Posted By: pass-thru
a couple skunk questions.... - 06/15/18 03:55 AM
Doing skunk jobs I either use 110/126's or small cage traps. Last fall I bought a couple of these to replace regular cages that were wearing out:
https://www.wildlifecontrolsupplies.com/animal/AAC2477.html
But it seems the skunks avoid them. First time I used them was a yard skunks were visiting at night and spraying the dogs. I ran 2 traps for over a week and caught a possum. Same bait and everything that I normally use but didn't catch the skunk. Can't be sure that it didn't move on because it was not digging under the house.
Then a week ago I set up a home where they are digging under. These people called me a few months ago with a skunk digging under there shed. I told them what I would do and how much it would cost. Did not hear back until last week. They filled in the hole under the shed. It was dug back out along with a couple holes under the house. They are gone most the summer but last week a skunk sprayed under the house. I set a cage by each crawlout under the house. The bait at the front of the cages was taken, but no commitment to the trap. I set a 126 at the crawlout by shed. Finally after several days I caught an adult female going in.
Now I am pretty much thinking these cages are useless....not sure if it is commitment issue or what, but I never hat this problem with regular cages of the same size. Anybody had good success with these metal side cages?
I have pulled the traps because my work schedule precludes daily checking for the next week. I put up stick blocking to see if there is further activity at the crawlouts. This female skunk....as an adult I presume she was bred. A quick glance at her nipples and they did not seem mature as would expect with a bred female that was nursing. Is that a good indicator? The shed was set for several days with no activity and she was caught at the only hole going in, so there is no nest with babies there. If she does have young, I presume they are not moving about or would have been near her when I checked. I can't fit up under the house. It's 170 years old and not much crawl space for a person. The home owner is much smaller than me and could see nothing when he tried to inspect. Not sure what can be done, not knowing if there is a nest or where for sure it is. Thoughts on best course of action?
https://www.wildlifecontrolsupplies.com/animal/AAC2477.html
But it seems the skunks avoid them. First time I used them was a yard skunks were visiting at night and spraying the dogs. I ran 2 traps for over a week and caught a possum. Same bait and everything that I normally use but didn't catch the skunk. Can't be sure that it didn't move on because it was not digging under the house.
Then a week ago I set up a home where they are digging under. These people called me a few months ago with a skunk digging under there shed. I told them what I would do and how much it would cost. Did not hear back until last week. They filled in the hole under the shed. It was dug back out along with a couple holes under the house. They are gone most the summer but last week a skunk sprayed under the house. I set a cage by each crawlout under the house. The bait at the front of the cages was taken, but no commitment to the trap. I set a 126 at the crawlout by shed. Finally after several days I caught an adult female going in.
Now I am pretty much thinking these cages are useless....not sure if it is commitment issue or what, but I never hat this problem with regular cages of the same size. Anybody had good success with these metal side cages?
I have pulled the traps because my work schedule precludes daily checking for the next week. I put up stick blocking to see if there is further activity at the crawlouts. This female skunk....as an adult I presume she was bred. A quick glance at her nipples and they did not seem mature as would expect with a bred female that was nursing. Is that a good indicator? The shed was set for several days with no activity and she was caught at the only hole going in, so there is no nest with babies there. If she does have young, I presume they are not moving about or would have been near her when I checked. I can't fit up under the house. It's 170 years old and not much crawl space for a person. The home owner is much smaller than me and could see nothing when he tried to inspect. Not sure what can be done, not knowing if there is a nest or where for sure it is. Thoughts on best course of action?