"mleblanca" wrote in message
...
On Oct 17, 4:44 pm, Chris wrote:
On Oct 14, 7:39 pm, (MICHELLE H.) wrote:



Hi All,

Does anyone know of any EFFECTIVE way to keep skunks out of the yard.
For about 3 weeks now, we have had a skunk coming out at night and
destroying the yard. Also, they aren't destroying it because of grubs (
we did a grub treatment back in July ), the skunk is eating the
earthworms.

I know this because in the morning, there are holes everywhere in the
grass, and there are half-eaten, dead earthworms everywhere in the soil.

Also, I definitely know it's a skunk because I have witnessed him at
different times throughout the night in the backyard. A few times I was
able to scare him away by banging on the metal storm door, but because
he comes at all hours of the night, it's hard to stay up all night and
wait for this pest.

Anyway, here is what I have tried so far that HASN'T worked:

1) I left a portable radio out all night long on a AM talk show radio
station - didn't work.

2) Human hair from shower - didn't work.

3) $40 dollars in different hot and/or strong smelling spices - Red
crushed pepper, cayenne pepper, black pepper, ground cinnamon, garlic,
chili powder, onion powder.

The Cayenne Pepper seemed to work, but the stuff goes fast, and what the
skunk does, is he just digs in another location where there is no
cayenne powder!!! 2-3 bottles of the stuff at $4 dollars a bottle, isn't
enough to cover 5,000 square feet!!!

4) Ammonia and/or ammonia soaked rags - TOTALLY USELESS!!!! The skunk
actually took a dump and left a nice big pile of his poop right next to
an ammonia soaked sock that I put out there!!!!

5) Spotlight/Floodlight - totally useless!!!!

6) Bits of shredded "Irish Spring" soap - useless

So besides leaving a sprinkler on all night long, and wasting precious
gallons of water, what options am I left with here??

I have read everything from human urine, to bear urine, to antifreeze,
to chocolate, to rat poison?? Most of those are all out, because there
are stray cats in the neighborhood, so I don't want to poison anything
with antifreeze or mouse/rat poison.

Shooting this thing is out of the question. I live on a residential
street, and I have neighbors houses 5 feet on the left side of me, and 5
feet on the right side of me. Also, the neighbors weren't to happy when
I left the AM talk station on all night long!!!!!

We don't have an "animal control" officer in our city. The only thing
the useless city will help you with, is if its a large animal like a
deer, bear, wolf, moose, etc, etc.

If your city or town does not have any kind of animal control, you
might call the local ASPCA, or better yet, look in your county and
state listings. Look for a county extension agent; this sort of thing
is exactly up their line. (Um we even have county extension agents in
New York City). State Department of Environmental Control/Protection
are also good. Failing that, try a local zoo or animal rescue center.
If there's a college/university with a big bio or wildlife ecology
department, there might be a prof. there with a license to collect
mammals.

Also, skunks are notorious rabies carriers and if you have a kid, or
if your neighbors have kids, you might be able to play that card
(although if the skunk is only coming out at night, chances are it's
not rabid). If it's that important to you, you can try laying out some
poisoned bait. I would not be willing to do that myself unless I
thought the animal was rabid, but you might have different priorities.

Chris

Poisoned bait is a terrible suggestion! Nothing could justify another
pet/animal being poisoned for the sake of a lawn. If the skunk has
free access to the yard, so do other animals including children.
Emilie

children have free access to a neighbors back yard in the middle of the
night?

Poison seems sensible, but I would put it out late and take it in early. A
few stray cats wouldn't be missed, either.