any idea on how to get rid of skunks?

[RobR]

we just moved into a home that's been unoccupied
for almost a year. it appears we have a family of
at least 4 skunks living in or behind the shed out in
the yard. i'd prefer not to kill them, plus there are
cats loose in the neighborhood, so i definitely don't
want to leave out poison. just looking for some ideas
on how to make these guys go away. we leave the
sliding glass doors open (with the screen closed)
so our indoor only cats can enjoy the fresh air, but
the steps leading to the deck with the doors is
just a mere 10' away from the skunk shed. that
could get ugly :). any ideas? thanks!

[Kathy]

"RobR" > wrote in message
news:3toJe.4201$eR.93@trndny04...
> we just moved into a home that's been unoccupied
> for almost a year. it appears we have a family
of
> at least 4 skunks living in or behind the shed
out in
> the yard. i'd prefer not to kill them, plus
there are
> cats loose in the neighborhood, so i definitely
don't
> want to leave out poison. just looking for some
ideas
> on how to make these guys go away. we leave the
> sliding glass doors open (with the screen closed)
> so our indoor only cats can enjoy the fresh air,
but
> the steps leading to the deck with the doors is
> just a mere 10' away from the skunk shed. that
> could get ugly :). any ideas? thanks!
>
>
>

They don't like mothballs.

[Jmagerl]

RobR wrote:
> we just moved into a home that's been unoccupied
> for almost a year. it appears we have a family of
> at least 4 skunks living in or behind the shed out in
> the yard. i'd prefer not to kill them, plus there are
> cats loose in the neighborhood, so i definitely don't
> want to leave out poison. just looking for some ideas
> on how to make these guys go away. we leave the
> sliding glass doors open (with the screen closed)
> so our indoor only cats can enjoy the fresh air, but
> the steps leading to the deck with the doors is
> just a mere 10' away from the skunk shed. that
> could get ugly :). any ideas? thanks!

Shove an ammonia soaked rag under the shed? I prefer to nail it to a 2X4.
otherrwise they push it out. Once out, nail up entrance if possible.
Eliminate food sources. kill the grubs in your lawn.

[Steve]

"Kathy" > wrote in message
...
>
> "RobR" > wrote in message
> news:3toJe.4201$eR.93@trndny04...
>> we just moved into a home that's been unoccupied
>> for almost a year. it appears we have a family
> of
>> at least 4 skunks living in or behind the shed
> out in
>> the yard. i'd prefer not to kill them, plus
> there are
>> cats loose in the neighborhood, so i definitely
> don't
>> want to leave out poison. just looking for some
> ideas
>> on how to make these guys go away. we leave the
>> sliding glass doors open (with the screen closed)
>> so our indoor only cats can enjoy the fresh air,
> but
>> the steps leading to the deck with the doors is
>> just a mere 10' away from the skunk shed. that
>> could get ugly :). any ideas? thanks!
>>
>>

www.Get-Rid-of-Skunks.com

[Rudy]

> They like their den dark & quiet.
> Try a radio & light source.

So THATS why RAP music was invented !

[Duane Bozarth]

RobR wrote:
>
> we just moved into a home that's been unoccupied
> for almost a year. it appears we have a family of
> at least 4 skunks living in or behind the shed out in
> the yard. i'd prefer not to kill them, plus there are
> cats loose in the neighborhood, so i definitely don't
> want to leave out poison. just looking for some ideas
> on how to make these guys go away. we leave the
> sliding glass doors open (with the screen closed)
> so our indoor only cats can enjoy the fresh air, but
> the steps leading to the deck with the doors is
> just a mere 10' away from the skunk shed. that
> could get ugly :). any ideas? thanks!

Fortunately, I've not had the problem near enough to the house and being
on the farm don't have to worry about what the neighbors are doing so I
can track them 'til they're far enough from the house to simply shoot
them.

