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Skunk in Barn -- how to remove

B

Bob in SD

Member
My wife feeds the barn cats. I've asked her to cut back, and there normally isn't extra food, but there is food there 2x a day. Just went out to unplug the tank heater I'd left plugged in earlier and when I flicked on the barn lights I caught Pepe le Pew licking out the catfood bowl. Two cats were just hanging out and watching him, not looking too distressed or willing to help me out.

I yelled, and he waddled away (under the tractor that I was coming out to unplug, of course). How would the YT gang suggest getting rid of him w/out poisoning the cats or shooting an antique tractor? Even w/out the tractors and other vehicles in the barn, I'm not thinking shooting him inside is the best idea.


Eagerly awaiting your wisdom,
 
I shot a raccoon with a 12 gauge in the garage at our house a couple of years ago. I wouldn't have too many qualms about shooting a skunk in a barn.

That raccoon parked himself at the end of a firewood rack and we couldn't dislodge him to get him outside. It was 10 o'clock at night. I'd been to two different conferences and was looking forward to sleeping in my own bed for the first time in over a week. I ran out of patience and blasted the dang thing right where he was in the garage, and never did find any damage to the garage. I was wearing ear plugs and my wife had her fingers in her ears.
 
I shot a woodchuck in my hangar and thought "I must have hit him right through the heart 'cause that was a LOT of blood". Turns out I missed under him and the 22 bounced off the concrete floor and through a gallon jug of hydraulic oil. What a mess to clean up. Had to finish the job with some 22 scatter shot at close range.
 
If you have a live trap put an egg in the trap. Skunks love eggs once its in the trap throw an old blanket or tarp over the cage and take the cage outside and do away with the skunk.
 
x2 live trap with a LONG rope on it. Drag it outside and dispose of it in a permanent fashion. Been there, done that.
 
They usually spray when I shoot them, but maybe I don't hit them just right. There is always golden link_disallowed and coke, but it will kill anything that eats it, you would have to round up all the cats first. You could try chasing it outside and shooting it.
 
I replied with a comment about using coke with a special additive, and or trying to chase it outside and shoot it, and it seemed to get poofed. There is a live trap that's white plastic that I understand they can't spray in it.
 
Don't shoot the skunk in the building unless you want to smell it for weeks. From my experience it seems that the last thing they do before expiring is to release their load of stink.
 
Thanks all. I suspect I'll trap each cat at least once before getting the skunk. I don't think I can chase it outside, too many cool places to hide in the barn before getting to the door. I'll cut the cats back to morning feedings and probably get a live trap--my homemade wooden one wouldn't work for shooting through.
 
Just put the cat food up high. Skunks are not that athletic and really can?t jump much. We had one in our barn eating the cat food. We just put the food up on a shelf about three feet or more high Just don?t have anything that the skunk can climb up on. So far the problem has found some place else to eat..



OTJ
 
Since the skunk is already inside the barn, nothing I know to do but turn on some noise (a radio will do) and lights and wait for it to leave.

Since skunks can't climb, start feeding the cats on a table. Make sure they have to jump a couple of feet or more, and that the surface is rough (like plywood) for their paws to grip on.
 
Believe it or not, neighbor had a skunk under her deck, and led it away with a hot dog on a hook at the end of a cane pole. Once in the woods, it was introduced to Mr. 12 ga, by a neighbor.
 
I've chased them out with a shower from a water hose. They didn't seem to get too excited by it and just waddled back outside.
 
That?s a great idea,I know shooting the skunk inside even if
your a good shot and can get a direct head shot will result in a
seemingly forever lingering spray.
 
My brother inlaw uses sleufoot's method on skunks at his house. Been successful for years that way. The blanket keeps them from spraying or calms them or something. He turns them loose in some wildlife park near them a few miles away.
 
We live trap skunks. When you catch the skunk just cover the trap with a blanket or tarp. We live in the woods so it's easy to take the skunk out about 50 yards roll the trap upside down, uncover the end and the skunk will run off. Never had one come back.
 
I have herd that they won’t release spray if you gas them. Get it in your live trap, cover it, then pack pickup tailpipe up to cage and let it run for awhile. Know a trapper that does it like this. After it dies he cuts the stink pouch out with the “perfume” in it and sells it for huge $. There’s some ingredients in it they make cologne and perfume out of it.
 
Hi:
We had skunks in the crawl space under our house a few years ago, so I did a lot of research at that time. They don't like bright lights, so if your situation permits, keep some bright lights on. If you can block the entrance while the skunks are known to be away, they can not come back in. (Blocking the "point of entry" applied to my crawl space, but would not be feasible in a barn type situation.). Hope this helps.

Dennis M. in W. Tenn.
 
when I read this last night I was thinking "crack an egg in a small container". Is that what you mean, or will they go for a whole chicken egg? Should I warm the egg up first, or straight out to the fridge OK? I guess I'm asking if they go by sight or smell or what?

I'm gonna try a trap tonight, but I'll probably waste a few nights before the cats don't go for it.
 
I wish you didn't live so far away so you could show me how it's done! I may try a few other options first...
 
I kinda like the barn where it is. Although if it smells to bad after this I may want to turn it so the wind can blow through it better.
 
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