How to Catch a Skunk with a Live Trap

Watch how to humanely capture skunks with live traps using the Solutions four step process! This video will show exactly what to do when you have skunks on your property!

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1) IDENTIFICATION & INSPECTION: 0:20
2) TREATMENT: 1:33
3) PREVENTION: 3:43

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Skunks often terrify people when they are spotted on property because of their noxious spray. They are easily identified by their black & white striped fur and tail. They can range in size, but most skunk adults are usually 20 to 30 inches long, and typically weigh between 6 to 10 pounds.

Skunks are omnivorous, but will choose to hunt small prey whenever possible. If they’re not eating insects, mice, or frogs, they’ll likely be burrowing in gardens and yards for grubs and earthworms.

If you suspect you may be dealing with skunks, look for common signs that indicate skunk activity.

Check your yard to see if the surface has been “ripped up.” Look for clumps or even larger patches of grass that have been uprooted and tossed aside. Check your garden to see if the dirt has been dug up.

A skunk’s spray can reach up to 10 feet, so if you encounter one on your inspection, keep your distance until it wanders away. After identifying your pest animal, select the best bait to increase your chances of a successful capture. Since skunks prefer to hunt, baits with strong smells like fish or meat work well.

Before trapping, make sure you put on your personal protective equipment, or PPE. Especially gloves, not only to protect yourself when setting the trap or releasing an animal, but it will also prevent you from transferring your scent to the trap or bait, which will dissuade skunks from approaching.

Place your live trap far away from human or pet activity, along the edge of your property. It’s important to make sure you place your trap in the shade, as a trapped animal can die within a few hours if left to overexposure from the sun.

Once you’ve placed your trap, weigh it down with a brick or cinder block. Aggressive foragers could knock down your live trap, rendering it useless.

Once you are satisfied with your trap placement, you can bait and arm it. Check your trap twice a day.

Once you have captured a skunk in your live trap, place a towel over the cage to avoid frightening the animal. Be sure to contact local authorities like animal control to confirm laws in your area about animal trapping and make sure you are correctly relocating the animal. Travel to your release location, place the trap on the ground facing away from you, and open the trap.

Be sure to visit our website for an in-depth guide and access to each of our products. We guarantee that these live traps and tips will help catch skunks around your property, and we offer same day shipping to help you get control quickly.

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Thanks for watching!

[Artaga]

1 tip I know is to put a board under the trap so the skunk can't try to dig to get out and ends up digging up the grass and dirt into the trap I've had that happen

[stephaniegormley]

Good video. A couple points. 2:57 Peanut Butter is very good but if placed in a cup, secure it down with masking tape. These animals have, despite not having opposable thumbs, reached over the trigger and taken the food, without setting off the trap. One did that to me. Put out the trap at night as Skunks are mostly nocturnal and if left out during the day will almost certainly catch a squirrel by mistake. 3:28 Relocating? What's that?

[tolduso]

Great video, appreciate the knowledge 👍

[apollomoon]

Great video if you live on a 1/2 acre lot where everything is cut and dry. Out in the country it’s hard to trap these destructive animals. I mow nearly 3 acres and have spent up to a month trying to catch one that was destroying entire sections of lawn. Using 2 traps I finally got lucky.
It’s comical seeing some of these live trapping videos with a docile little skunk in the trap. I’ve caught many over the years and once in the traps they are going ballistic trying to dig their way out. By morning some big ones have dug the trap 6” into the ground. At least a bullet in the head seems to keep them from spraying. I can’t imagine trying to approach one of these caged animals to cover the trap.
Maybe suburban skunks are different 🤔

[shadowes]

unrealistic guide for me yeah if you live in the city great what about a realistic guide for a country bumpkin i mean puting it on the ptoperty line lol that is a long walk (or in my case tractor ride), how often do you rebait? if i dont catch something is a certain time period (specify time) do i move the trap or leave it there and if so where should be the 2nd best place to put it? i mean this video is how to trap skunks but gives no idea how to actually do it i see in the video you use nuts but in the narative no discription of what kind of bait to use

[Tommyr]

Most places do not allow relocating animals. It could spread diseases. I use conibear traps or if caught in a live trap I use a CO2 chamber to put it peacefully to sleep.