Deciding how to get rid of wildlife on your property can be tricky, and you need to know that there is a difference between removal and extermination. Live removal is preferred, because it’s not only humane, but it’s safer for your family and pets as well. However, keep in mind that live removal methods are a bit more expensive than extermination, as one would have to find a far place to set the skunk free, rather than just disposing of them. Make sure to plan accordingly and be as patient as possible.
NOTE: While extermination is a choice, keep in mind that there are a lot of wildlife control companies that don’t exterminate skunks. Some state laws don’t allow the killing of skunks while others don’t allow the live-trapping and relocation of skunks. The company’s procedure would all depend on what state you are in and what laws they have in terms of skunk removal.
Extermination
Exterminating a skunk can be done through trapping, shooting, injecting lethal chemicals, or poisons. All of these are possible ways to effectively kill a skunk, and they are also ways that do not require you to get close to the animal. Lethal injections are done through a long pole syringe, but this is an inhumane way to kill an animal, as this is very painful for them, so if you see your exterminator do this, it’s best to report them. Keep in mind that animals, like humans, will lose control of their body when they die, and so there is a very large possibility of them spraying one last horrible dose before dying, and this can be still very troublesome, especially if they were on your property. Lethal traps can also be set, and these are considered more humane as they kill the animal as quickly as possible. Poisons are somewhere in between since they are very effective, but there is also the risk of the animal spreading the poison before actually dying.
Live Trapping
Live traps can be very difficult and much more troublesome, especially since female skunks tend to burrow together along with their kits (skunk babies), making it necessary to set more than one trap at a time. Regular traps can be used, and a professional wildlife remover will know what size of trap would be perfect for a skunk. The size of the trap is very crucial because it can be the perfect way to prevent the skunk from lifting its tail and spraying when trapped, carried, or transported.
A Good Wildlife Company Will…
A good skunk removal company will have their own trade secrets and values, and this should be very important to you since it will show in how they do their job, and how kind they are to the animal. A good company will most likely handle everything from inspecting your property, to even recommending repairs and future precautions that you can take to prevent the problem from occurring again. A bad company would likely ask you everything and rely on this information alone, and then stop and leave once they have captured the skunk, without bothering to check if there are more, or if there are damages. A good company will customize their plans according to your needs and your property. They will have plans that take into your budget, time, and family demographic in order for the removal to be as smooth and safe for you as possible. A bad company would just stick to a one-plan-fits-all type of scheme, and disregard anything else. Finally, a good company would take into account state laws and the skunk’s survival habits when they relocate them so that they can still live peacefully without harming anyone. A bad company would move the skunk to unknown turf, leaving them to struggle to survive, and sometimes even leaving vulnerable kits behind, because they did not bother to check for more skunks.
Go back to the Cumberland County wildlife removal home page.