Animal Articles

 There’s nothing worse than getting a whiff of something dead. You know that you haven’t committed any murders lately so there must be an expired animal on the premisis. Sometimes it’s visible and while unsightly, easy to remove. Many people do not have the stomach for this or if they do, don't have a way to dispose of the carcass so they call in a professional like me. In other instances, the smell can be narrowed down to a general vicinity but not a specific location making it necessary to call in a professional such as myself.

    If it’s lying in an open where I can see it, I simply remove the animal and sanitize the area. If it’s in an undetermined location then I have to do a bit of sleuthing. I start by smelling around the area where the customer thinks it’s the worst. The room that is ground zero will usually give me clues. Sometimes it can be tricky since most people immediately open a window which makes the location process more difficult for me.

    If it’s in the attic, people rarely smell it in the living space. That being said, it could happen. If the person suspects it’s in the attic then I climb up there. If the smell is stronger in the attic than in the living space, the dead animal is somewhere above the ceiling. Then it’s a matter of following my nose and searching under the insulation.

    If the smell seems to come in wafts, only being smelled occasionally then it’s likely a dead rodent in the wall. Those decay pretty quickly so the smell after the first few days isn’t as concentrated. In these situations, customers often think it’s in their ventilation system. It’s only in the air ducts about 5% of the time. The odor molecules of the dead rodent settle and when the heat or air conditioning is turned on, it stirs up those molecules making people think the HVAC system is the source of the smell.

    Occasionally, I can drill exploratory holes in the wall and find the dead rodent that way. The smell will be much stronger and then I can cut open the wall to remove it. If I cannot truly narrow down the smell to a specific area, it’s up to the customer to make a decision. I can cut holes in their wall all day long looking for it if they want. I would say 20% of people want me to at least try and the other 80% are willing to live with the smell until it goes away in a few weeks. They always ask me how long it will take. That will depend on the temperature, the humidity, and the size of the rodent. A person’s individual sense of smell also plays a part. A keen sniffer may be a curse if Mighty Mouse is decaying in your wall.

    If the smell is very strong all over the entire room but not so much in other rooms, it’s likely that the culprit is under the house in the crawlspace. In that instance, I crawl under the house towards that room and look for it. Once I remove it, the smell inside will decrease but may not immediately go away because it has permeated the floorboards by that point.

    If the smell is in the bathroom and overpowering then it’s probably an opossum under the bathtub. The bathtub basically sets down inside a wooden box, leaving a void area all around the walls of the tub. It’s a perfect, secluded space for animals to nest in. Opossums especially favor that area. They frequently use plastic shopping bags as bedding and will end up strangling themselves with them. There’s usually a small cutout under that box where the plumbing runs up to the tub. The animal never dies right by the opening, it’s always towards the back of the tub and unreachable. In that situation, I have to cut a small square out without slicing through the tub (if it’s made of fiberglass) and then reach up and remove the animal.

    If the smell is a wafting smell in the bathroom or kitchen then it’s likely a rodent under the cabinet. There is usually a hole at the corner where the cabinet overhangs the floor. Rodents come through a gap around the plumbing for the sink or dishwasher and then scamper into that hole and have a nice closed off area to live and die below the floor of the cabinet.

    Occasionally I run into a residence with a dead smell outside of the house with no visual on the source. That’s another instance of following my nose and looking for a secluded spot where an animal might feel safe to bed down when sick or injured. I usually find the animal under a shrub, tucked between a shed and fence, or below a pile of debris.

    In any case, after the animal is removed I spray the area with a mixture of Bak-A-Zap and DSV. One is a disinfectant and the other is an enzymatic deodorizer which means the enzymes in it will digest the organic matter of the odor molecules.

Bats make up the second largest mammalian order with over 1200 species. Nine of those are found in Iowa. They are the little brown bat, big brown bat, red bat, hoary bat, silver-haired bat, Indiana bat, evening bat, eastern pipistrelle, and the northern myotis. The little brown bat and the big brown bat are the most common. 

Bats are the only true flying mammal. They are more agile than birds when flying because of their echolocation abilities. The Mexican Free-Tailed Bat can fly up to 100 mph.

They may get a bad rap as vampires but there are only 3 species of bat that feeds on the blood of other animals. For the most part, bats eat fruit, nectar, or insects and are estimated to save farmer’s around a billion dollars in pest control expenses. The little brown bat can eat up to 600 mosquitoes per hour. The big brown bat prefers beetles. 

