Saturday evening I received a call that the customer's house smelled like a skunk. Sunday I was in the area picking up another skunk at another customer's house so I stopped in. I found a 6 inch gap under the rain guard on the hvac and skunk feces nearby. Upon opening the crawl door, I smelled skunk essence, I saw several skunk feces and about 15 feet away, a skunk laying on the white encapulation plastic. I yelled, whistled, etc. The skunk raised its head, then laid back down. The next day, I found him 10 feet to the right of where he was originally. Today, he was about 20 feet to the left. I crawled in and yelled, whistled and threw rocks at him. He raised his head, then laid back down again. I have two positive sets outside the hvac and one baited trap in the crawl.

What is your best guess on this stubborn critter? Sick, injured or pregnant?

I have told the homeowner we will have to let things play out. Shooting it will likely cause more stink.

I was thinking pregnant while reading your post.

I wish I could upload a video I took of he/she/it. It may shed some light.

Possible Rabies?, be careful.

I would guess sick or injured. Get a noose or net on him and pull him out. Expect to get stinky.

Sounds like distemper to me. I'd wait to see if Nature takes her course.

No good way for this to play out. Go buy some Odoban at HD.

Throwaway crawlsuit and gloves, and full face respirator. Good luck with it, lol.

The trapping gods may have smiled on me today. Caught one in a pass through trap by the rain guard. A crawl under the house did not reveal anymore critters more critters. Monday I will install Dig Defence on either side of the rain guard. Thanks for the suggestions.

I carry a super soaker squirt gun with me for those reluctant garage and crawl space residents. Leave them an obvious escape route and site, and from a safe distance rain a little water down on them. They’ll move away from it and can be steered some. Don’t over do it. It doesn’t take a lot to get them to move.

I've done the same thing. It works. I just use a good quality spray bottle with long range.

That’s a great idea. Thanks