I made my regular run to krogers for some more wet cat food to use as skunk bait. When I don't have a den site or distinct trail, I have been using "Sheeba Sustainable Tuna". It smells pretty much like fish and will catch skunks, possum, raccoons and the occasional cat. I did look at some dry cat food and was wondering if one is better than the other.

Anyone like to share their experiences?

Thanks, Wally

I found that the cheapest canned mackerel from the dollar store or WalMart was good for almost any carnivore-
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Californ...?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0

There’s an ex girlfriend joke in there somewhere…




If I’m forced to use bait, I stop at KFC and pick up lunch on the way. Fried chicken bones seem to work as good as any bait on skunks that refuse to enter traps. And I get lunch out of it.

I always preferred the wet type, as I think the scent carry's better than the dry, also I always check the clearance carts/racks and catch them marked way down to like .25 a can/pouch, and stockpile. Also, I dig a small hole UNDER the trap to place the cans to keep the varmint from getting to it.

Chicken bones are my go to bait for skunks, Just trail with mini marshmallows.

I'll try the hole trick. I do trail with mini marshmallows as well. The customer watched two skunks circle the traps last night eating the marshmallows but they would not go in. I have two open style cage traps and a tube trap nearby. He is starting to irritate me.

Thanks for the suggestions.

On larger cages, place the can mostly UNDER the trigger on the back side of a single door, and directly under a double door, so the target will spend time trying to get it out of it's way and increasing the likely hood of firing the trap. On smaller traps you need room for a larger catch to enter, so place the bait towards the far side of a single door. Don't forget to stake the cage down so it can't be rolled or moved.

I have fantastic luck catching skunks with Vanilla Wafers. They love them!

I have heard of using vanilla as an attractant. Makes sense or scents. lol.

I use both. Can under cage, dry sprinkled as a trail bait.

In the heat , dry SALMON FLAVORED cat food

Caught a lot using it

Do you suspect that the customers watching the skunks may have inhibited the skunks enough to not go into the trap? They were probably pointing and whispering.

I have a lot of sucsess using cheese popcorn from the dollar store

Chicken guts work for skunks

Willy stated a very good fact and circumstance that I have had experience with in years past.

I had a red squirrel job that I was called to resolve. It was a double wide modular home with the squirrels going in and out a rear corner of the home. The entry point was probably 3-4 ft from the ground level. Going in under the corner starter strip and up into the siding.

I knew where the squirrels were going to into some nearby trees then across the yard to the home. I had a good set up and it was just a waiting game and should be done in a couple days.

This piece of work cllent had a little patio off the side of his exterior garage with a swing, a little table and some chairs. This patio was 40 ft or so from the squirrels house entry and their established travel way to the trees. Kind of like a triangle situation. He had a clear vantage point to observe. He sat there talked, had a radio on and took some phone calls.

Needless to say I didn't catch any squirrels and couldn't figure out why. I was in the area a few days after I set up the job so I just stopped by to see what may be going on.

When I pulled up this fella was sitting on his patio again watching the problem area. I said what are you doing? He said I am watching to see when the squrrels get caught.

I was livid with him and called him an idiot. Picked up my equipment and told him to never call us again. True story.

As another example, had a job where skunks were ruining the lawn at a very expensive house. Wife hired me. Husband resented paying me. The damage was clearly from raccoons which I told the customer. As usual, I said I would set traps for both skunks and raccoons.

After 2 nights of catching nothing and husband being increasingly angry I set two trail cameras in very discreet locations. In the photos, I found the wife walking among and looking into every trap while smoking a cigarette at least once an hour from dark through 4:00 a.m. I called and asked for the wife - the husband said he would do the talking. So I explained the situation and told him that I would catch the animals when wife would stay away from the traps.

As of the very next morning I started catching raccoons. I caught a few big males who are the usual lawn shredders in this area. No skunks. After the job was finished, I never heard from them for additional work.

Gotta love some of the rationale that these consumers use at times. Totally clueless folks.