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Skunk from ...
Since I have been using positive sets I have not had a problem catching skunks going in or out of dens with double door cages, until the other day. Set the den under a porch as usual while the skunk was away. Client called and said he dug another hole nearby, but he was not living there, just digging and leaving. Told her to put some bait in the new hole and move the trap to the over to it while covering the other hole. He dug more holes, lots of them I was told after the fact, 6 total I guess. As they moved the trap he wanted no part of it. After a long message on my phone that made it sound like they were all in imitate danger in what was conveyed as an unbearable situation, I dumped in a 160 for closure. But, I also loaded a large 12x12 trap with all kinds of bait and smells right next to it. The skunk ignored the cage, as expected, but did find himself suitcased in the 160. He never moved a muscle as it would appear and though the yard did not small much, inside the house the odor was quite noticeable.
Wondering how many times cage avoidance occurs with both blind and baited sets? Other than a 160 I could have set a foot trap, but that too iffy to say the least, not to catch, but worry of spraying. Wondering what others have done on the rare occasion that this happens?
Your story brings back a couple of memories, Jim. Thank goodness it's only a couple. And the funny part is that those cage-shy skunks
are first year females that have never seen a cage before. I usually caught them by changing something. A plastic cage perhaps, or
putting fresh ground inside the cage and making it harder for her to dig around it. I caught them eventually but I don't get paid any
more for a skunk with a PHD, so I prefer the really dumb ones.
Posted By: Kirk De
Re: Skunk from ... - 09/03/14 02:59 PM
Since I have been using positive sets I have not had a problem catching skunks going in or out of dens with double door cages, until the other day. Set the den under a porch as usual while the skunk was away. Client called and said he dug another hole nearby, but he was not living there, just digging and leaving. Told her to put some bait in the new hole and move the trap to the over to it while covering the other hole. He dug more holes, lots of them I was told after the fact, 6 total I guess. As they moved the trap he wanted no part of it. After a long message on my phone that made it sound like they were all in imitate danger in what was conveyed as an unbearable situation, I dumped in a 160 for closure. But, I also loaded a large 12x12 trap with all kinds of bait and smells right next to it. The skunk ignored the cage, as expected, but did find himself suitcased in the 160. He never moved a muscle as it would appear and though the yard did not small much, inside the house the odor was quite noticeable.
Wondering how many times cage avoidance occurs with both blind and baited sets? Other than a 160 I could have set a foot trap, but that too iffy to say the least, not to catch, but worry of spraying. Wondering what others have done on the rare occasion that this happens?
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http://www.comstockcustomcage.com/https://www.facebook.com/pages/Comstock-Custom-Cage-LLC/343556115744235 This was posted on the "my first Wood chuck thread". Had same problem. He was using positive sets with nose cones and double door traps. He solved the problem the same way.
As much as I like Comstock's and Advance traps, had a cemetery job with 6 active holes. Three days of positive sets and one chuck. Change to conibears and four the next day. Everything has its place and job. Good job on your first one.
Posted By: sgs
Re: Skunk from ... - 09/03/14 03:03 PM
I was just going to ask if it was a male or female but Paul brought it up first.
Positive sets are productive, of course, but sometimes a cage covering their den will scare them off. I usually set a couple of baited traps in suspected travel ways, away from the den, just in case the animal is away from the den when setting. They are just as effective as the positive set.
Posted By: Jim Comstock
Re: Skunk from ... - 09/03/14 03:24 PM
Yes, it was a female but appeared to be a good sized one and not this years and was not actually living in the holes, just digging them, returning intermittently. The large bait trap adjacent to the den didn't get her attention either. At least that is a first out of many many dozens. I too love a dumb animal with all my heart. Knew I could catch her one way or other, was just hoping it would have ended less odorous.
Posted By: sgs
Re: Skunk from ... - 09/03/14 03:45 PM
I suspect that the original den might have been where this years litter was born. At this time of year she was probably using a series of dens, returning only once every few days. Had a baited trap been a distance from the den she might not have been so neophobic.
Posted By: Jim Comstock
Re: Skunk from ... - 09/03/14 05:47 PM
The client in this case had said the skunk had just showed up at this location, a summer home where they had spent a lot of time. I am finding that this time of year there are more hit and miss diggings, places they just show up where they have not been, dig some and then vacate. I guess they may show up at some point, maybe. Best part of positive sets, no maintenance, few non targets taken. All you have to do it wait it out. Waiting on a chuck for a week and half, but no sign yet. Not a great place if you saw it, in the woods with not much feed.
Posted By: warrior
Re: Skunk from ... - 09/03/14 07:54 PM
Had an armadillo do the exact same thing to me once. The strange deal was he was doing a dam good skunk impression, so much so I was at first convinced I was dealing with a skunk. The only armadillo I have encountered that was actually digging in and out of a crawlspace. Finally nailed him on the opposite side of the house in one of his new holes. Caught him in a cage positive set but I had to line the entire area with pavers to make him quit digging.
Posted By: Jim Comstock
Re: Skunk from ... - 09/03/14 11:15 PM
I'm just thankful that these kinds of things don't happen that often. Finding that no matter what the critter, they all can either get wised up or come that way from previous encounters with who knows who or what. I have come to have a great deal of respect for each and every animal. If they believe they are the target, you are in trouble. I don't underestimate any animal.
Posted By: Jonesie
Re: Skunk from ... - 09/04/14 01:02 AM
Jim I get them a lot here in my area. some of those old females have been there, done that, with a cage trap. I found that if I back off the den and feed them at the den with the same bait that they like to eat in the trap, I can get them to go in a large trap at some point, well most of the time. I can't use killers here and snares are a pain with skunks.
Posted By: Jim Comstock
Re: Skunk from ... - 09/04/14 12:20 PM
Hey Jonesie, I had to set for skunks with no den hole, almost broke out in hives and began to develop a tick. Guess what,? I had to use BAIT. I can't remember which ones of your baits and lures I used, but something that worked. Set along structure on both sides of an alcove. Nothing the first night, but I am told we now have 2 black and whites "eagerly" awaiting our return this morning.
Posted By: Boco
Re: Skunk from ... - 09/06/14 05:38 AM
Snare on a slide wire.Skunks are easy to snare,but don't often have the strength to dispatch themselves.
Posted By: Jim Comstock
Re: Skunk from ... - 09/06/14 01:43 PM
Sounds good, wish I could do that as it would get them out of the way, but no snaring here except for beaver in water.
Posted By: Jonesie
Re: Skunk from ... - 09/09/14 01:06 AM
Just got back from working on deer camp and you made my day JIM LOL not that you used my baits but that you used any bait LOL I even set up one of your traps today! there is hope for both of us LOL