Skunk in Cat Trap - how do I release?

Question

I have been trying to catch feral cats and a small skunk entered my trap. How do I release him without getting sprayed?

Answer 1

Slim is right!

Skunks are major carriers of rabies, so getting sprayed is not the greatest danger skunks represent.

A barrel of water or a .22 to the back of the head will prevent repeats of the problem. At least with that particular critter.

Doc

Answer 2

You've gotten some good advice here already but let me add this. The BEST time to attempt to release a Skunk in a trap is after dark.(Use a flashlight) Skunks are nocturnal and since they hunt mostly at night, this is when they are most comfortable. Make absolutely sure that there are no dogs in the area, and tie up any you may have in order to prevent them from scaring the Skunk. Cover the trap with a "cloth" blanket QUIETLY..Plastic tarps and covers crunch and make noise that will have a negative effect on the Skunk. Pick up the cloth covered trap carefully slowly and smoothly and walk it to where you intend to release it, and slowly carefully set the trap on the ground, still covered with the cloth. A Skunks tail must be up and his butt facing you in order to spray (Just keep this in mind) Once you arrive at the release point, use a 6 ft stick or broom handle to spring the door of the trap to an open position and back off. The Skunk will walk away without any prodding on his own

Answer 3

My father and I set out a trap to catch a groundhog thats been destroying our lawn. We have caught everything from possums to squirrels instead of the dumb groundhog. When we caught a skunk in the trap, we had this same problem. Luckily my dad had a plastic tarp in our garage. They can be bought fairly cheap at local hardware stores. We held the tarp up and approached the cage. After draping the tarp over the cage, we wraped it up in the tarp. We then took the cage with the skunk to my Aunt's ranch, which is on 9 acres of land. (In my area it is illegal to release animals in publicly owned land) When we were there, we approached the cage from behind and opened the tarp on the other end (staying behind the cage!) and opened up the cage itself. Then we ran about 20 feet away and waited for the little guy to scamper out.

The entire process was fairly complicated, but the skunk didnt spray at any time. Make sure you check your local laws regarding animal releases. It would also be a good idea if you had some help too.

Be safe, and good luck with your skunk! :)

Answer 4

Call the local Sheriffs Dept. Most of these guy's know of a person who can get the skunk into a better environment with out setting off the spray mechanism within the skunk. They normally charge $75.00 for this service. Also,they may be called Skunk Whisperer's.

Answer 5

Get a tarp or drop cloth (like a painter's plastic sheet) and fold it so that you can hold it in your outstreched arms. It should cover all of you. For me, that's like 6x6 feet.
Slowly walk towards the trap, then blanket the trap with the tarp.
You should then open the door facing away from you and walk away. He'll get the idea and take off.

Skunk DO spray when threatened and right now, he's feeling threatened. If he's really young, he won't be able to spray much if at all.

Answer 6

its a common mis-conception that skunks spray when they feel endangered, dont get me wrong, they do, but it rarely ever happens, you are going to want to lure the skunk to one side of the trap(the part with the door) with something like peanut-butter, since the skunk is now contempt, you can open the door without the worry that it will spray you. its head is facing at you, it cant spray that way anyway

Answer 7

Don't .. get a garbage can full of water, put the trap in the garbage can. A well place shot to the back of the neck would be better then getting sprayed.

Answer 8

Just open the cage. Unless the skunk is frightened or angry, it won't spray.

Now you know why you should have a string tied to the cage. So you can open it from a distance.

Answer 9

1

Answer 10

Cover with cloth to make it dark and to protect you from
being sprayed,wait awhile till it is quite the let it go.