W/ the broken arm, it's been impossible to handle the shotgun and
there's been one digging in the yard every evening...got lucky and some
kind soul flattened him in the road a couple of weeks ago. So far, no
sign of mate or kits and the cast is now off... :)

[Duane Bozarth]

RobR wrote:
>
....
> ...any ideas? thanks!

The books claim skunks are a prime target for horned owls -- but either
we have the wrong skunk or the owls have too refined a palate or too
much other tastier stuff to chose from...the skunk wandered around the
yard all evening into the night whilst the owls continue to watch and
prepare for the evening hunt--neither paid a whit of attention to the
other. :(

[RobR]

"Duane Bozarth" > wrote in message
...
> RobR wrote:
>>
> ...
>> ...any ideas? thanks!
>
> The books claim skunks are a prime target for horned owls -- but either
> we have the wrong skunk or the owls have too refined a palate or too
> much other tastier stuff to chose from...the skunk wandered around the
> yard all evening into the night whilst the owls continue to watch and
> prepare for the evening hunt--neither paid a whit of attention to the
> other. :(

Well, if I got some owls and put them in the shed, what gets rid of
owls so I don't have to listen to the WHOOOOO WHOOOOO? :).

[Duane Bozarth]

RobR wrote:
>
> "Duane Bozarth" > wrote in message
> ...
> > RobR wrote:
> >>
> > ...
> >> ...any ideas? thanks!
> >
> > The books claim skunks are a prime target for horned owls -- but either
> > we have the wrong skunk or the owls have too refined a palate or too
> > much other tastier stuff to chose from...the skunk wandered around the
> > yard all evening into the night whilst the owls continue to watch and
> > prepare for the evening hunt--neither paid a whit of attention to the
> > other. :(
>
> Well, if I got some owls and put them in the shed, what gets rid of
> owls so I don't have to listen to the WHOOOOO WHOOOOO? :).

:)

Actually, to me that is a plus...I like having them around a
bunch...unfortunately, we lost one of the pair of horned owls to some
unknown cause last spring -- so far, the other is still hanging around.
I'm hoping since they managed to raise at least two young each of the
last three years there's still a young one going to come fill in when it
gets to be that time this winter--they don't actually interact much
except for that relatively short period in late winter/early spring.

The barn owls, otoh, are more plentiful but much more reclusive...last
time I climbed to their hangout in the top of the elevator there were
five plus an indeterminate number of young...

[SteveB]

I keep posting this info here for newcomers, so those of you who have heard
this before, DO NOT read any further.

For the people who are trying to get rid of skunks, there is a product
called Fi-shock. It is a small electrical device that you hook up to a
wire, and it shocks the invading animal when it comes in contact with the
wire.

It works good for raccoons, dogs, deer, cats, kids, whoever the unwanted
intruder is.

Use according to directions, be safe, and don't pee on it.

All it takes is one time, and the animal will not return. I believe I paid
about $25 for mine from someone I found in Google.

If'n you want, you can buy all the wiring, insulators, and poles they have
in the kits, but you can make the same out of baling wire, pvc stubs and
common items and save a bundle.

Got a dog peeing on your nice wheels? Wanna make him stop?

Fi-Shock.

Funny as hell when you get to see it work.

Steve

[Duane Bozarth]

SteveB wrote:
>
> I keep posting this info here for newcomers, so those of you who have heard
> this before, DO NOT read any further.
>
> For the people who are trying to get rid of skunks, there is a product
> called Fi-shock. It is a small electrical device that you hook up to a
> wire, and it shocks the invading animal when it comes in contact with the
> wire.

That's known as a "fence charger"...

....

> Funny as hell when you get to see it work.

Probably not so much fun when the skunk then sprays your house, shrubs,
etc., ...

Not at all sure I'd recommend this as an alternative w/ a skunk near an
occupied area.

