Don't let the title fool you. I'm talking about when you catch the real young ones (skunks) first and then using them to lure out mama.

How do you arrange the cages to effectively fool the mama and the rest of the kittens? Pics?

SON! You came to the right place!

How's that?

That is just excellent LT. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks? I just learned one today! I imagine some of the new guys may smell a little like skunk from the youngins, but they'll learn.

PERFECT! Much appreciated LT.

Great job.You was sure using your head on that one.

And last but not least....Nice looking skunks you have in your neck of the woods...Tom

Next question... say you catch a couple kittens monday and mama doesn't come until thursday. Do you water the youngsters in that time or does mama come quicker, within a day or so?

In Illinois you would not be legal...... any animal caught and to be released alive must be released within 24 hours after capture. Also important to check your laws.... most state trapping regs prohibit using any type of live bait for trapping. A bit of variance in interpretation may be discovered. Babies are actually an attractant, not being used as an edible "bait". Still probably not legal, but I think most CPO's would understand the reasoning. I have certainly used babies to catch mom on many occasions, and I know I'm not the only guy in Illinois that does it.... just that the issue has never come up on a legal basis. However, in our state all coons and skunks get put down anyway (unless released on same site) so if mom isn't caught within 24 hours, the little ones are toast anyway.

Did that very thing with coons over the weekend. Worked out great....I was INSIDE the residence though. (it was an empty residence) If using that setup outside I would add overhead cover to it. Again, to hopefully help with the issues Ron mentioned. Plus I think it may help get mama in the cage without crawling all over and possibly tripping a trap from the outside.

I've heard it was not a good idea to bait coons with the cubs because the momma could reach through the cage and try to pull them through.

You are right about momma coon trying to pull the babies through the wire. To prevent that, I put hardware cloth between the two traps.

OOPS! Good thinking...

All traps must be checked every 24 hours and any animals found in them must be immediately released or killed.

Another reminder to know your states regs. Thanks.

Yes mama will try to pull the youngones out through a cage.....I box it all in where she will know they are there....but can't get to them other than through a trap. between that trap and the cage there is small enough wire she can't get to them in any way.

From the time I set that up till the owner called me telling me I had her caught was a little over two hours. I will only leave them set up that way one night. Then another plan of attack is used.

Wound up catching 6 adult coon and the litter from that job. Cleaned the attic today....thank goodness I am done. It is getting real hot in the attics here now.

Six adults and one litter from the same attic?

Not all in the attic. Momma and the litter were in the attic. The others were trying to get into the attic. All but one of the others were males. The other female was a year old that I suspect was raised there last year.

il.trapper-
Were the other raccoons or were the traps baited?

Both.
There was one entrance where the contractor left a entry for them in the newer foundation. I set a trap first on the outside to catch any coming out, then inside to catch any coming in. Caught two there coming in including the other female. The others were seen each night on the roof so I set baited traps for them. Two gabled vents and two chimneys i had capped first day of the call. All of them showed sign of the others trying to enter, even today.

The amount of fresh paw prints each morning was amazing to me. The place borders a very large Campus that is govorned by a board of directors in bed with PETA and HSUS. The amount of wildlife in that area is staggering. Until diseases wipe them out every few years for a year or two. I recieved a fox call yesterday near the same place. By the time I got there it had been hit by a car. So mangy it's tail was totaly naked, along with most of it's body. Eyes were so matted I am not sure it could even see. I called the county AC to come get that one. And let them know how I felt about the campus and their BS.

I always catch mamma first. I would never use a baby as bait...

Never.

Barkstone, while I would disagree with your answer, at least for my style personally,( as there are some animals that will not enter a cage trap) I am glad to see your post....I haven't seen it on here for awhile.

Didn't know wheather to send flowers...or a wreath!

LT, how do you handle the skunks in those cages? Syringe pole or do you cover them up for transport?

Here is lt doing his thing with a skunk while visiting my house

Ha!

Yep, Dave, rememeber that one!

I was showing Dave (Vinke) that I was an 'expert' at reading skunks body lanauge and that I was so good at it, that I could walk to an adult skunk, that he trapped,(you will notice the skunk is in a 'Havajunk' trap and although Dave MADE me use them, I won't ever admit that I it)..and pick it up, no tarp or anthing and hold it right up to my face.
The picture shows that proof!

Now, theres another time Dave could tell you about, that one Sunday morning, I got careless, at his house, non the less, and ended up having to leave my brand new closes behind in Washington state....but I hope he doesn't!

Heck even MYTH BUSTERS did that trying to make a skunk spray.

Well Vinke and LT would certainly qualify As Myth Busters.

Did not say I always used cage traps to catch momma first. Just never use babies as bait.

Flowers would be nice. I am certaqinly looking forward to looking forward to the next spring rush.....

Personal preference?

California Poppies would be nice.

This method on raccoons is almost a given to catch the female, but I tried to use pup raccoons the other day for bait, for the first time the female had nothing to do with the trap. She did not want to enter the trap even though her pups were visible in the rear. I wound up doing something different with a 220 at her entrance on a gable end vent.

Krustyclimber tried it with coons and it did not go very well if I remember right....My understanding is Momma tried to pull them though the cage....

Had the same thing happen first time I did that w/ coon. Maybe cover on trap would help so she could only get to them by going in one end.

When I do this I do have a cover on the trap and then stake it down so this negative reaction does not happen.