Bats are protected in Iowa. However, they can be killed if flying around inside a structure occupied by people. This does not apply to the Indiana Bat. It is federally protected and should not be harmed under any circumstances. The best option if possible is to open all the doors and windows and drive the bat out. 

Taking precautions is always recommended when handling bats. That being said, less than one percent of bats carry rabies. There have only been 11 documented cases of rabies from bats to humans in the last 30 years. 

Bats mate in the fall and then hibernate through the winter in Iowa. They will make colonies of 50 to 1000 inside caves, mines, old buildings, and sometimes inside of homes. Babies are born in May and June. 

The gestation period for bats is between 6 and 9 weeks depending on the species. Bats give birth to 1 or 2 babies called pups. The pup suckles from the mother and is able to fly in 3 or 4 weeks. The big brown bat will grow to be around 4 ½ inches and the little brown bat about 3 ½ inches. 

Bat pups are predated by raccoons, snakes, and cats while roosting. Mature bats are typically prey for owls.

Feces will build up when bats roost inside of a structure. It must be cleaned using hazmat procedures because it may contain spores of fungus which can cause histoplasmosis in humans. 

The process for removing the bats is to install a bat cone or bat netting around the opening they are entering and exiting through. The cone or net allows them to fly out but not fly back inside again. After a week, all of the bats should be gone and the area can be sealed up to prevent reinfestation. It is important to seal up any other potential access points as well so the bats don’t simply move to a different location within the same structure. 

Currently being revised. 

European Starlings  were brought over from Europe in the 1890s by Shakespear enthusiasts wanting America to have all of the birds mentioned in the works of Shakespeare. 100 birds were initially released in Central Park in New York and now there are over 200 million in North America.

The European Starling is a medium bird with a short tail. In the fall they grow black feathers with white tips making them look speckled. The white wears off by spring leaving them looking an iridescent greenish purple color. 

European Starlings are ground foragers eating seeds and insects. They prefer open areas with low trees and shrubs for cover. They are also quite adept at urban dwelling. 

Having one or two clutches per year with up to to six eggs per clutch, European Starlings are considered to be prolific breeders. They are parasitic in nature and will lay their eggs in the nest of another mother bird. Eggs are unmarked and pale blue or green. When European Starlings build their own nests they are bulky and messy looking with a cuplike depression in the center. 

Large scale agricultural damage from eating crops and destroying fruit trees is the main reason European Starlings are considered nuisance birds. They also flock in large numbers so when roosting around airports, they easily get stuck in the engines of midflight aircraft. On a local scale, they can eat livestock feed, clog gutters and pipes with their nests, and ruin the finish on structures, vehicles, and signs with their droppings. 

The best defense against European Starlings is to destroy nests and exclude from nesting sites using bird netting, bird slide, bird shock, or optical gel cups.

Bird netting is polyethylene twine net that prevents birds from having access to optimal nesting sites. For small birds usually 1 ⅛ inch mesh is recommended. 

Bird slide is slanted pieces of polycarbonate that can be installed on ledges making a “slide” so that the birds cannot build a nest in that area. It comes in a variety of colors and often looks like it’s part of the architecture when installed correctly. 

Bird shock is a flexible track installed that gives an electric but not lethal shock to birds when they land on it. 

Optical Gel is a multi-sensory bird repellent that deters birds using sight, smell, and touch. It emits a UV ray that appears to birds like fire. It contains citronella and peppermint oil which birds do not like. The gel is sticky and birds do not like it on their feet. It’s nontoxic though so there’s no actual danger to the bird. The gel comes in little cups similar to the size of a compact mirror.  The cups are placed 6 to 10 inches apart depending on the amount of bird activity. They are very low profile so the aesthetics of the structure are not compromised.  They are effective for 2 to 4 years depending on the elemental conditions. Optical gel is one of the most effective and cost conscious ways to keep unwanted birds away from personal property. 

Trapping is usually the last line of defense and poison is not recommended due to the potential of poisoning other non target bird species. 

There are 41 gopher species and all are found in North and Central America. The plains pocket gopher is the only one found in Iowa. They used to be found all over the state but now they’re found more sporadically due to a decrease in grasslands and pastures. 

Pocket gophers are considered a nuisance animal because they eat ornamental plants and trees and their tunnel systems can compromise the integrity of the ground especially causing damage to embankments for drainage ditches and dikes.  In unwatered areas, abandoned tunnel systems cave in creating a hazard for people or livestock who step in them and sustain ankle or leg injury.  

