Speaking of skunks...

[lakelover]

Does anyone know of a skunk repellent? <br /><br />In this hot weather I sleep with my bedroom windows open with a 20" fan blowing in. Just about every night lately, a skunk arrives in the middle of the night to dig for grubs (I assume, I haven't asked him) in the pine needles beneath the window. No need to say that the smell wakes me up feeling very nauseous and I have to clear out of the bedroom for a while. <br /><br />I know I could try to get rid of the grubs, but that seems like too ambitious a plan. <br /><br />Help, I'm losing sleep over this!

 

[voxmorgan]

Re: Speaking of skunks...

22 cal. rim fire

 

[voxmorgan]

Re: Speaking of skunks...

or try and sprinkle a ton of cayenne pepper on the ground in the area where you suspect the pest to be dinning in

 

[lakelover]

Re: Speaking of skunks...

22 cal. rim fire

Sorry, wouldn't go over too big with suburban neighbors! <br /><br />

or try and sprinkle a ton of cayenne pepper on the ground in the area where you suspect the pest to be dinning in

This might be an idea, I once got rid of a chawing porcupine that way!

 

[JB]

Re: Speaking of skunks...

That's odd, LL.<br /><br />I have a skunk (Flower ) that lives in my machine shed and he (she?) has never offended me (or vice versa). I just have to be careful not to surprise or corner him.<br /><br />The skunks I know are mild mannered critters who get along fine, and don't emit odors unless threatened or hit by a car.<br /><br />What you are smelling is the result of a skunk having been offended or threatened, probably by a slow-learning dog.

 

[ED21]

Re: Speaking of skunks...

I have to agree w/ lakelover. The skunks around here generally emit odor as they cruise around. I always figured it was just a general warning to all around.<br />Insecticide might get rid of grubs.

 

[Link]

Re: Speaking of skunks...

LL<br />I agree with JB on this one. Ive had plenty of dealings with JB's "Flower" and have never known them to smell up the place unless startled or scared. yes they do have an oder about them but nothing you could smell from two feet away. <br />I wonder if they mark their area the way other animals do by peeing and that is what you smell?<br />Just a thought.. and Ive never knowing-lee smelled skunk pee

 

[lakelover]

Re: Speaking of skunks...

<br /> posted July 21, 2004 02:40 PM <br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />That's odd, LL.<br /><br />I have a skunk (Flower ) that lives in my machine shed and he (she?) has never offended me (or vice versa). I just have to be careful not to surprise or corner him.<br /><br />The skunks I know are mild mannered critters who get along fine, and don't emit odors unless threatened or hit by a car.<br /><br />What you are smelling is the result of a skunk having been offended or threatened, probably by a slow-learning dog.<br />

You know, I wondered about that. I've heard people say you can't really smell a skunk unless it sprays. Also that it won't spray in a cage becasue it doesn't want to stink itself up. But the frequency with which this happens, it seems almost inconceivable that it would be surprised or scared in the same place with such frequency. This happens several times per week, sometimes worse than others. Earlier this spring, I saw a dead skunk in the road nearby, and had no stench problems at night for quite a while, but a new one seems to have found my grub supply. There are lots of little round holes where you can see that he's been digging up something. I rarely see dogs wandering around, but maybe they're surprised by cats, lot of them skulking about.

 

[JB]

Re: Speaking of skunks...

Ran into Flower this AM about 6:30.<br /><br />I was going into the shed to get Big Orange out to do some mowing. Flower was coming out. I stopped and spoke quietly to him that I wasn't any threat. He ambled by me (about 6' away) and went on his way.<br /><br />Surprised me a bit. I would have expected him to be out all night and come home in the morning.<br /><br />Anyway, there is no unpleasant odor in the shed.<br /><br />I wonder, LL, if a skunk that has defended himself continues to stink for a few days and that is what you are experiencing.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Speaking of skunks...

JB you didn't happen to see Flower holding a AAA map did you? I bet Flower was returning home from his nightly Upstate NY grub hunting....<br /><br />Lakeover -On another thought every night before you retire open a can of cat food and place it next door near your neighbors window! After a few good meals the skunk will start looking for grubs there.<br /><br />Bob

 

[lakelover]

Re: Speaking of skunks...

