Skunks Under our House

[58pinson]

If you've searched it on line you'll probably have seen all these, but here's my experience:
1- Have-a Heart traps are great for something like a squirrel, but larger animals like ground hogs or a critter with the smell of a skunk not so much.

2- One way exit tunnels seem to work for getting them out. Leave them only one exit by blocking any back doors (usually with wire mesh). They only have one way out and the tunnel's one way flanges don't allow re-entry.

3- At the risk of being off color I've personally found that straight human urine is not something any of these animals are fond of. I actually had a ground hog who redug a hole after being tunneled out and would not be deterred by used cat liter, hot pepper flakes or any of the other homespun remedies. He went vamoose in a hurry when I started pouring McDonald's soda cups full of the above right down his entranceway.

4- I've found any kind of pest control services to be exorbitantly expensive and not worried too much about solving the problem.

Good luck!

[Leon]

Thanks man....Yeah, I am keen on the one way exit doors and the odor causing solutions. I also thought about just putting my water hose in there and let it go....I don't really want to kill it/them as I am an animal lover. It isn't the skunk's fault our neighbors take away ALL of their places to live. Our country street looks more and more like the city every day and it sucks. Thanks again...

Originally Posted by 58pinson

If you've searched it on line you'll probably have seen all these, but here's my experience:
1- Have-a Heart traps are great for something like a squirrel, but larger animals like ground hogs or a critter with the smell of a skunk not so much.

2- One way exit tunnels seem to work for getting them out. Leave them only one exit by blocking any back doors (usually with wire mesh). They only have one way out and the tunnel's one way flanges don't allow re-entry.

3- At the risk of being off color I've personally found that straight human urine is not something any of these animals are fond of. I actually had a ground hog who redug a hole after being tunneled out and would not be deterred by used cat liter, hot pepper flakes or any of the other homespun remedies. He went vamoose in a hurry when I started pouring McDonald's soda cups full of the above right down his entranceway.

4- I've found any kind of pest control services to be exorbitantly expensive and not worried too much about solving the problem.

Good luck!

[irv]

Originally Posted by 58pinson

If you've searched it on line you'll probably have seen all these, but here's my experience:
1- Have-a Heart traps are great for something like a squirrel, but larger animals like ground hogs or a critter with the smell of a skunk not so much.

2- One way exit tunnels seem to work for getting them out. Leave them only one exit by blocking any back doors (usually with wire mesh). They only have one way out and the tunnel's one way flanges don't allow re-entry.

3- At the risk of being off color I've personally found that straight human urine is not something any of these animals are fond of. I actually had a ground hog who redug a hole after being tunneled out and would not be deterred by used cat liter, hot pepper flakes or any of the other homespun remedies. He went vamoose in a hurry when I started pouring McDonald's soda cups full of the above right down his entranceway.

4- I've found any kind of pest control services to be exorbitantly expensive and not worried too much about solving the problem.

Good luck!

Maybe human urine works just as well but I recently read where Fox urine is a sure bet to get rid of them.

It can be purchased at most sporting goods stores such as Bass Pro and Cabela's and maybe even online?
https://www.cabelas.ca/product/56651...CABEgI5TPD_BwE

[tschock]

Originally Posted by irv

Maybe human urine works just as well but I recently read where Fox urine is a sure bet to get rid of them.

It can be purchased at most sporting goods stores such as Bass Pro and Cabela's and maybe even online?
https://www.cabelas.ca/product/56651...CABEgI5TPD_BwE

Oh great! I can see it now, going to the PO with a package, reciting the new line. Nothing liquid, fragile, perishable, or potential hazardous. No perfume, lithium batteries, mercury (recently added), or fox urine.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Shame, as they're actually really cool. We had a stump in our front yard that the previous owner ground down but didn't remove. The skunks loved to dig through it for grubs and had it basically removed within a couple years. They eat larvae and grubs all sorts of things that destroy lawns, trees etc. They're also chill, as long as you don't startle or corner them. I've hung out outside within 10 feet of them a lot, never been sprayed.

[irv]

Originally Posted by tschock

Oh great! I can see it now, going to the PO with a package, reciting the new line. Nothing liquid, fragile, perishable, or potential hazardous. No perfume, lithium batteries, mercury (recently added), or fox urine.

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

Shame, as they're actually really cool. We had a stump in our front yard that the previous owner ground down but didn't remove. The skunks loved to dig through it for grubs and had it basically removed within a couple years. They eat larvae and grubs all sorts of things that destroy lawns, trees etc. They're also chill, as long as you don't startle or corner them. I've hung out outside within 10 feet of them a lot, never been sprayed.

The trouble is, they also destroy lawns and if you don't kill the grubs, which come back every year, this problem will persist.

A couple years ago, around midnight, I was awoken to the strong stench of what I thought was Mary Jane.
My son, who was 16 at the time, who I didn't believe smoked pot, was the first thing that came to mind.

Long story short, I went outside on our back patio and was startled immediately by the scurrying of what I thought was a raccoon. After getting my eyes adjusted to the dark, I realized it was a large great horned owl which I seen fly to my neighbors eave trough.

I seen nothing further that night and went to bed as dawn came early at 5:30 am. When I went out on the same patio around that time the next morning, I noticed a large pile of intestines laying on my lawn.

I grabbed a shovel and a plastic bag and as I was in the process of cleaning up the mess I noticed a skunk which looked like it dove into my wife's flowers? I touched it with the shovel but it was stiff.
With a pair of gloves on I pulled out the skunk to notice the head was completely gone.

I have no idea how it got there as where I noticed the intestines this area was about 30 feet away.
My wife's flowers were not all flattened like it had been dropped, it actually looked like the skunk had dove in there without its head??

I did some Google research and found out skunk is the no#1 diet of great horned owls.

Just his year, as one still lives under my neighbors shed I believe, my wife seen 2 great horned owls on the prowl one early morning, and we live in the city.

[JackW]

Great story, Dale.

[Griffins]

Can you try the same technique you used on the fireants, only with a bit more caution?