Gophers create mounds of dirt above ground as they dig new tunnels and push the soil up through a hole in the ground. The mounds are typically horseshoe shaped with an earth plug so the actual hole is not visible. A tunnel system may cover anywhere from 200 to 2000 square feet. An acre of land may be home to 6 to 8 gophers with individual tunnel systems. The main tunnel will be 4 to 12 inches below the surface with breeding and nesting tunnels as far down as 18 to 24 inches. 

A solitary species, gophers typically live alone except during mating season or when mothers are giving birth. The gestation period is about 3 weeks. Gophers may breed once or twice per year and give birth to 3 or 4 pups on average. 

When a customer calls in to schedule gopher trapping I advise them to flatten out all the mounds then I schedule service for 2 days later. This gives me the opportunity to place traps next to the newest mounds to ensure the highest success rate possible. 

I use gopher hawk traps. The trap is a cylinder. The bottom is inserted into the tunnel system while the top half sticks out of the ground. When a gopher is caught, a yellow band pops up which can be seen by the customer. The customer then calls me and I come out to remove the gopher and reset the traps if needed. 

Currently being revised. 

 House Sparrows were introduced in Brooklyn, New York in 1851 with the intention of controlling caterpillar populations. Now they are found all over the United States. 

Female House Sparrows are dull brown with a gray underside. Males are brightly colored birds with gray heads, white cheeks and underside, and a black bib. 

House Sparrows will reproduce up to four times per year and lay up to 8 eggs at a time. The eggs are white or greenish in color with brown speckles. Their nests around made of course vegetation on the outside and lined with soft feathers.

The diet of the House Sparrow consists mostly of grains, seeds, and remnants discarded by humans. 

House Sparrows are cavity nesters and often live around structures so they can nest in eaves and walls and live above light fixtures. Their nests are They are considered a nuisance bird because they are aggressive and will take over the nesting sites and food sources of other native birds.They will attack other birds and kill their young. 

The best defense against House Sparrows is to destroy nests and exclude from nesting sites using bird netting, bird slide, bird shock, or optical gel cups.

Bird netting is polyethylene twine net that prevents birds from having access to optimal nesting sites. For small birds usually 1 ⅛ inch mesh is recommended. 

Bird slide is slanted pieces of polycarbonate that can be installed on ledges making a “slide” so that the birds cannot build a nest in that area. It comes in a variety of colors and often looks like it’s part of the architecture when installed correctly. 

Bird shock is a flexible track installed that gives an electric but not lethal shock to birds when they land on it. 

Optical Gel is a multi-sensory bird repellent that deters birds using sight, smell, and touch. It emits a UV ray that appears to birds like fire. It contains citronella and peppermint oil which birds do not like. The gel is sticky and birds do not like it on their feet. It’s nontoxic though so there’s no actual danger to the bird. The gel comes in little cups similar to the size of a compact mirror.  The cups are placed 6 to 10 inches apart depending on the amount of bird activity. They are very low profile so the aesthetics of the structure are not compromised.  They are effective for 2 to 4 years depending on the elemental conditions. Optical gel is one of the most effective and cost conscious ways to keep unwanted birds away from personal property. 

Trapping is usually the last line of defense and poison is not recommended due to the potential of poisoning other non target bird species. 

Moles are small, burrowing mammals that are found throughout Iowa. The eastern mole is the most common species in Iowa, with its range covering the entire state.

Their preferred habitat is open grasslands, meadows, pastures, and lawns with loose, moist soil that allows them to easily construct their elaborate underground tunnel systems using their powerful digging claws. As they dig just below the surface in search of food, they leave behind unsightly raised ridges and mounds of dirt. 

Moles are insectivores, and their diet consists mainly of earthworms, grubs, and other soil-dwelling invertebrates. They have huge appetites, able to consume up to 100% of their body weight in food each day.

Moles have a unique life cycle, typically living solitary lives except during the spring breeding season. Females give birth to a litter of 3-4 hairless, helpless young in a deep underground den. The young moles grow rapidly and leave their mother after about a month to establish their own territories. 

While their exact population density can vary, it's estimated that a single acre of land may be home to three to five moles on average. However, in ideal habitats with rich, moist soil and ample food sources like earthworms and grubs, mole densities can climb to 10 or more per acre. 

