Unwanted guest living under my shed.

[dja4260]

A skunk has moved in under my shed. My dog has been on the losing end of two encounters with this fella.

I've read a bunch of different things.

Anyone have a success story?

 

[John_K]

While it was on an outing I put cement around the bottom of ours. Never came back.

John

 

[Eddie]

I ran a piece of hose from my riding mower exhaust under my shed. I started the mower and after about 30 minutes the skunk came stager out and went away, never to return. I then bricked up the holes. Ed

 

[ColdCanuk]

I'd cover all the holes except one and then light 2 varmint smoke bombs and throw them down the holes, then cover the hold with an old T-shirt and some more dirt on top of that. Do this during the day while it's asleep.

I guess plinking him with a .22 at night is out of the question in a city environment.

Last option get a skunk trap, a long tube and supposedly if there tail is down they can't spray, hence the tube shape of the trap. Sardines and bacon works well.

Good luck.

 

[IndyIan]

My dog killed one. But he is an outdoor dog, so I don't worry about what he smells like. The smell goes away in a month it seems.
My fil has trapped them in a live trap, puts a blanket over the trap and then puts the trap in the trunk of the car and drives far away to release it. He says he's never had one go off, ymmv.

 

[andyd]

Live trap and re-locate or destroy it. I don't have a dog and have peacefully co-existed with them for 35 yrs.They eat the grubs in the lawn. If Im working with the shop door open at night, they will visit and retreat quickly.

 

[Boomer]

Skunks usually hang around because of grubs in the soil. Usually a good application of a "grubacide" in the spring and summer will get them to move on to greener pastures.

 

[eljefino]

Originally Posted By: IndyIan

My fil has trapped them in a live trap, puts a blanket over the trap and then puts the trap in the trunk of the car and drives far away to release it. He says he's never had one go off, ymmv.


I've done this and lived to tell about it. It takes some fortitude to uncover the trap blanket and look the critter in the eye.

Drove him 4-5 miles to a rest area and let him go. He found his way back, wife thinks.

 

[toneydoc]

Get a lawn chair, a 12 gauge shotgun, a 6 pack of your favorite brew. Sit back and relax until the moment of truth. This happens frequently down here.

 

[Fleetmon]

We peacefully co-exist with them......barricade their typical home spots so they stay out from under your shed/house. They are actually more beneficial alive than dead. If you have to kill it you're doin it wrong (peacefull co-existence)!

 

[The_Eric]

Originally Posted By: Boomer
Skunks usually hang around because of grubs in the soil. Usually a good application of a "grubacide" in the spring and summer will get them to move on to greener pastures.

Not a good long term practice. Grub killers can also kill other organisms in your yard which are important to not only your yard but other critters. Also the grubs are food to more than just skunks. Really, it's a pretty draconian response.

Originally Posted By: Fleetmon
We peacefully co-exist with them......barricade their typical home spots so they stay out from under your shed/house. They are actually more beneficial alive than dead. If you have to kill it you're doin it wrong (peacefull co-existence)!


Agree 100%! I'm glad there are still people in this world that think this way.

 

[yucca]

They carry rabies here. You can use a air rifle and kill them. I use a 22.

 

[The_Eric]

Originally Posted By: yucca
They carry rabies here. You can use a air rifle and kill them. I use a 22.


So? If there is no reason to suspect an animal has rabies, then why kill it? Killing an animal when there is no suspicion of rabies is just plain stupid, especially when they serve a valid role in the environment. Now, if there is good reason to believe an animal is rabid, then yes, destroy it humanely.

 

[yucca]

Well we get rabies warnings regarding skunks quite often from the State DOH here. I don't see skunks to often on my place but when I do I don't have an issue humanely disposing of them.

To the OP you can take a little sulfur and put it in the bottom of a coffee can. Light the sulfur on fire and place at the bottom of shed. The smell will run all of the vermin out for awhile.

 

[Fleetmon]

You can run them off with a coffee can of mothballs too.

We get rabies warnings all the time also.....foxes, bats, skunks, dogs, cats, racoons and we get all of them visiting from time to time but I'm certainly not going to kill them because they might have rabies.....they might not.

 

[ronbo]

Originally Posted By: The_Eric
Originally Posted By: Boomer
Skunks usually hang around because of grubs in the soil. Usually a good application of a "grubacide" in the spring and summer will get them to move on to greener pastures.

Not a good long term practice. Grub killers can also kill other organisms in your yard which are important to not only your yard but other critters. Also the grubs are food to more than just skunks. Really, it's a pretty draconian response.

Originally Posted By: Fleetmon
We peacefully co-exist with them......barricade their typical home spots so they stay out from under your shed/house. They are actually more beneficial alive than dead. If you have to kill it you're doin it wrong (peacefull co-existence)!


Agree 100%! I'm glad there are still people in this world that think this way.


I co-exist with the shunks in my area and they eat the grubs in my yard since grubs can be destructive to plants and all grub killers aren't bad BUT the good ones are expensive.
quote from a website "White grubs are immature beetles of European chafers or Japanese beetles. They feed on the roots of lawn grasses, and cause damage to your lawn. Severe grub damage in a lawn causes large sections of brown and dead. When they become beetles, they eat leaves of many plants, especially fruit trees, ornamental trees, shrubs, vines, and vegetable crops. Severe infection may defoliate whole tree. They are highly destructive plant pest. "
and

"I prefer to natual treatment without using chemicals."

"In soil, some microscopic worms known as nematodes infect and kill grubs. The commercial product is called Scanmask, which contains Steinernema Feltiae (SF), insect "eating" nematodes. Grubs, larvae, caterpillars, and maggots, are most susceptible. It is safe for people, pets, plants, and birds. Earthworms and benefical insects like bees, ladybugs, and lacewings are resistant to SF. The only concern is the cost. But SF works for a long time and they can reproduce by themselves."

link: http://www.gardenstew.com/about7996.html

I grew roses many years ago and the grubs destroyed the flowers.

 

[Donald]

Nematodes are a safe and natural way to deal with grubs. Maybe if the grubs go, so will the skunks.