JB, <br />Please send your well-mannered skunk to train my stinker!<br />

 

[TELMANMN]

Re: Speaking of skunks...

If you have a grub problem get some either liquid or granular grubex to put on lawn to get rid of them. Also if you have alot of wood piles,brush or ground squirrels it makes a good habitat for skunks. Clean this up or get it away from the house and it will help. Varmitt's do stink so get rid of anything that will attract them.<br /> Also if you live in a very rural area with no chance of other domesticate animals gettin injured, I had an old feller tell me to put out anti-frezze in a dish where you think the skunk is attracted to and this will take care of you problem. Do not do this if you have neighbors with cats, dogs, etc. Well maybe not cat's.

 

[lakelover]

Re: Speaking of skunks...

Thanks for all the thoughts!

 

[JB]

Re: Speaking of skunks...

Forget the ethylene glycol idea, LL. It's a dreadful hazard to all critters, domestic and wild.<br /><br />More important, a skunk in distress from poison will spray at random wherever he is.<br /><br />Example: Years ago I put rat poison in a small shed (closed) to get rid of destructive mice. At least one mouse crawled through the floorboards before expiring, where it was eaten by a very young skunk. The skunk exploded his glands when he started to hurt. Then died under the floor.<br /><br />The shed was uninhabitable for months and still smelled bad when I moved it about a year later and found the mummified baby skunk under the floor.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Speaking of skunks...

Scatter some moth balls around the area.<br /><br />Works on cats. Maybe work on stinky too.

 

[Link]

Re: Speaking of skunks...

Originally posted by SBN:<br /> Scatter some moth balls around the area.<br /><br />Works on cats. Maybe work on stinky too.

Not a bad idea. They do act like cats. Once as a kid walking home from a rifle match at night a group of five, Mom Pop and three kits came out of the brush about 15ft in front of me. I stopped but the kits started towards me so I turn around and walked slowly the other direction. Didn't work! They were on me in a flash ! So thinking I was going to be one stinky boy I turned around started walking towards home again. The kittens were chasing each other inbetween my legs and feet. They would even sit on my foot and as I took a step forward would use it to propell them into the air!! Mom and Pop were about 6 feet away right beside me watching all this. I was sweating bullets Anyway they stayed with me for a LONG 1/2 mile then Mon and Pop crossed in front of me and headed over the bank to the lake and the kits followed them.<br />When I got home I took my jeans and shoes off and couldn't smell any bad oder.<br /><br />I don't think I've told that story in 30 years

 

[crab bait]

Re: Speaking of skunks...

boy, JB... you find some neet stuff.. <br /><br />a clovis man cuttin' tool an a mummifed skunk.. regular natl' geographic site all around ya.. ..

 

[lakelover]

Re: Speaking of skunks...

Originally posted by JB:<br /> Forget the ethylene glycol idea

Yeah, it's nasty stuff. Except for maybe the cat comment... I thought that was kind of funny. Seriously, I would never use it that way, too many risks.

 

[lakelover]

Re: Speaking of skunks...

Originally posted by Link:<br /> I don't think I've told that story in 30 years

Amazing story, Link!

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Speaking of skunks...

Hate to say it, but they definately spray when they are in a cage. Just go buy or borrow a wire Have-A-Hart cage, bait it with wet catfood, and the next morning you will have a skunk. Use a large piece of black plastic, hold it in front of you, and walk up to the trap. Slowly lay the plastic over the trap, then pick the trap up by the handle. Now the plastic will be draped over the cage, and the skunk will be spraying like crazy when you pick it up. Put it in the back of a truck, keeping it covered, and drive several miles into the woods, and release it. By the time you release it, it has no juice left in its spray glands, so you won't get sprayed. The downfall to this is your truck smells for a day or so, but if you get at it will a good cleaner or degreaser, the smell will be minimal. Usually when you release it, it walks off, but I did have a juevenile chase me around my truck a few times before running off, but he had no spray juice left. <br /><br />Sometimes I like to strap the skunk cage to the back of my truck, remove the cover, and watch with joy as tailgaters realize what is in front of them and back way off. It is always good for a laugh...