This can pose challenges for homeowners, gardeners, and farmers who may view the animals as pests due to the damage their tunneling can cause to lawns, gardens and agricultural fields. As a result, many turn to trapping as a means of mole control. Effective mole trapping involves the careful placement of lethal traps in active tunnels, with the aim of dispatching the animals humanely. Spring-loaded "scissor" traps or choker loop traps are common choices. Successful trapping requires knowledge of mole behavior and tunnel systems, as well as persistence and patience.

Putting poison worms in the tunnels is another option for control as is using products to reduce the grub population.

Currently being revised. 

The Virginia Opossum is the only type of opossum and the only marsupial found in North America. Most people think of kangaroos when the word marsupial comes up. Marsupials are classified as such because they have pouches to carry their offspring in.  The gestation period for opossums is only 13 days. When baby opossums are born, they are the size of a jellybean. They crawl into their mother’s pouch to continue developing. After full development, they will ride on their mother’s back for the first 100 days. Opossums will reproduce twice per year. The mother is called a jill, the father a jack, and the babies are joeys. 

Opossums are omnivores and will eat plant based matter as well as insects, amphibians, and rodents. They are known scavengers and frequently consume remnants of garbage. Opossums eat ticks which helps prevent the spread of Lyme Disease so they can be a helpful animal to have around. 

An opossum's body temperature is a degree lower than other mammals so they almost never carry rabies. They don’t typically pose a threat to humans nor do property damage. Unfortunately they are prone to getting fleas which can then infest people’s pets and homes.

Opossums are excellent climbers and will frequently use fences or trees to get onto a roof to explore. If there is a hole under the eave or a vent is broken, that leaves an unobstructed highway for opossums to get into your home. Once inside the attic they will pull down insulation for nesting material and defecate in the area which can spread bacteria and emit an unpleasant odor. 

If a crawl space door is left open or a vent cover is missing, the opossum may take up residence under your home. The most common place for them to nest is under the bathtub. The bathtub basically sets down inside a wooden box, leaving a void area all around the walls of the tub. It’s a perfect, secluded space for opossums to live without fear of predators. Opossums may also live under decks, in sheds, or within piles of debris. 

My first course of action is to do an on the spot removal using a snare. A snare is a pole with a loop on it that tightens. This is not always possible because there are many little nooks and crannies an opossum can get into that I cannot.  

If an on the spot removal isn’t possible I will place a cage trap in the shade next to the tree or fence the animal is using to get onto the roof,  near the crawlspace opening if living under the house, or in the general area it’s known to travel. I try to avoid putting traps directly in the attic but it is a possibility if the opossum evades the trap on the ground.   Bait is added to the back of the trap. When the opossum goes inside to eat, it steps on the trigger plate, dropping the door down behind it, and prevents it from leaving the cage. 

After the opossum has been trapped, I can remove and replace any contaminated insulation if necessary. I remove all feces and disinfect and deodorize the area.  I use a mixture of DVS and Bac-a-zap which contain enzymes that digest the organic matter of opossum excrement. 

Feral pigeons originated from domesticated Rock Doves that returned to the wild. Pigeons are similar in size and shape as Rock Doves but have a more varied pattern of colors. They are highly social animals and will often be seen in flocks of 20 to 30 birds. They are very intelligent with excellent navigational skills. They have been used throughout history to carry messages

Pigeons mate for life and raise their young together. They lay 2 white colored  eggs at a time, usually a few days apart. They can lay eggs up to 12 times per year, but not all eggs hatch. The ones that do, hatch after about 17 days. The mother sits on the eggs overnight and the father takes over during the day. Both the mother and father feed the young with “pigeon milk”. This is a secretion that both male and female produce. 

Urban settings create an ideal habitat for pigeons. They will nest under eaves, along ledges, in the gaps of signage, under solar panels, and under bridges and parking structures. Using bird spikes as a form of prevention does not work. The birds drop their nesting material onto the spikes. After enough nesting material is dropped, the spikes work like rebar and reinforce the nests. 

Pigeons eat garbage and discarded food particles. They are often found feeding near restaurants. Their droppings can be a fall hazard when wet. The droppings also damage painted surfaces. If left alone, the droppings will build up over time and be difficult to remove without scraping. 

Pigeons are the most common nuisance bird. They can create a myriad of health hazards if left managed. Pigeons can carry diseases that can cause health issues in humans when dust from their feces is ingested. Cryptococcosis, Histoplasmosis and Psittacosis are the most common diseases associated with pigeon droppings.

When cleaning up pigeon nesting areas it’s important to wet the droppings and nesting material to prevent dust from being stirred up. Gloves and respirator should always be worn. The debris should be put in a heavy duty trash bag and sealed up especially if it must be carried from the attic through the house out the door. Disinfectant should be sprayed throughout the entire area afterwards. 

