Hey guys this is my first post but would appreciate any advice I can get. I was called to the neighbors house tonight. He proceeded to show me a hole going under his house and deck with a dead baby skunk in the bottom. After I removed the baby and we negotiated the price of removal I set three box traps because I figure in the morning two will be full of cats. My main question is since I know there are likely more babies in this den. If I catch the mother will I be able to catch the babies afterward. The one I removed was about the size of a ground squirrel and I'm concerned they are still nursing and not interested in grownup bait. As I said before I appreciate any advice I get love the forum still new to the ADC business but trying to get it off the ground while working full time too.

Catch mama, suit up, and remove babies by hand

Thanks for the quick reply throw back. How do I get to them? The hole is running down under the house foundation and its only about as big around as my arm. I handfish so I got no problem sticking my arm into a hole with the possibility of being bit but not sure I got arm enough to reach them. Shovel time?

Digging can be sketchy, but may be necessary. Can you use some tongs or anything?

first find out if mom and others are still there. a dead young in the hole where it can be seen or reached, for my area often means the rest are gone. In other words, why did the young one die where it could be seen and reached? if mom is there, and the young skunk was sick, most of the time the young will die down deep in the den, not a absolute but often enough in my area where red flags will cause me to wonder. mom may have gotten hit by a car or trapped at another location. and the young skunk died because mom is not there. is there a dead skunk smell at the location? I am sure you know these answers already but would ask if the customer has seen the female in the last few days, or other evidence that mom is still there. The size of a ground squirrel is pretty small, chipmunk size for reference, that is 3 or 4 weeks old at tops.

Only smells coming from the place that I can tell is from the dead one I removed. But from the looks of things it appears that the mother is still using the burrow because the dead one was mashed into the dirt like they have been walking over it. Not sure what killed it when I arrived all you could see of it was it's tail sticking out of the hole. No way for the owners dog to get to it cause its to small of a space. The guy said he saw a big skunk under his porch light three nights ago but didn't kill it I'm guessing that was the momma.

A soft seal like a wad of grass or newspaper will tell you if the hole is being used.

Thanks warrior I'll give it a shot

When I got there this morning he had already let cats out of all three of my traps so I have that to contend with as well

So will a positive set........

Not only do great minds think alike, but even some of the slightly damaged ones; like mine and Vinke's.

I understand my first thought was 120 the hole and be done with it but was worried about the cats doesn't hurt my feelings but the guy I'm working for wants them left alive if possible. No way to get a cage trap within three feet of this hole as it is behind his outdoor wood stove.

Five bucks says I have a cage trap you can positive set on that hole. If you have 12" of clearance I can get this trap in there.

Really? Haven't seen one that small.

Must add: so will a game cam.

If 120 means conibear type, check your regs.

I did mean a 120 CONI 80c but I am a licensed nwco operator and it is a paying job so I should be in the clear. But I do appreciate your concern so many people in our state either don't know they can't use coni's or just don't care. It makes it kinda hard to get a ADC business going when every farmer or fur trapper has a handful of 330's that they drag out every time a beaver downs a tree.you hear them in the coffee shop complaining about the animals but when you offer services they just laugh and say '' oh no its OK I got a bunch of them square traps too don't need anybody to do it for me'' and then they ''handle" it. And that's not one isolated deal it happens on a regular basis. But I just keep asking. Sorry to rant I really do appreciate you asking about it at least it let's me know someone in our state cares about the regs

,,,,,,,,,I give up................

You talked about digging the babies out, but wouldn't it be easier to dig a trench to fit the positive set we suggested?

Well I am really having trouble trying to find the right way to explain this situation. There is about an 8" by 8" square of dirt between the side of the house and the back of his wood stove and the lattice on his deck and this is the spot the hole is in. It goes straight down about 10" and then runs under the house and the stove. The only way I can even lay a hand to the hole is to climb up on the wood stove and hang off the back of it while someone holds my feet. If I was to try and dig out the hole I would have to unhook and move the wood stove then bust up the cement slab its sitting on. It is a very tight corner and they dug into the only available spot of dirt between three pieces of cement. Not to mention I am a big ol boy.