How to Trap Skunks

When skunks are present in the landscape, you will likely catch a glimpse of them at night and are sure to notice the holes they dig throughout the lawn and garden. The holes are about 3 to 4 inches deep and cone-shaped, and are created when the skunks dig for grubs to eat. In the process of digging for grubs, skunks may dig up your garden plants. They also eat corn crops and dig in trashcans, making a mess. If you have skunks, you can trap them and release them elsewhere only if it is legal to do so in your state, county and town. Ensure trapping skunks is legal in your location before you begin capturing them and the skunk you are trying to trap isn't protected.

Skunks breed in springtime, so placing the trap before and after this season assures you aren't trapping a mother who has a den filled with babies that could be left behind.

Live-catch raccoon trap at least 30 inches long, 12 inches tall, 10 inches wide  

Canned wet cat food or marshmallows

Large towel or sheet

Set a live-catch raccoon trap in the area where you noticed skunk activity or saw skunks. If skunks live under your porch or shed, place the trap near that structure. Ensure the trap is set on solid, level ground. Otherwise, it may not spring shut correctly. The trap must be a minimum of 30 inches long, 12 inches tall and 10 inches wide.

Skunks can emit a spray with a strong odor but won't spray what they can't see. So using a trap with solid walls may be helpful.

Place an open can of wet cat food or marshmallows all the way in the back of the trap to bait the device. When the bait is in place, set the trap according to the trap manufacturer's instructions. Although setting a live-catch trap is not complicated, different models of traps have different setting methods. Setting some traps is as simple as pulling and locking a lever.

If stray cats are in your area or your neighbors have outdoor cats, then bait the trap with marshmallows rather than cat food so you are less likely to catch the wrong critter.

Bait and set your trap at dusk and leave it out overnight because skunks are nocturnal animals. 

Visit your skunk trap every morning because it is inhumane to leave a skunk or other animal trapped without food or water for any length of time. Checking the trap in morning also allows you to release quickly any animal other than a skunk that you inadvertently captured. Close the trap during the day so you don't catch another kind of animal, and reset the trap at night.

If you caught a skunk in the trap, approach the trap slowly and calmly while holding a large towel or sheet in front of yourself. Hum softly or talk soothingly to the skunk so it knows you're near and isn't startled by your presence. When you are close to the trap, lay the towel or sheet over it so the skunk can't see you. Afterward, you can safely pick up and move the trap.

Keep an eye on a trapped skunk at all times. If it is getting ready to spray you, it will:

Raise its tail as a warning.

Move away from you with its tail raised and fanned while stamping its front feet.

Whip around quickly so that its tail faces you and look at you from over its shoulder with its tail raised and fanned.

If any of these three events happen, step away from the skunk until it becomes calm.

An option is to drape a towel or sheet over the trap when you set it. If you do so, you won't need to shield yourself with another towel or sheet as you approach the trap, but you won't be able to see easily what kind of animal is in the trap.

Release your captured skunk at a location at least 10 miles away from your home so it doesn't come back. Ensure you have the property owner's permission before releasing the animal, and ensure that releasing a skunk is legal in your area. When you release the skunk, stand behind the trap and open the trap's door so the exiting skunk faces away from you.

Place the trap on top of a plastic garbage bag in your vehicle to prevent the skunk from staining upholstery.

When handling a trapped skunk in the cage, always wear protective gloves.