The best defense against Pigeons is to destroy nests and exclude from nesting sites using bird netting, bird slide, bird shock, or optical gel cups.

Bird netting is polyethylene
twine net that prevents birds from having access to optimal nesting sites. 

Bird slide is slanted pieces of polycarbonate that can be installed on ledges making a “slide” so that the birds cannot build a nest in that area. It comes in a variety of colors and often looks like it’s part of the architecture when installed correctly. 

Bird shock is a flexible track installed that gives an electric but not lethal shock to birds when they land on it. 

Optical Gel is a multi-sensory bird repellent that deters birds using sight, smell, and touch. It emits a UV ray that appears to birds like fire. It contains citronella and peppermint oil which birds do not like. The gel is sticky and birds do not like it on their feet. It’s nontoxic though so there’s no actual danger to the bird. The gel comes in little cups similar to the size of a compact mirror.  The cups are placed 6 to 10 inches apart depending on the amount of bird activity. They are very low profile so the aesthetics of the structure are not compromised.  They are effective for 2 to 4 years depending on the elemental conditions. Optical gel is one of the most effective and cost conscious ways to keep unwanted birds away from personal property. 

Trapping is usually the last line of defense and poison is not recommended due to the potential of poisoning other non target bird species. 

There are 7 species of raccoon and 22 subspecies. The common or North American raccoon is the one we’re used to seeing around Iowa. They prefer to live in forests near lakes or rivers. They are highly adaptable so there is a large population found within urban areas. When they are threatened they will climb up a tree. Hollow trees are the best natural sleeping and denning location but city raccoons will get very cozy in an attic or the crawl space below a house. City raccoons are exposed to a wider variety of manmade obstacles so they are smarter than their rural counterparts. That’s why it’s important to make sure that your house is secured so that you don’t find a trash panda camped out in the attic.

The name raccoon comes from the Native American Powhatan language and means “animal that scratches with its hands”. Raccoons rely heavily on their sense of touch. Raccoons washing their food originates from them eating primarily aquatic food. They would pull it out of the water and then remove unnecessary parts. When raccoons in captivity douse their food before eating it, it is due to the habit being hardwired into their genetics. If there is no water nearby, they will still eat the food dry. Raccoons that do not live near a river or sea will eat amphibians, fruits, eggs, birds, tiny mammals, and human garbage. 

Raccoons aren’t random poopers like dogs and rats. Raccoons will use the same area to go to the bathroom. This area is called a latrine. Multiple raccoons will use the same latrine. Raccoon feces looks similar to dog poo. The adorable little beasts are also known for pooping in swimming pools after taking a dip with their fuzzy little family. The raccoons must be trapped and removed or they will continue the undesirable behavior. 

Raccoons give birth after 65 days of pregnancy, usually in the spring. The babies are born blind and deaf and are called kits. A litter averages 2 to 5 kits. Kits open their eyes shortly after their ear canals open at around 3 weeks. They are completely weaned by 4 months. Captive raccoons can live up to 20 years. 1 to 4 years is the average lifespan in the wild. Hunters and vehicles are the leading cause of death. In 1926 President Calvin Coolage was given a raccoon from Mississippi to be served for Thanksgiving dinner. He officially pardoned the raccoon and named it Rebecca. Rebecca lived at the white house until the end of his term when she was donated to Rock Creek Park. 

Raccoons will tear up grass looking for food. It is not uncommon for raccoons to roll up new sod in the middle of the night while looking for grubs. One customer actually called the police because they thought someone was trying to steal their new yard! 

City raccoons will move into any available space where they feel safe and secluded. They will climb up trees or fences to gain access to the roof so they can get into the attic. They squeeze into the attic through vents they either find broken or they tear off themselves. It is also common for there to be openings below gables that were not sealed properly when the roof was put on. Occasionally a rotten piece of siding will come loose and provide a doorway. Raccoons typically access the crawl space below a house through an access door that was left open by a plumber or similar person or through broken vents. Even though raccoons appear to have a burglar mask, they are not good burglars because they don't know they’re supposed to be quiet while burgling.  They go thump and bump in the night which is how people first realize they have infiltrated. 

