Shy Skunk

I have a trap shy skunk. I have tried nose cones, double door traps, food, no food. Put dirt on the wire also grass. Tried covering the trap etc. I want to make a pinch point. My question is, how high can a skunk climb? Do they climb? I have seen fencing used. Will wire be better than wood. I have some ridge wire but it is only 10 inches high. The skunk is under a small out building, if I use a trap the skunk just digs out in another place. The owner is being slow on putting the wire around the outside, does not want to pay me to put the wire down. Thanks in advance.

I don't think a skunk will climb over 10" of wire.
Can you use a conibear or cable restraint?

Chuck

Are you sure that bugger is not hibernating in Michigan this December?

Maybe I'm just fortunate but some of my wire fencing is not very tall and I've never had anything climb over it. I've often wondered

why animals like raccoons go into a cage, rather than over a foot of wire. My conclusion is, that the majority of animals are lazier

than people.

P.S. Skunks are the worst climbers we have.

The skunk is hibernating now, but was not in early Nov.

We had a litter of skunks a year plus back now.

Was very normal to look out at the large enclosure we had which was
all chicken wire on the outside and have two of them 6' off the floor only stopping because they hit the ceiling.

Now by nature I'd agree that most aren't climbing, that's different than can they climb in my brain.

When a cliet asks can they get over this fence or wall my answer is typically no but how motivated are they?

Did they just get blocked off from eating free cat food every day because that's an animal who has more motivation.

In terms of screening or funneling though is agree path of least resistance is what most animals are looking for just like people

We have some great video and pics of these young skunks climbing like a raccoon or squirrel.

Justin, I find your post more than just a little interesting. Do you suppose that when skunks get older they get fat and lazy like a

lot of people. I've had skunks in very shallow window wells that had some pretty good motivation to get out but never made it. They

were dead! We are talking about the striped skunk, right?

Wink,

Yup striped skunk. Have had the same in window wells. I do think substrate matters climbing fencing isn't climbing sheet metal or corrugated metal found in most wells.

Might take me days to post a clip but burned in our minds was watching these nippers head up the wire like it was nothin and stop at the top wondering how are we gonna get back to the ground...

I do think as they get older and plumper their need to or ability to climb is likely negated but that may be as much behavior as anything.

Difference is laziness in people is a trait often associated with mentality whereas in wild animals how many calories you burn on any activity must be balanced with your ability to procure calories through that activity.

Whereas a human can buy food or procure it from a store, natures larder can be a harsh teacher if you spend your time foolishly.

In my experience, skunks won't be able to tell an 8" board from the Great Wall of China. Don't seem to want to climb anything they can't see over - which is any solid object over 4" tall.

Yup, we must have those St Louie skunks here too!

Skunks in my area have no problem climbing stairs to get to pet food on decks. Eight inch high steps are climbed with no trouble at all. One customer told me that he saw a skunk climb a baby gate at the top of the stairs on his deck to get to the dog food.

A friend of mine says he saw a skunk about 6 or so feet up in a bush eating eggs out of a robin nest. This guy's a straight shooter and I have no reason to doubt his word but I must admit it sounds odd.