Want to know how to trap a skunk? If you get too close, you can get sprayed from a distance of 6 meters. Its liquid has a foul smell that is difficult to get rid of. The best way to capture them is to use a skunk exterminator.
How to recognize a skunk?
Skunk is a nocturnal animal with a black coat and white stripes. Just like the raccoon, it likes to feed on garbage cans. It eats everything: eggs, nuts, fruits, insects, worms, etc. This animal raises its young during the summer using an abandoned burrow. It goes into semi-hibernation during the winter.
Why are skunks a nuisance?
This animal only gives off a bad smell to defend itself. He also vandalizes garbage cans to get food. In autumn, he digs holes of 7 to 10 cm to look for white grubs. Skunks can also carry rabies.
How do you get rid of a skunk?
Before trapping a skunk, you can start by trying to scare it away by keeping it away from your home. There are several ways to do this. Take note of tips on how to get rid of a skunk.
Remove their food and shelter sources
One of the first things you can do to keep skunks away is to remove what attracts them, which is food. Close your garbage cans tightly and store them as often as possible in your garage, except for collection, of course. If you have a garden, try to harvest your fruits and vegetables as early as possible before the skunks use them for food.
You can also remove skunks’ shelters, such as piles of wood, building materials or debris. Also block off places where skunks could hide, such as porches or under terraces.
Deter skunks from coming
You can also deter skunks from coming to your property. The latter are nocturnal animals and hate illuminated places. By lighting your property with lamps at night, you will keep them as far away from your property as possible. However, you will attract insects that like night lights, such as mosquitoes, for example.
Another way to keep skunks and other wildlife away is to use repellents, such as ammonia or pepper spray. You can also use a water jet that is activated using a motion sensor. As soon as the skunk approaches, it will be watered.
If you have spotted droppings before even seeing the animal, consult our guide on skunk droppings : identifying the droppings (tubular shape, 5 to 8 cm, sometimes with insect hair) allows you to be certain of the species before choosing the trap.
How do you trap a skunk?
To trap a skunk, you must install trap cages at the entry and exit routes of its burrow. The cage should not be too large to prevent the animal from raising its tail and spraying you. You should also wear gloves and thick clothing when releasing the skunk into the wild.
However, it is strongly recommended to call an expert to trap a skunk. He has the skills and expertise to do this work.
To trap a skunk, trust Nova Extermination.
Since its creation, Nova Extermination has specialized in the capture and extermination of rodents and other wild animals. If you need a team of experts to capture a skunk, Chat with us now. We will answer all your questions to offer you the service that meets your expectations.
Technical characteristics of a suitable cage
Not all bait cages are suitable for skunks. A cage that is too short allows the animal to turn around and water, a cage that is too large agitates it unnecessarily. The table below summarizes the six specifications that distinguish an effective cage from a problematic cage.
| Element | Specification | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Cage length | 75 to 80 cm | Allows the skunk to enter without turning over |
| Width | 25 to 30 cm | Sufficient without leaving any play to agitate |
| Height | 25 to 30 cm | Prevents the animal from getting up to water |
| Bottom Type | Solid metal, not mesh | Resistant to scratches and limits injuries |
| Door type | Sliding with sensitive trigger | Reduces the risk of partial escape |
| Cover | Opaque tarpaulin from the moment of installation | Reduces stress and blocks the spray |
Models sold in hardware stores in Canada range from 60 to 100 cm. Choosing a model in the 75-80 cm range remains the best compromise between capture efficiency and the animal’s comfort during transport.
Three typical cases of capture
Solitary adult skunk under the porch
The most common case. An adult skunk (3 to 5 kg) that comes out at night to hunt and returns to the burrow at daybreak. Capture: place the covered cage at dusk at the entrance to the burrow, check at daybreak. If captured: approach from behind, finish covering the cage, carry to the point of release (on the spot, outside a building). Typical Success: Capture on the first or second night.
Several skunks installed in the same place
Rarer but possible: family with mother and emancipated young, or wintering group in winter. Capturing each individual one by one with a single cage takes too much time (the others learn to avoid the trap). Solution: set 2 or 3 cages simultaneously at strategic points, or call on a professional trapper who has multiple traps and experience in managing groups.
