What an adventure!

I had a major problem w/groundhogs for awhile. I couldn't have a garden because they'd destroy it. Even this year, w/the garden completely fenced in, they were STILL a problem. I finally figured out how they were getting to the garden. At the back of our shed, we have a lean to where we store anything that's powered by gas. Then, there's a gap between that and my greenhouse. And, that gap is overgrown w/volunteer black raspberries and poke weed. So, the groundhogs were using it as cover to get to the garden. I didn't have time to clean it, but was able to put a live trap next to the greenhouse, then have stuff next to the trap and the lean to so that the only "clear" path led right into the trap. It worked well. We caught 2 groundhogs (which developed lead poisoning) and 2 possums. The 2nd possum was much smaller and was playing dead when I found it. They were released into the woods.

Other than the rabbit, I haven't seen anything else that I'm really worried about and really thought about taking the trap down. I kind of wish I had. It was so late by the time I got done w/the tomatoes that I never emptied my compost bucket last night. Instead, I just covered it w/a cutting board and left it overnight. So, this morning, I had to empty it. Since I have to go right past the trap to get to the compost bin, I checked on the trap. At first I thought I had another possum-until it moved. That's when I realized that I had caught my worst nightmare, a SKUNK!!!!!!!!!! I called hubby and let him know. Now we had a dilemma, how to get the skunk out w/out getting sprayed. The trap was not really in a good spot to put something over it so we could move the trap w/out getting sprayed. So I did what I thought was the smart thing and went to church. I hoped when I got home, "Flower" would no longer be in the trap.

To be continued.

Ooo I hope he's gone when u get home, when I was little we'd get skunks in our yard all the time! Best to leave him be or get a really long stick to try and gently prod it away.

Any chance you can trigger a spray from a distance? I've been told they need time to "re-stock" after spraying, once the air cleared you might have some time to figure out what to do? Of course that also depends on which way the wind is blowing.

Oh crumbs! So what happened?

OH man. Was there any way to use a long stick and lift the mechanism and release the critter?

I got home from church and checked the trap. Flower was STILL in it. Hubby had told me he was going to call the neighbor so they could figure out how to get it to where they could cover it, but he hadn't done it. Nor did he show any indication that he wanted to. In the meantime, Flower had been trying to dig out. The bottom of the trap was now covered in dirt. I HAD to do something.

W/where the trap was situated, I was able to stand behind my greenhouse, and reach it w/out having to worry about getting sprayed. So I went in, got changed and put on an old pair of boots. After all, if I got sprayed, I wanted to be able to wear shoes that could just be trashed. I didn't want to wear something that I would then be smelling every time I wore them. I took up my position behind the greenhouse, and was able to move the trap some, but not much. I don't know if it was because of the dirt, or if I had plants growing up in it, but I could not get that trap moved to where it was clear enough to cover it. Not once during this time did Flower show any indication that he was going to spray, only that he wanted out.

Since I could not move the trap, the only other option I could come up w/was that somehow or another, I needed to open it. Some traps are made w/2 doors. If this one had been, it would have been easy. But, this had only one door, and it was facing the other direction. Nor could I get to it w/out stepping over the trap, not something I wanted to do. Flower kept looking at me. I could read pleading in his eyes, but I was stumped. I had no idea as to how I was going to get him out, but needed to come up w/a plan.

To be continued....

Deb, you're killing me!

So from what I've read skunks can spray up to 6 times but after that it takes them an hour to rebuild their stink sacks arsenal.

Myhouseisazoo2 said:

So from what I've read skunks can spray up to 6 times

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That may explain Deb's absence.

sumi said:

That may explain Deb's absence.

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Too true!