Skunks are normally nocturnal animals, and they can attack if they are threatened. Skunks help gardeners and farmers since they eat pests in the gardens. However, people may think skunks are a smelly addition and they will try everything to remove them away from their property. It is possible to use a live trap when it comes to removing the skunk away from your home. It is important that you learn how to approach and release the skunk in a proper manner to avoid injuring the skunk or getting sprayed by a skunk.



Get supplies first. Use canvas and quality leather gloves. You have to use quality canvas and quality leather gloves if you are handling animal traps. Gloves protect the hands so that they are not scratched by a skunk, and they reduce the risk of infection because of exposure to urine and feces.

It is possible to use a pair of work or gardening gloves as long as they are thick leather. Do not use the gloves if they have cuts or holes in them since they leave the skin exposed.

Get a canvas tarp and a large towel. It is possible to use a tarp or towel for covering live traps. You should find a tarp or towel that you will not use again since it may be sprayed by a skunk. Ensure that the towel or tarp is made using durable materials which may not be chewed or cut by a skunk. Denim, towel or canvas and certain other materials are good. You may use a thick trash bag in a pinch.

Use a towel or a tarp that is wide and long enough for covering an entire trap.

Put on old clothing. If you are careful in how you approach the skunk, you are not going to be sprayed, but just in case it happens, you should wear an outfit that you may not mind throwing away. The clothes should cover the arms and legs entirely.

A trapped skunk is frightened, and this will increase the chance of spraying. The right way of calming the animal is to cover the cage since darkness does have a soothing effect. If you have decided to release the skunk back into the wild, you should take it to an area which is about 3 miles away. Use one hand for releasing the trap.

When the trap is open, it may take some time for it to leave. The noises around the trap may deter a skunk from leaving. The skunks are also nocturnal, so they may refuse to leave a trap until nightfall. You have to wait and check the trap in the morning.

You may decide to shoot the skunk if you are in a rural area. There are risks that are associated with shooting. Even if shooting a skunk may look simple, there are disadvantages with it. You will have to deal with the blood of the animal that may be contaminated with zoonotic or rabies infections. The diseases will be transferable to the humans who have been exposed to the blood.

Read more advice:

Skunk Trapping: How To catch a Skunk

What equipment is needed to trap a skunk?

What is the best bait to trap a skunk?

How to use one-way exclusion funnels to remove skunks without trapping them

Where should I relocate a trapped skunk?

What are some humane ways to kill a skunk in a cage?

Is it legal for me to trap a skunk?

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