Skunk Surprise

Set a blind set between a house and a fence next door, a perfect 1 foot gap for a double door cage. Skunks were grubbing, had just caught one across the street. Turned out to be 5 skunks for the first 5 nights next to the house. I picked up number 5 at noon, then got a call from the home owners later in the day after they had been out. They asked, "did you come today?" since the doors were "still" closed. It was then 5 p.m. Told them I had been there mid day. Not wanting to get close, they just said that something was in the trap, maybe a neighbors cat or squirrel? I was a little surprised to see yet another skunk, number 6 waiting, caught some time between noon and 5, warm sunny summer like day. Wonder how often that happens? Usually no one checks traps that often, but this was right next to the house, an easy check.

Jim....Don't spend all day Sunday pondering it. Lol

Have a good day!

Sweet

Got number 7 yesterday so won't have to dwell on number 6. Think its about over. I know the home owner hopes so. They are always thrilled with the first, happy with the second, appreciate the third and from there on they sink into depression, but they don't want you to stop. Frost in Saranac Lake this morning.

Jim:
The same for mole, they love to see a couple be taken out but after 5 or so they are not as happy because of the cost. Great job!

den very close by Jim

They keep coming. Told the lady I would trap on me for the "last" ones, as she is close by. Cost her quite a bit to get 7 removed, now up to 9. Great pinch point.

If you think that the people that we remove them for are unhappy, you should see the ones that we give them to.

When asked if I ever have trouble collecting for my services, I usually respond with "who wants to mess with someone that handles live skunks?"

hv has that right. Critters could be returned. One trapper removed babies in a basement, said $150 or something. Client though it was a lot. He said, "I can put them back." This lady is 80, very nice. Wanted to have what she thought would be a "few" skunks caught grubbing. Just turns out that a few has a wide range, getting wider all the time.

Another skunk surprise. Might I suggest not to leave deceased skunks near the driveway, even for a short time. Was only gone a couple of hours mid day checking traps. Came back and found 4 skunks in pieces all over the driveway. I was hoping to extract, but it seems that the buzzards beat me to it. Guess you have to hand it to any creature that can eat the butt out of a skunk, or do you? Must be a little "spicy" when they hit the glands, but doesn't seem to deter them. Skunk innards for lunch, barf.

#10 today. Still wondering where the bottom is.

It sure sounds like you've found a wintering den. Every skunk in the area is going to be checking it out over the next couple of weeks.

They're money makers.

I am not set on a den as is often the case. This is just a tight spot between two houses, which is why I was surprised. Thought I would get a few maybe, but not 10 It is a good trail set, but just a pass through. Got one more on the other side of the road and another just down the road. The night time dog walker sees skunks all over the area. Of course I have not scouted nor do I have access to the entire area, so no telling what's out there close by.

Neighbor was missing a cat. I held up my catch and asked if it looked "like this." Wise guy you know. Said the Calico didn't come home. They don't have coyotes and fisher in the back yard like we do. Found out it was 20+ years old, which seems self explanatory.

So what you're saying Jim, is that the calico ran off with a wild 10 year old Persian and had a heart attack the first night?

You'd like to think it happened that way, the best way to go if you must. So far everything in the trap has been black and white, even the one that meowed.

I did hit number 11 the other day, hoping that's it. Have heard that one guy put out some tuna and another uses hot dogs on a golf course with success for the skunks. As one fellow trapper puts it, everything works sometimes and sometimes nothing works.

There may be a lady or two down the street feeding 30 cats, maybe feeding 20 skunks by accident.

6 days of catches, cage adjacent to my deck.