Re: How to say au revoir to Pepe?

[firefighterjake]

I generally have a live and let live policy . . . and I could even let Pepe LePhew tear up my lawn looking for grubs (I mean I get it . . . grubs aren't my thing, but again . . . live and let live), but there is that lingering odor whenever he comes around.

Any suggestions on how to handle this . . . without getting sprayed? I have a live trap for squirrels, cats, etc. that might work . . . just not sure what I would do after I trapped him since I really, really don't want to get sprayed (I still have vivid memories when as a teen a skunk got into our garage and sprayed -- egads, the skunk smell you come across when driving by a smacked skunk in the road is nothing compared to a fresh, close spray -- eyes watering, gagging, etc. . . . and then there is smelling like a skunk for weeks.)

Suggestions?

I would rather not kill him.

 

[Babaganoosh]

Go to goodwill, buy a blanket, throw over trap when he's caught. Relocate, throw blanket into trash in local parking lot. Wear gloves. Easy as pie.

 

[drz1050]

If you get sprayed, wash yourself with tomato juice... something in the acids kills the skunk smell.

 

[drz1050]

I like that blanet idea... but if you see him a lot, you can just try pissing him off/ making him choose to go somewhere else with a BB gun.

A pellet gun can kill him, but a Red Ryder from any distance won't hurt the guy too bad.

 

[Babaganoosh]

If you get sprayed, wash yourself with tomato juice... something in the acids kills the skunk smell.

Doesn't work. Pretty much just urban legend.

 

[Wisneaky]

Spray fox urine around. You can get it at most sporting good stores or online. Foxes are their natural predators and when they smell it they will move on. Word of advice. Use a good mask and gloves when spraying that fox urine it's really strong. Highly effective though.

 

[drz1050]

Doesn't work. Pretty much just urban legend.

I dunno... a friend's dog got sprayed and we couldn't get the smell out, that was the only thing that worked. Used some marinara sauce too, because only had a small thing of juice.

 

[billb3]

If you get sprayed, wash yourself with tomato juice... something in the acids kills the skunk smell.

adding some vinegar works even better
we had labs and even a cat that would mess with them repeatedly

 

[webfish]

I dunno... a friend's dog got sprayed and we couldn't get the smell out, that was the only thing that worked. Used some marinara sauce too, because only had a small thing of juice.

I have had dogs sprayed close to half dozen time or more over the years. Sometimes 2 dogs at a time. Tried all the solutions. Tomato juice never works. The peroxide solution you can make works good but best was a skunk off product. Now I alaways have it in my hunting gear and at home.

 

[Babaganoosh]

Tomato juice just temporarily masks the odor. The Nature's Miracle works well and so does a mix of baking soda, peroxide, and dawn liquid detergent.

My dog has been sprayed a few times. Believe me I've tried it all.

 

[Grisu]

The peroxide solution you can make works good

Yep, oxidizer will work. What makes the stink are several thiol containing compounds. (thiol = sulfur + hydrogen = SH) Those are prone to oxidation with oxidizers like bleach or peroxide which will mitigate the smell. Wearing white clothes than can be put into bleach would be a good idea or simply a tyvek suit.

 

[firefighterjake]

Thanks for the ideas folks . . . bought a bright Pepto-Bismol colored blanket today at Goodwill and checked in with a co-worker who is an avid trapper for some more tips.

 

[moey]

My neighbor traps them all the time and relocates them. Hes never been sprayed, and seems unphased in doing it. Trying to give you some confidence.

 

[Warm_in_NH]

They're pretty smart and generally are very reluctant to spray. The blanket is key. Cover them, then hold it out as a "wall" between you and them as you release him, shouldn't have a problem.

Just had a good conversation with a Lil Pepe the other day. I did most of the talking , he was a good listener, then we each went on our own way.

The Lil guy in tje pic chased the wife around the yard a couple times this year. By chased, I mean walked on a set course while she panicked, great entertainment !

 

[Bret Chase]

I generally have a live and let live policy . . . and I could even let Pepe LePhew tear up my lawn looking for grubs (I mean I get it . . . grubs aren't my thing, but again . . . live and let live), but there is that lingering odor whenever he comes around.

