A contractor that I deal with in my real world job outside of trapping told me he is having problems with skunks under one of the buildings in his construction yard. He has hired a local exterminator that has come out and set up a baited cage trap right in form of the hole they believe the skunks are using, but the skunks have shown know interest in playing nice with the exterminator and have not even given the bait a second glance.

What are some of the best options for baiting skunks, and if I decide to give my contractor a hand do I need to be concerned with the skunks spraying up his yard if I set out a baited box set with a 155 conibear in it?

I guess my question would be; how many skunks have you caught in a 155 that didn't spray? Those are your odds.

never caught a skunk before, that's why I'm asking. I've caught otter, muskrat, beaver, mink and squirrels before. Guess I've just been lucky up to now, never had a skunk take my bait yet

Sorry Ed, having hunted Manitoba I just naturally assumed you were a skunk expert. Thank God my English setter would only point skunks and not try to retrieve them like my buddies English did. A white and black setter, covered with a liberal coating of red tomato juice, is quite a sight to behold.

Every skunk I ever caught in a coni sprayed .

Positive sets are the way to go with skunks under structures. Give the little stinkers no other option if at all possible. If the building foundation can be secured with the only options for entry or exit covered by traps you really don't even need bait. Double doored traps are perfect for this set up as are side by side traps one pointed in and one pointed out.

Why dont you let the guy that was hired worry about it.

Noodling for skunks would make great tv.

LOL ..ya it would

The guy that as hired doesn't have a hot clue what he's doing, that's why I'm asking. Typical exterminator that does mice and insects and has no clue about furbearers

For starters, mark the hole and make sure its even being used, skunks can be highly nomadic having several places they hole up at.

What do you use to mark the hole to see if they are actually using it?

Stuff an old rag in it!

Can't get much more simple than that.

Thanks

Yes it can. Use the plastic bag that the grocery store just put your purchase in. ( Unless you carry rags in your vehicle )

And the technical term for the rag, bag, plastic, foam, cardboard.... Is indicator.

See what you can learn on here! All the while I thought that the indicator was that light on my dashboard that told me my seat belt wasn't fastened, my door wasn't closed, my tire was going flat, my lights were on, my cruise control was on, and that if I didn't stop looking at young chicks in halter tops while driving, that my wife was going give me a black eye.

if I didn't stop looking at young chicks in halter tops while driving, that my wife was going give me a black eye.[/quote]
What's the dashboard symbol for that situation??

That has to be an after market dash mounted gauge. Where can I buy one of those Paul???

Oh if it's a guage, that's even better; idiot lights are for when it's too late!