

They make live traps specifically for skunks. It is a black plastic tube that is small enough the stinker cannot lift his tale and since it is black plastic it cannot see you. I found it at a farm store.

 

[Hack]

Never thought about the flea collars around pant leg trick. Good idea.

Not a skunk, but we had this critter take up residence under my deck earlier this year:


Although he wasn't extremely happy about having to relocate, he waddled off into the woods when I opened the cage.

 

[Jessie]

That looks like the traps I got. Think ill use the smaller one to hopefully keep it down low enough not to spray. I'll put the whole thing in a box also so I can close it up for transport and block it if it does spray.
Now, thinking ahead...if it does score a hit on me, what's the best de-skunking remedy? I've heard tomato juice works. Anything else that may work better?

I should try and film this, it could turn out to be somewhat interesting lol

 

[Mule Packer]

Some good advice, Jessie. Here's my two cents worth...and it might not even be worth that.

Anyway...we used to have skunks all over the place. They'd taken up residence under my neighbor's shed, also under his porch and his chicken coop. Another one was also under my other neighbor's house. I've found one in one of my dog kennels once. If you're seeing them during the day, they've probably got rabies. You can count on it.

Here's how I got rid of them. I used a live trap, as was explained in other posts. I normally bait mine with leftover chicken wing bones after having a lunch of buffalo wings. But, like others have explained, tuna, cat food, and a variety of other stuff works well, too.

After I caught the skunks, it was always a .22 to the head from about 25 yards out. I wouldn't get much closer because they can spray a pretty good distance. One of my neighbors walked up to a trapped skunk once and shot the thing in the head with a .22 pistol. The thing flipped over and started gyrating, spraying poor ol' Larry all over. Sure, it was dead all right, but it got its vicarious revenge nevertheless.

I never tried to relocate them because 1) they've been known to cut loose either when you try to put the blanket over the trap or when you try to release them and, 2) by relocating them, all you're doing is moving the problem someplace else.

Now, here's the tough part....after you shoot them, they almost always release. Sometimes they won't release for a couple of minutes after they've been killed, but they will release. They might not necessarily spray, but as they relax, they will automatically eliminate bodily fluids.

You have to remember, their brain is about the size of a jawbreaker. If the .22 is deflected a little by the wire mesh of the trap, you might be off a little. If that happens, and you still hit him, he'll start flopping around and spraying like gangbusters. Take it from one who knows...that ain't a pretty sight. (And don't forget poor ol' Larry's experience.)

Good luck. Personally, I hate the little creeps. They kill chickens, raise havoc, carry rabies, and are just a down-and-out pure nuisance.

 

[boxerrider]

Pond

Skunks are generally live-and-let-live, as am I, but I don't relocate the ones I catch either. There are plenty of woods around if that is where they wanted to stay. Once they decide the picking is easier at my house or the chicken coop they will find their way back.
I fasten a rope to the handle of the trap and drop it in the stock pond for a couple of hours.
I only dealt with a likely-rabid one once (so far). He stumbled around blindly in my shop all day. When he finally stumbled outside he got a head shot from a safe distance.

Good luck!

 

[Jessie]

Update. Still no chiggers or ticks after this week's trip. That's the good news.
As for the skunk, I baited a live trap with a can of tuna and left it just outside the hole it uses overnight. Went out with my single- six in the a.m. To check and nothing! Not even tripped. What I did see was a large groundhog sitting on his haunches looking at me. He must have seen the glint in my eye as I reached for my pistol because before I could draw, he was gone and left only swaying grass in his wake. He ran into the barn through the same hole that the skunk used.
I'm thinking the groundhog made the initial trespass and the skunk just wandered in through its hole since there was no sign of it.
I'll gladly trade a skunk for a groundhog! I put a bunch of those minty ' Mouse Magic ' bags in the barn to hopefully drive it out.
I'll find out next time I go there.
The hunt continues but the enemy has just become weaker.

 

[fat tom]

if it is moving during the day time be careful it could be rabbit.

Good advice! I hate them rabbit skunks!
f.t.