When a raccoon is in an attic or crawlspace I first try to snare it. It’s always nice to be able to solve the customer’s problem on the spot. This only works if the raccoon is cornered because they run faster than I do. The next option is to set up traps on the ground next to the tree or fence that the raccoon is using to get onto the roof. I never set traps in the attic because it’s extremely difficult to get a raccoon in a trap down through the cut out, and also because they could fall through the ceiling if they thrashed around too much in the trap. Occasionally I’ll come across an animal that is what is called “trap shy”, and will not go in a trap no matter what type of bait used. In this case I will install a one way door. It is attached over the access point and allows the raccoon to go out but not get back inside. 

During the spring and early summer raccoons give birth to a litter of kits. A litter can range from 1 to 8 babies with 3 to 5 being the typical number. Urban raccoons like to den in attics and crawl spaces. It’s dark, secluded, and usually has insulation for bedding. The babies stay warm and are protected from elements and predators. The babies make a very distinctive chirping sound which can usually be heard through the ceiling or floor by the occupant. Raccoon families may also den in soffits, decorative columns, or under decks. 

My first course of action is to try to “evict” the raccoons.  I spray the babies with a liquid called eviction fluid. It contains predator urine or raccoon musk. This signals to the mother that the nest is in danger. Then I  give the mother 3 days to move the babies. I have to give her enough time to find a new home and then carry each baby there one by one. When the occupant stops hearing the noise from the raccoons, I come back and make sure they’re all gone then seal the entry point. This is the least traumatic option for the raccoon family.

Most of the time no one ever witnesses the raccoons leaving. Every once in a while, I’ll have a customer send me a video from their Ring Camera showing the mother raccoon carrying her babies out. It’s the cutest thing ever.

If the mother does not remove her babies after 3 days, I will hand remove the babies and trap the mother if possible. Afterwards I will remove any feces and sanitize the area. 

Currently being revised. 

There are four types of skunk in North America. Two of those are found in Iowa which are the Spotted Skunk and the Striped Skunk. The Striped Skunk is your basic Pepe LePew which is found around dwellings. The Spotted Skunk is endangered and only found in the Northern portion of the state. 

Most people wouldn’t mind skunks if it weren’t for the smell. They have two anal scent glands located by the base of their tail which spray a yellowish liquid containing sulfur compounds. A skunk can spray up to 15 feet, having the most accuracy with distances less than 6 feet. A skunk will stomp its front feet and charge as a warning before spraying. It is a myth that skunks can only spray one time. They can spray up to 6 times before they have to wait for their supply to replenish. It can take up to 10 days to completely refuel. 

Skunks mate in early spring with litters typically being born as early as May but it could be sooner in warmer climates. Baby skunks are called kits,  and an average litter is 3 to 7 kits. 

Skunks can be beneficial for keeping pests away from gardens because they eat insects and small rodents. They root around in the grass with their nose looking for bugs , leaving 3-4 inch divots or cone shaped holes in the turf. 

If a skunk is causing trouble around the yard and spraying pets, it can be trapped and removed easily. I set up a cage trap in the shade closest to its known traveling path. Bait is added to the back of the trap. When the skunk goes inside to eat, it steps on the trigger plate, dropping the door down behind it, and prevents it from leaving the cage. 

Skunks will dig down into the ground with their sharp claws to make dens to give birth and raise their offspring. Sometimes they will dig under the foundation of a home, dig under the crawl space door, or just walk right in if a vent is broken or missing. Once they are under your home, they will pull down insulation to use as nesting material and make latrines which spread bacteria and cause an unpleasant odor. 

I can attempt to do an on the spot removal using a snare. A snare is a pole with a loop on it that tightens. Oftentimes, customers do not want me to do an on the spot removal because it’s very likely the skunk will spray. Skunk spray under a house will permeate the floorboards and leave a nasty lingering odor inside the living space. 

The most common solution is to set up a trap on the outside next to the opening where the skunk is entering. I try to set it as a funnel trap if possible. The trap is set and boards are placed on either side of it so when the skunk comes out, it has no choice but to go in the trap. That is the most effective way. In situations where a funnel trap cannot be set, I place a cage trap in the shade as close to the entry point as possible. 

The most common question I am asked is if I  get sprayed when picking up a skunk in a trap. I either put a trash bag around the trap when I set it up or I walk up to the trap carrying a tarp in front of me then lay it over the cage. The skunk will most likely spray but the liquid will go on the tarp or trash bag instead of on me. That being said, I’ve been nailed many times in various circumstances. The liquid is a very bright yellowish color.  I’ve had my truck sprayed, my clothes, my skin, my face, and even gotten a bit in my eyes. 

Currently being revised. 

Currently being revised. 

Currently being revised.