Well, they've been back but 2 of the 3 went into havaheart traps and will no longer be a threat. I still have two traps set - one with tuna fish and one with canned cat food. I'm confident #3 will be tempted and neutralized.

That's Pepi Le Pew you are talking about. He is a real smooth talker. Watch out for him.

Please tell me how you got them out of the Havaheart traps without having them squirt. I caught a skunk in one of those a couple years back and couldn't get him to come out. I opened the trap to release him and he panicked, squirted and ultimately died in the trap, not sure why, guess he couldn't take his own stink.

Well smooth talker or not - at this point the "death count" of trees they took out is over 25 so I have zero sympathy. Cute only gets you so far, ya know? I have hopes others will come back to life and I hate to harm anything - but geez - come on! If they'd just ask for tuna or whatever I'd feed 'em. Every year I spend a few trees worth of mooolaw worming the foxes by injecting hotdogs with ivermectin so they get past the mange and don't suffer too much. I always try to help our "furry" friends, but sometimes that help is a .22 caliber bullet.

striped stink rats.. .22 to the head at good distance will work nicely. subsonic rounds will make it little quieter.

i have a cousin who shot one with bb gun when we were kids.. bad idea.

pete

Skunks need a certain amount of room to get their rear haunches up high enough to "squirt". If they are "put to sleep" in the trap they usually don't spray. As they are serious vectors for rabies they can not be relocated. Unfortunately once they get too familiar with your property there really isn't much choice. I am very upset anytime I have to kill something I'm not going to eat - and I'm sure as heck not eating a skunk, so it's not fun, it's not funny and it's not manly - it's just sad.

Yeah they are not something you want wondering around the house. I live in Philly so shooting is definitely out. In fact there are far too many shootings around here, but the target is 2 legged not 4. Guess I'll have to come up with another method.

I live within the city limits in Pittsburgh so shooting is out for me also. Luckily our animal control department will not only let you have a trap for a week, they will come and cart off the critter for you. Might be worth checking out for you fellow urban-types. I've gotten rid of several predatory groundhogs and a raccoon that way.

Unfortunately our local humane society is not as well equiped. I have to supply my own traps and when I catch something that should be put down, like a racoon, I can call them and maybe they will come maybe not. First racoon I caught I called and they came, next 2, no response so I relocated them myself. Racoons are a serious problem in certain areas of the city and a serious rabies vector, but most times folks are on their own around here. Can't even remember how many ground hogs I've caught and relocated!! Hard to believe the number of wildlife in the big city  

I hear you. I've had deer in my front yard and frequently see wild turkey on my "T" (trolley/subway) ride. I grew up in a more rural area and I like the critters when they aren't shopping at my garden, but rabies is a real worry for me as the parent of a fearless son and a territorial terrier.

But ground hogs - or pasture bastards as we call them are very tasty. 

But ground hogs - or pasture bastards as we call them are very tasty. 

LOL I've never had the pleasure of eating a "pasture bastard" Rather they do most of the eating around here. Maybe I'll give it a try  

Only the very rich and the very poor eat things like ground hogs - which btw make good pets until they reach sexual maturity. 

Can't imagine having one as a pet, but I suppose it can be done. I'll stick to my tortoises.

Well, since you have all given me a good country education, JD and I are moving to county property, and my pink gun (with a silencer) will do it's job with not one complaint!  I will be planting a hedge of prickly pear around each orchard to keep out the big guys.  The gun and some arsenic should work for the rest!

After a day of no damage, JD and I will enjoy Prickly Pear Margaritas, while we load the gun for tomorrow!

Suzi