Any suggestions on how to handle this . . . without getting sprayed? I have a live trap for squirrels, cats, etc. that might work . . . just not sure what I would do after I trapped him since I really, really don't want to get sprayed (I still have vivid memories when as a teen a skunk got into our garage and sprayed -- egads, the skunk smell you come across when driving by a smacked skunk in the road is nothing compared to a fresh, close spray -- eyes watering, gagging, etc. . . . and then there is smelling like a skunk for weeks.)

Suggestions?

I would rather not kill him.

I suppose a claymore with a bag of thermite taped to the front is out of the question?

 

[blades]

Best and cheapest thing I have found is GOJO hand cleaner( no pumice type) Lanolin based. safe for dogs/cats ect. Never had any success with the old home remedies. Personally as far as PEPE is concerned if I can get a safe shot I will using the .22 cb rounds or a high powered air rifle ( air rifles I have are equal to .22 rimfire out to about 50 yards. they are not bb guns)

 

[EatenByLimestone]

I work in nuisance wildlife. Skunks are very reluctant to spray. I don't think they like the smell any more than we do.

They aren't hard on traps and are easy to catch. I use a 9x12x36" or 12x12x36" trap and bait it with anything sweet. They are used to attacking garbage, they eat anything. Usually I use little debbie stuffed oatmeal cookies. Smear it all over the pan.

Place a black contractor bag over the trap. They like small, dark places so it'll actually calm them. Now, when they are caught, they will try to dig out the bottom of the trap. A 10lb skunk in a 3 lb trap will weigh 40lbs with all the dirt in it. But you are covered on 3 sides from being sprayed. When you open the trap, the skunk isn't prone to running out immediately. They will sit in it for a while. It's best to just prop the door open and leave it for a while.

Check relocation laws in your area. Since skunks are a rabies vector they may have special laws against removing them from the property and then county.

If you plan to shoot, don't go for a head shot. It's a guaranteed spray. Go for a heart/lung. They still may seep as all dead animals will, but not as bad as a full out spray.

 

[kennyp2339]

Doesn't work. Pretty much just urban legend.

yup agreed - ask my cat yeehaw how she made out with the tomato juice, I bet you will get scratched

 

[dougstove]

SkunkOut or SkunkOff peroxide based products work well.
I keep them in all my vehicles and at home, because my dogs and I get sprayed multiple times per year.

 

[firefighterjake]

Thanks everyone for the advice . . . not sure if I need to go the trapping route now though. When I came home last Friday I found that my wife had prepared the pool for winter which involves pumping off a foot or so of water . . . and apparently she pumped most of those gallons down a hole under the shed that we suspect Pepe lived in. She says she didn't see him, but did hear a lot of rustling in the nearby woods a few minutes after she started pumping out the water.

Two days since then . . . not noticing the smell as much any more . . . not seeing a lot of ground torn up.

I suppose it's possible Pepe may have moved on . . . or perhaps someone made a meal out of him . . . I was told by my co-worker/trapper that skunks are a favorite meal for a lot of other critters. Interestingly enough I also learned that the perfume industry buys up some skunk glands . . .

 

[Babaganoosh]

Skunks have almost no natural predators. If I remember correctly the only thing that eats them is some kind of hawk or owl.

 

[Bret Chase]

Skunks have almost no natural predators. If I remember correctly the only thing that eats them is some kind of hawk or owl.

there are lots of predators that will eat a skunk... like mountain lions, coyotes, bobcats, dogs, etc..... but it tends to be a more "last resort:" thing.... Hawks and big owls will target them... because they have a little to no sense of smell..

 

[Babaganoosh]

Not splitting hairs but last resort thing to me means that in general skunks don't really have natural predators outside of birds of prey.

But whatever, I'm still waiting for the outcome.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

Cars are pretty big predators too.

 

[peakbagger]

If you have skunks digging in the lawn, they are going for grubs, get rid of the gurbs and the skunks stop digging. There is a natural product that you can apply that kills the grubs over a year or so, or there are some pretty nasty pesticides that will do them in quick.