if you should catch a skunk; take a small tarp or old beach towel, hold it with extended arms & approach the trap calmly & speaking in low tones. you do not want to startle it. drape the tarp over the trap. you can then reach under & open the trap door & put a stick thru the trap to hold it open. walk away the skunk will figure it's free & leave. OR if the skunk is a pest; place the trap in an empty wheelbarrow or suitable tank & fill with water & drown it. DO NOT plunge it into a fuul tank.
I will be sure to have my wife video tape the entire operation when this happens. If she can hold the camera still from the extreme laughter.:lau:
After I caught the first raccoon, I got the tack strips and installed them. The next couple had caught themselves on the strips before going for the box trap. When the trap stopped catching anything I put it away and now rely on just the tack strips.
The colony that was taking the abuse was closest to the the woodline. They had a bad case of chalkbrood. It cleared up after I started using the trap.
I can't help but wonder if the after hours stress wasn't keeping them from getting around this chalk brood. Prolly just coincidence.