skunked?

Well, actually I've had a lot of experience with skunks at my 1877
Provincial Historic Site here in BC, and have successfully trapped (Havahart
Trap) and transported 20 since 1988 (in addition to 6 rattle snakes).   Live
trapping is definitely the way to go, but don't tell the government wildlife
agency where you live if it is like the one here in BC.    Transporting any
wild thing is strictly illegal here and has a $1,000 fine, but you can shoot
and kill anything at your place if you like.   They somehow say that this
legal strategy is to protect the wildlife (typical government-speak).

There are only three easy tricks to happy skunk trapping, and they work ever
time.  1) don't let the critter see your face when it is in the trap.  2)
just keep talking to it like an old friend, in a continuous calm, sure
voice.   3) move slowly so it never feels threatened.

Set the trap where they enter/exit the building and block all around it so
they have no choice of path except through the trap.   Protect the mechanism
on the outside of the trap in case they come that way on a return trip.   If
they trip the trap by accident and don't get caught in it, they will not
trust it for a good while and will not enter again easily.   If the way is
well planned and secure, you will get them first time.   Just think like a
skunk.

Approach the trap slowly, keep talking, and never make eye contact.   You
can do anything else you want.   I put a large plastic garbage bag aroung
the trap and tie it shut, just in case, for when it is in my van.   Then we
go for a little ride up into the hills, far away from any houses and
chickens.   Since they are nocturnal, I like to take them at dusk to get
them to leave the trap more easily.   When going in the daytime, I have
often had to push them out of the trap with a stick to get them to move.
Imaging the feeling of tension associated with pushing a skunk in the rear
end with a stick, and you will know why I prefer dusk-time transfers.

Sometimes they walk around a bit before leaving, even between your legs like
a cat, but if you continue to abide by the three rules nothing nasty will
happen.   I have only been sprayed once, and that was a little token act of
spiteful control just to let me know who was really in charge.   It was the
only time I had taken anyone along to see how it was done, and while talking
to my apprentice, I sloppily allowed a momentary eye-contact with the
critter.   He instantly gave his rear a little flick and hit my pant cuff
beside the trap with a little spit of stink, just a little tiny spit of a
bit.   However, it was enough to make me leave the pants right there in the
woods.   Of course the crew back at the historic site had a good laugh when
the female apprentice and I arrived back there, she young and pretty and me
pantless !

We also deal with mice at this rodent's paradise of a historic flour mill,
using electronic pest repellers.   Thay are fantasticly effective.   There
is a setting on the machine for skunks and squirrels, but I haven't tried it
since all the machines we have are at work protecting the buildings from
mice, using a higher pitch sound than that for skunks.

Well, another one now seems to be making its presence known under the
exhibit room of the 1877 General Store building, so this weekend I will
attempt #21.


".... call Agway?"

Speaking of skunks, my dad (not a skunk) worked his entire career for
GLF/AGWAY, and
seeing the name kindled fond childhood memories of when GLF was still the
small family-oriented business where the General Manager himself awarded the
prizes for the kids' sack race and men's horseshoe pitching contest at the
annual company picnic where all the employees and their families attended,
quite a difference from the icy Fortune-150 size business the place became
in more recent times.