[SteveB]

"Duane Bozarth" > wrote in message
...
> SteveB wrote:
>>
>> I keep posting this info here for newcomers, so those of you who have
>> heard
>> this before, DO NOT read any further.
>>
>> For the people who are trying to get rid of skunks, there is a product
>> called Fi-shock. It is a small electrical device that you hook up to a
>> wire, and it shocks the invading animal when it comes in contact with the
>> wire.
>
> That's known as a "fence charger"...
>
> ...
>
>> Funny as hell when you get to see it work.
>
> Probably not so much fun when the skunk then sprays your house, shrubs,
> etc., ...
>
> Not at all sure I'd recommend this as an alternative w/ a skunk near an
> occupied area.

I'd rather have to deal with it once rather than all year long.

Steve

[Duane Bozarth]

SteveB wrote:
>
> "Duane Bozarth" > wrote in message
> ...
> > SteveB wrote:
> >>
> >> I keep posting this info here for newcomers, so those of you who have
> >> heard
> >> this before, DO NOT read any further.
> >>
> >> For the people who are trying to get rid of skunks, there is a product
> >> called Fi-shock. It is a small electrical device that you hook up to a
> >> wire, and it shocks the invading animal when it comes in contact with the
> >> wire.
> >
> > That's known as a "fence charger"...
> >
> > ...
> >
> >> Funny as hell when you get to see it work.
> >
> > Probably not so much fun when the skunk then sprays your house, shrubs,
> > etc., ...
> >
> > Not at all sure I'd recommend this as an alternative w/ a skunk near an
> > occupied area.
>
> I'd rather have to deal with it once rather than all year long.

That experience or wishing? :)

I'd far rather find an alternative method near a dwelling as the "once"
will might well end up being a goodly portion of year. Unless they're
disturbed, in general they're of minimal problem other than just the
general nuisance factor.

[SteveB]

"Duane Bozarth" > wrote in message
...
> SteveB wrote:
>>
>> "Duane Bozarth" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> > SteveB wrote:
>> >>
>> >> I keep posting this info here for newcomers, so those of you who have
>> >> heard
>> >> this before, DO NOT read any further.
>> >>
>> >> For the people who are trying to get rid of skunks, there is a product
>> >> called Fi-shock. It is a small electrical device that you hook up to
>> >> a
>> >> wire, and it shocks the invading animal when it comes in contact with
>> >> the
>> >> wire.
>> >
>> > That's known as a "fence charger"...
>> >
>> > ...
>> >
>> >> Funny as hell when you get to see it work.
>> >
>> > Probably not so much fun when the skunk then sprays your house, shrubs,
>> > etc., ...
>> >
>> > Not at all sure I'd recommend this as an alternative w/ a skunk near an
>> > occupied area.
>>
>> I'd rather have to deal with it once rather than all year long.
>
> That experience or wishing? :)
>
> I'd far rather find an alternative method near a dwelling as the "once"
> will might well end up being a goodly portion of year. Unless they're
> disturbed, in general they're of minimal problem other than just the
> general nuisance factor.

Fer Chrissake! I made a suggestion. Do or not do. No need for argument or
****ing contest.

Steve

[Duane Bozarth]

SteveB wrote:
>
....
> Fer Chrissake! I made a suggestion. Do or not do. No need for argument or
> ****ing contest.

Whoa! Wasn't trying...thought the smiley would indicate that...was
simply tossing back and forth of "pro/con" I thought/intended...

[Heathcliff]

RobR wrote:
> we just moved into a home that's been unoccupied
> for almost a year. it appears we have a family of
> at least 4 skunks living in or behind the shed out in
> the yard. i'd prefer not to kill them, plus there are
> cats loose in the neighborhood, so i definitely don't
> want to leave out poison. just looking for some ideas
> on how to make these guys go away. we leave the
> sliding glass doors open (with the screen closed)
> so our indoor only cats can enjoy the fresh air, but
> the steps leading to the deck with the doors is
> just a mere 10' away from the skunk shed. that
> could get ugly :). any ideas? thanks!

Some time when they are not there, go back there and pee. That is how
animals traditionally mark their territory. I actually know someone
who got rid of skunks under their porch that way. Hey, it's cheap and
easy, give it a try. -- H