Discussions

problem skunk is it a ordeal to try and do it yourself do not have any experience with skunks thoughts thanks

live out in the country skunk under building .

Yes, we have been in that position too when we caught one in a live trap. We weren't about to transport it anywhere in our vehicle and a trap wasn't the easiest thing to shoot a skunk in.  
 
Do you know anyone who might be willing to come & just shoot it? It is not a type of animal that should get live trapped & relocated. If that was done, it would cause problems for someone else...and it could have rabies that would then get spread.  
 
An animal can appear very normal up to 2 days before showing signs. With skunks, it is better to err on the safe side as they are one of the most prolific carriers.

.....I trapped one in our run in shed, not thinking walked in and picked up the live trap......got sprayed LOL  
After that I caught 2 more but had a big towel ready to throw over the trap, same as you and drove it a couple miles down the road......

Buddy of mine used to have a little side business trapping skunks in Thunder Bay steady work they come back, then he would catch them in somebody else's yard or the same yard yard then drive them to the city limits then repeat

Some live traps are made of white plastic so you do not need the towel. As long as the skunk can not see you they won't spray. Catch and release is only passing the problem to someone else. I have had 3 neighbors in our area that have needed to go and get the shots (which are not pleasant) after coming in contact with rabies from domestic animals. Skunks are one of the main carriers of rabies so be careful in handling the cages as even the froth from their mouths on the cage can spread the disease. Always wear gloves and a long sleeve jacket when handling the cage after it is caught. Submerging the cage in water is the best way to deal with it.

If you use a trap that is not too tall the skunk can’t lift its tail to spray. 6” tall or so the 12” are too tall.

Go rent a skunk trap from an exterminator. It’s an enclosed humane trap. Having dealt with a lot of dogs that got a faceful of spray, it’s tough to feel kindly towards skunks. Destroy it as humanely as possible. IF it sprays near your home, put pure vinegar in a garden sprayer and saturate the area. It works to get rid of the odor. If you don’t, the smell will return every time it rains, for years. MB was declared rabies free some years ago. A vet can likely confirm if that’s still the case. Be careful regardless.

Have the male in the house go and urinate around building, skunk will leave do this quite often starting in spring and will have no skunks. They think its a bigger animal

Manitoba is definitely NOT rabies free. Article from earlier this month:  
 
https://pembinavalleyonline.com/local/manitoba-vet-warns-of-skunks-carrying-rabies  
 
Unfortunately, in the past 5 years, 48 of 76 confirmed positive cases of Rabies in Manitoba have been in skunks, 17 of those in Prairie Mountain Health region. Link to Rabies surveillance in the province:  
 
https://www.gov.mb.ca/health/publichealth/diseases/rabiessurveillance.html

We have a culvert that was very attractive to skunks so it was an ongoing issue.  
 
We put a long string on the handle. Pull the string, release the skunk and that is when you can shoot it. Sure there is the smell but it’s normal to smell it out here as the neighbors dog repeatedly was getting sprayed.  
 
We had the issue for a couple years and now (knock on wood) it’s been a few years since we have had any. Putting the cat food up definitely helps.

They do eat rodents, etc. But the problem with the thought of being nice to it is that they can still be in the incubation stage of rabies and not show signs up to two days before it is evident. Skunks can also have babies (yes, the whole cycle) and spread it via this means too before they show signs. You are best off getting rid of it (kill it, PLEASE don't just relocate it) and once you do, to not touch it with bare hands. Like another poster said, long sleeves, etc.  
 
We were told by authorities that there is an overabundance of skunks right now anyway. Rabies is definitely an issue.  
 
I think there are only two provinces where they have declared themselves rabies free. I do wonder about what hasn't been reported, though.  
 
Ontario has a rabies control vaccination pellet program to keep their rabies incidents reduced. I, for one, think it is a great idea, although most likely expensive to implement.  
 
Edited by Flutterby, 2019-05-14 08:25:42

And these are just the ones that have been reported.

When I was a kid we had a skunk get into the chicken barn and kill 200 chickens just for sport. One bite on the back of neck. Stupid brother shot skunk in the barn and it sprayed and I got the lovely job of cleaning out the dead birds.  
 
Another instance had one in the barn and couldn't get it out of barn and shot it in the barn. Every time the humidity got high barn stunk. Had it tested and was positive for rabies. Calves in the barn were quarantined. Getting government vet involved was a problem. Called on Friday and they did not show up till Monday to pick up the smelly critter.  
 
Don't even keep track of the number of times the dog has been sprayed. Thank goodness for Skunk Off from the vet.  
 
We now use a live trap and destroy them. Catch lots of cats in them but they run out real fast when releasing them.

If you are going to live trap them kill them afterward. Do not release them back out to be someone else's issue. There is a rabies problem with them, even 20% is a large enough percentage for concern. Do you really want it on your conscience if someones kid or someone gets bit by the happy little skunk you ever so nicely released. Human lives are more important than a rabid skunk even though some fail to see that. Growing up on the farm they were shot.