Saturday Coffee 9-19-09

Sting wrote:Possum -- well a 22 should do the trick followed with a shallow hole -- but the Skunk???

Same for a skunk. I guess I'm getting immune to the smell, we hav so many around here

I let go many a scunk from a jump trap, got sprayed once in the face, still managed to let the little fellow go. They do more good than harm, in fact what harm do they do other than bother your ofactory gland. Some how I got soft in my old age, lookout it may happen to you too, you find out you have a conscious, and it's payback is hell.
Ray

A skunk in our yard has few, if any, benifits. The cats take care of the mice and we have no scorpians or black widow spiders in this state.

We use live traps to catch the skunks. Once trapped, take a blanket and slowly walk up to the trap holding the blaket wide and high. If the skunk looks at you, stop, wait, when it looks away, take a few more slow steps. When you get so the blanket is touching the trap, do not drop it on thew trap, Slowly lay the blanket down over the trap. If the skunk shows agitation, stop movement, wait, then move some more. Once the blanket is covering the trap you can pick the trap up and walk off. Put the trap in your sister in laws car & she'll take care of it. Skunks are of no benifit to me. They dig up the yard looking for grubs, they make a mess, and the dogs don't need midnight baths. Mind you, I am the guy that does not kill spiders. Each spider that's in the house will either get caught and gently transported outside, or an apology if it gets killed. But, skunks? If we take them someplace else, they become someone elses problem. A skunk in our yard has few, if any, benifits. The cats take care of the mice and we have no scorpians or black widow spiders in this state. Skunks can harbor rabies and distemper. I'm sorry, for us, they are humanely put down. Either a single 22 shot (small rifle with a scope from 15 feet away. Wait til they are calm, one bullet to the head) or drowned. ( drop entire cage in the pond, come back in half an hour.)

Had a skunk here and after it was trapped , shot it with the 22. It sprayed anyway, so I waited a while then finally got it out of the trap. There are a few now living under my neighbors shed, which they put on the ground instead of raising it up, but so far they are keeping to themselves. Heard the geese flying south a few minutes ago, big v formation. Have to decide if the tires on the Suv are good enough for the winter. If not, might buy them now before the prices go through the roof.

Either a single 22 shot (small rifle with a scope from 15 feet away. Wait til they are calm, one bullet to the head) or drowned. ( drop entire cage in the pond, come back in half an hour.)

No objection to the 22 shot here, we've disposed of many an injured or marauding raccoon, opossum, rat, etc., but I really don't think that drowning can be considered humane euthanasia. I think that would be a horrible way to die for any one or any creature to die. We know people who think nothing of drowning unwanted kittens and puppies. Just couldn't do it myself.

Personally.... I've never done either! It's my sister in laws job to take care of critters after they are trapped. Generally the skunks get shot, the only time she drowns one is if the pelt is on it's way to be stuffed and mounted. The taxidermists do better if there's no holes. If the skunk is shot in the head and killed it does not, can not, spray. The instant the bullet goes in ALL muscles stop...no muscles, no spray. It's only if the shot is errant and the animal isn't killed can it spray.
While we're on the sunject... after the death, the scent duct is located and drained....it brings good money! If the animal has just sprayed, not so much *good scent* is left. *phew!* Not my way to make a dollar.

Jackson lab used to kill mice by breaking they're necks....quick, painless... then the animal lovers stepped in & forced them to change their ways... now all mice are put in a chamber and carbon dioxided.... the same death as drowning. I don't like the idea either.

While we're on the sunject... after the death, the scent duct is located and drained....it brings good money! If the animal has just sprayed, not so much *good scent* is left. *phew!* Not my way to make a dollar.

What the heck do they use the scent for? Yikes, when it's sprayed in close contact and concentrated it could humanely euthanize you, lol.. Is it for putting on traps to remove the human scent? I can't imagine another use for it.

I agree that breaking a mouse's neck is more humane than gassing them. There are still dog and cat shelters that use gas chambers because it's cheaper than euthanasia solution. I try not to think about it too much. I am an animal lover, but not to the point of being unrealistic. I know that what needs to be done, just wish it could be done with as little pain and distress as possible.

We picked up a litter of baby skunks after the mother was killed on the road. I raised them and bottle fed them for a few weeks. They were the cutest critters. Not sure if they can spray when they're young, but if they could, they never did. They ranged from black and white to nearly pure white and entirely black. They released themselves into the wild after a few weeks by digging under a fence.

Sorry Feddy, didn't mean to turn your Saturday Coffee post into a discussion about humanely euthanizing various and sundry animals.

Next week I promise I'll try to get online early and bring the fresh eggs cooked to order for everyone! If someone remembers to remind me on Friday night.

You're bringing fresh eggs? Wooohooo!! See if you can find an hourglass shaped one.. they're usually double yolks.

Sting wrote:ok

I have to ask

How do you extricate a skunk from a live trap?

Possum -- well a 22 should do the trick followed with a shallow hole -- but the Skunk???

Do you just rope the trap and drag the whole business to a hole and cover? -- expensive loss of a trap - Not?

You walk up to the trap with a sheet held up in front of you, which you then drape over the trap. You then can put it in the car and relocate the animal which I much prefer to killing it. Many have kept them as pets.

Possum are the most inoffensive of animals and I am shocked at the reaction to them by so many people. We like a rural life and part of the attraction is the wildlife that goes along with it, so lets learn to appreciate these creatures and get along with them.

Richard