Skunk who returns despite the capture
Frustrating situation: one skunk is captured, released, and another settles in the same place during the week. This is a sign that the burrow is attractive (dry, safe, close to a food source) and that the root cause must be eliminated. Action: capture and then permanently close the burrow with a trellis sunk 30 cm deep, check that the food sources (bins, composter) are secure, eliminate all openings under galleries and sheds.
What to do after capture
Capture is only the first step. Three decisions govern what happens next, in compliance with the Quebec regulations on raccoon rabies (active until June 6, 2026).
Release in place outside a building
Preferred solution for municipalities outside rabies risk areas. Carry the covered cage at least 50 metres from the point of capture, open the door at a distance, wait for the animal to come out spontaneously. The skunk will not return to the original building if the accesses have been closed. Legal, economical and animal-friendly method.
Refer to a certified trapper for relocation
Solution required in rabies risk areas where free relocation is prohibited. The trapper has the necessary permits to transport the animal to an authorized area. Additional cost (professional services) but guarantee of legal compliance.
Human euthanasia as a last resort
Reserved for animals injured or showing signs of rabies (daytime movement, disorientation, unjustified aggressiveness). Never do it yourself: the method requires specific training to be human. Call on a veterinarian or a certified trapper who has the appropriate protocols.
Questions
What size cage should I use to trap a skunk?
A cage 75 cm long by 25 cm wide is suitable for the majority of adult skunks (weight 2 to 5 kg). The ideal model is a single-door cage with an all-metal bottom to resist scratches. Cages larger than 80 cm increase the risk of the skunk turning over and watering. Covering the cage entirely with a tarpaulin as soon as it is installed reduces the animal’s stress and limits the risk of throwing: skunks water mainly out of fear, so the darkness soothes them.
What bait best attracts a skunk?
Three baits give the best results: canned sardines in oil (the fishy smell carries far away at night), peanut butter spread on a piece of bread or lettuce leaf, and soaked cat food. Skunks are omnivorous and opportunistic, so almost any smelly food works. Place the bait at the very bottom of the cage to force the animal fully in before triggering the trap. Renew the bait every 24 hours to keep it smelling.
How do you place the cage without being sprayed?
Three essential precautions before and during capture:
- Wear gloves, goggles and a disposable poncho when handling the cage: splash protection.
- Approach the cage from behind once the skunk has been captured: skunks cannot spray what they cannot see.
- Immediately cover the cage with a large tarp or thick blanket to reduce the animal’s stress.
The skunk jet carries up to 3 meters, so maintain this distance until the cage is covered. Never carry an uncovered cage in a vehicle.
What to do if you have been sprayed during the capture?
For skin and clothing: Rinse immediately with cold water, then apply a mixture of 1 litre of 3% hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of dish soap. Leave on for 5 minutes then rinse. For eyes: rinse for 15 minutes with warm water and consult a doctor if irritation persists. Clothes can require several washes: add baking soda to the cycle. Tomato juice is ineffective, that’s a myth.
When should you avoid trapping a skunk?
From the end of April to the end of August, females raise their litter of 4 to 6 young born in May after a gestation period of 60 to 77 days. Capturing the mother during this window condemns the babies stuck in the burrow (under the gallery, shed, porch) to starve. Prefer scaring methods (light, radio, ammonia) during this period, and schedule the capture for the end of August when the young are emancipated, or in March-April before giving birth.
What to do with the skunk once captured?
Quebec’s regulations on raccoon rabies (active until June 6, 2026) prohibit live relocation in several affected municipalities. The legal options remain: release the animal on site outside a building (recommended for unaffected areas), entrust to a certified trapper for relocation outside of a risk area, or euthanasia as a last resort. Check local restrictions on the Quebec.ca site before deciding, or involve a licensed trapper from the start.
When to call on a professional trapper?
Three situations justify intervention: presence of a litter under the gallery or shed (critical exclusion chronology), exposure of humans or animals to the jet (complete decontamination requires specialized products and a medical check), and any skunk that circulates in broad daylight or appears disoriented (possible sign of rabies, to be reported to the authorities). A certified trapper has the right permits, adapted cages and applies exclusion protocols that respect the breeding periods.
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Our skunk capture teams cover the South Shore and Montérégie. We are present throughout the South Shore, in Longueuil, Brossard and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, with increased vigilance from April to June (baby season).
