Skunk Trapping - How to Trap Skunks

Need skunk removal in your hometown? We service over 500 USA locations! Click here to hire us in your town and check prices - updated for year 2020.

How To Trap A Skunk
The first thing that people will think about when they are considering a skunk is the distinctive and foul smell that can be excreted by the animal as a self defense mechanism. This particular genetic trait is one that has made trapping a skunk quite a challenge, and means it is also important to prepare well before actually catching a skunk. Some people will actually keep skunks as pets if they have had their scent glands removed, but for the majority of people catching a wild skunk the scent is one thing that has to be considered.

The Right Trap To Catch A Skunk
There are two main types of traps that can be used to catch a skunk. The first type is a trap that will quickly kill the skunk once it has been trapped, and these are usually of the body grip variety. The problem with using this kind of trap is that it can cause a lot of damage to any other animal that happens to wander on to the trap, which is a particular problem with domestic animals such as cats and dogs.

The other type of trap is the live trap which will catch the skunk, usually in a cage, and keep it held until the trap is checked and the animal is moved and released. The most common cage trap will have a door at one end that is spring loaded and will close behind the skunk once it steps on the plate within the trap. If you have more than one skunk in the area you will usually need to have a number of traps, or catch each animal individually.

The Right Position For A Trap
The key to locating your trap will depend on the skunk itself and how it will get into your garden. If it has found a burrow within your property, then placing the trap near the exit point of that burrow is ideal, although it is important to choose a location where domestic animals will not be caught in the trap. For those that have skunks coming in to the garden, examine the perimeter fence around your garden to see how the skunk is getting in. They are creatures of habit, and putting a trap near the entry point to your garden will often prove to be very successful.



Baiting Your Trap
The skunk is known to be a great scavenger, which is why they are such a pest in urban areas, but this also means that many different foods can be used as bait. Meat products such as chicken entrails and cat food will often work well, as does canned fish. Many people will also have success in trapping the skunk using cracknels or a bread crust covered in peanut butter, and marshmallows are a great bait to use for skunks. Leave a small amount of the bait outside the cage, and then place the rest inside the trap. Read more about what bait catches skunks on this page.

Handling The Skunk
It is important to take precautions when handling a skunk, and because an adult can accurately spray its scent up to a meter away, this is the main danger to avoid. Once you have identified a skunk is caught in the trap, throw a blanket over the trap which will calm the animal and will also catch any spray that is released. It is best to use an old blanket, as the skunk scent is very difficult to remove. It is also worth wearing thick gloves as they can carry diseases, and may bite.

Relocating The Skunk
Check local regulations in your state before releasing an animal to ensure it is legal, and that the skunk doesn’t have to be taken to a local animal centre. Take the trap at least 10 miles from your home, and uncover the door end of the trap, open the door, and back quickly away until the skunk leaves the trap.

More in-detail how-to skunk removal articles:

Information about how to kill a skunk - with fumigants or poison.
Information about how to keep skunks away - prevention techniques.
Information about skunk repellent - does it work?
Information about how to catch a skunk - remove one stuck in the house.

This site is intended to provide skunk education and information about how to trap skunks, so that you can make an informed decision if you need to deal with a skunk problem. This site provides many skunk control articles and strategies, if you wish to attempt to solve the problem yourself by trapping the skunk. If you are unable to do so, which is likely with many cases of skunk removal, please go to the home page and click the USA map, where I have wildlife removal experts listed in over 500 cites and towns, who can properly help you with your nuisance skunk.