I had a skunk problem last year and Loki got sprayed but so far none this year which surprises me because of the few bags of garbage I have stored outside because of the garbage strike.

I don't know how to deter them.

If the skunks are there tonight they are going to be around again at night. I don't let Loki out back at night because that is where he got sprayed. I put him on his cord out front and check before I let him out of the house. Once bitten or should I say sprayed-twice shy. LOL If the dog sees a skunk it will chase it so I would put Sadie on a leash at night when she has to go out.

Good luck.

Anne

Hi lucky (with 3 skunks) gardnr,

Sift out from your list of friends with email the ones who live reasonably nearby and write them asking whether they or someone that they know has an air rifle ... the kind that we used to have as kids.

Borrow it and give the distant skunk a ping ... not one on the deck.

If it makes a sound anything like a real rifle, maybe warn your close neighbours ahead of time, so that they won't get their shirt-tails tied into a knot ... and go calling the local cops.

Be a good idea to check what the local rules may be relating to ownership, possession and operation of air rifles.

Good wishes for pinging the skunk ... without getting pinged yourself. Or the dog: wouldn't want her to undergo a temporary name-change to Savoury Sadie, would we?.

ole joyfoul

And you call yourself LUCKYgardnr? We had skunks take up residence under the workshop. Greeted with that musky odor every morning, sometimes a little stronger than others. Also skunks really like tomatoes!
We got some Ro-Pel which is a granular repellent from Wal-Mart and sprinkled it around the workshop when we were sure the skunks were out (picture a white-haired woman with a flashlight in one hand and a sprinkle can in the other, slowly, slowly circling a small building at midnight). It worked, and we haven't had more skunks move in. the Ro-Pel has to be renewed after a rain, or after a certain amount of time.
Hope this changes your luck!

Our dog were having a barking fit outside last night....

When I opened the door I could smell skunks. The dogs were inside the fence and were not sprayed but the smell was on them and in the air...so I'm sure they had been close. The smell lingered out there for quite awhile. There wasn't much breeze last night, which is not normal around here. There is almost always a wind coming down off that hill.

If anyone knows of a way to keep them away ...I'd like to know too.

I would NOT use a bb gun or air rifle. That will cause the skunk to spray for sure. The only way they will not spray it to kill them quickly with a leathal shot to the head. If you are not a good shot -don't do it.

I used to have quite a skunk problem here - but they aren't as bad now that we have a dog on the place. She has never been sprayed - but I think she is pretty good at keeping the critters away.

The vets sent one skunk in this spring to ISU, from my area, and it was rabid.

Hi again, Lucky enough to have (at least) three skunks as neighbours Gardnr,

Here's my latest suggestion.

As you know, animal control officers know a good deal about the habits of animals, and many are quite skilled at training them, as well.

How about suggesting to your local representative that s/he come visit the skunks and train them how to hitchhike ... then point them in the direction of Toronto, assuring them that when foraging for food, Toronto these days is skunk, as well as coon, heaven!(1)

__________________

Death causes most animals to relax their sphincters, doesn't it? Including the one that restricts outflow of the skunk juice?

Have you ever been near a skunk that died from natural causes ... was it enhanced by presence of "the smell"?

You know how to tell if a skunk has been hit on the road, even if you can't see it! Which is something of a violent death ... and one would consider being hit by a rifle bullet something of similar ilk, wouldn't one?

Just some observations from one lacking experience in the issue - so ... mainly shooting off his mouth (scatter shot, not rifled ... and probably hotter than regular heated summer air).

ole joyful

1. Toronto, in the midst of a civic employees' strike, including the collection of garbage in this summer atmosphere, has been so encumbered for just over a month ... and are not much inclined, it seems, to go to Windsor for advice as to how to cope, Windsor having been enjoying such a privilege for three months, at present.

Perhaps Toronto'll have to call in the Army (stretched as it is), to help them out in summer, as they've been inclined to in winter.

o j

OJ - the skunk stores its musk in glands under its tail. It will only spray when threatened.

DH said you need to shoot the skunk in the spine to absolutly prevent it from spraying. Most of the time when they get a skunk in a trap, it didn't spray. They are caught in conibear traps that kill instantly - the spine is broken instantly - so no spray.

DS was sprayed at close range by a skunk...gaaad it was baaad! I couldn't hardly keep my lunch down. Now, even the slightest whif of scent about does me in.

My goodness this is turning violent.

Remove the food source outside. Birdfeeder, cat food, dog food.

I still remember about 20 years ago talking a long gabfest with a friend on the phone. I was at the kitchen table looking out our patio doors. All of a sudden along the edge of the yard which drops down a slope, a mother skunk came trotting along with one of her kittens in her mouth from the yard next to us to the yard on the other side of us. A little later, here she came again with yet another kitten. And another, and another till she had apparently moved her nest and 6 kittens to a new location and away from the cats next door. We have lots of skunks, but this was a very cute explanation of just how many are in our neighborhood.

I was up in West Los Angeles last week visiting our daughter and taking her and our son and toddler grandson to lunch. A car pulled in front of us down her street as we headed off. DD and DS giggled, and I commented that that car gave off the odor of a skunk. Long pause, then DS explained that the odor is marijuana and one of its nicknames is "skunk." Never smelled it before, but I always assumed it smelled like burning grass because of its other alias.

Make sure you are any of your neighbors are not leaving dog food outside and keep the bird seed secure. Board up any lower decks to be sure they are not nesting under there. Usually they are after food.

I don't know how to get rid of them...politely. I would probably bring in a sharp shooter to get rid of them. There is nothing worse than skunk smell. Well...maybe porcupine quills.

Good luck and stay away from the north end of a south bound skunk!

I think quite a number would find messing with poison ivy less attractive.

ole joyful

I stopped at a garden center and they suggested Critter Ridder. It's a powder you sprinkle all along where they get in, so I sprinkled it along the fence line from my house to my neighbors on either side. The smell is supposed to deter them from entering, but if it doesn't, and they step on it, it will cause some irritation.

I don't know if it worked, but I had no skunks last night. I also did not feed any of birds, squirrels, or chipmunks. I may just let those guys go hungry for a couple of days, to keep the skunks away.