03-05-2020, 07:20 AM
Was having some issues out at the chicken coop with an animal burrowing under the coop. Last Thursday, caught a pocket gopher in one of the live traps I had set. Quickly dispatched, holes covered, and traps put away.
Yesterday morning, LOML told me that a new hole had appeared and something was under the coop. This hole was much larger than the ones previous. Set out two live traps yesterday afternoon, baited with peanut butter.
Don't know why, but in the middle of the night, I woke up thinking about what I'd do if I caught a skunk. We've had skunks out there before, and we've seen them on the game cam, but we've managed to scare them off.
This morning, I went out and pointed my high-power light down toward the coop, and sure enough, there's a skunk in one of the traps. Being already dressed for my work day (only 7 more work days until retirement -- stealth gloat!), I decided to let Mr./Ms. Skunk stay in the trap and I'll deal with it when I get home.
Here's the problem: When I put the traps out, I didn't think about what I'd do if I caught a skunk. I thought that perhaps I was dealing with a possum since they're more plentiful around our place and they have been hanging around the coop. The trap which now contains a skunk, is inside the fenced in run, and getting to that trap in a calm manner to cover it with a tarp is going to be difficult, if not nearly impossible.
The skunk is going to get dispatched, in any case. I'm just trying to do this without a scent release. I can get a clear shot, but there's still a strong likelihood of a scent release; at least I won't get sprayed.
I'll have to bury the carcass afterward.
Willing to listen to ideas.
Yesterday morning, LOML told me that a new hole had appeared and something was under the coop. This hole was much larger than the ones previous. Set out two live traps yesterday afternoon, baited with peanut butter.
Don't know why, but in the middle of the night, I woke up thinking about what I'd do if I caught a skunk. We've had skunks out there before, and we've seen them on the game cam, but we've managed to scare them off.
This morning, I went out and pointed my high-power light down toward the coop, and sure enough, there's a skunk in one of the traps. Being already dressed for my work day (only 7 more work days until retirement -- stealth gloat!), I decided to let Mr./Ms. Skunk stay in the trap and I'll deal with it when I get home.
Here's the problem: When I put the traps out, I didn't think about what I'd do if I caught a skunk. I thought that perhaps I was dealing with a possum since they're more plentiful around our place and they have been hanging around the coop. The trap which now contains a skunk, is inside the fenced in run, and getting to that trap in a calm manner to cover it with a tarp is going to be difficult, if not nearly impossible.
The skunk is going to get dispatched, in any case. I'm just trying to do this without a scent release. I can get a clear shot, but there's still a strong likelihood of a scent release; at least I won't get sprayed.
I'll have to bury the carcass afterward.
Willing to listen to ideas.
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