What should I do with a skunk after I catch it?

Norfolk skunks have the instinctive ability to spray persons or animals with a liquid that has a very strong odor which is very difficult to get rid of. Luckily, they only spray when they are angry or feel threatened and they only spray what they can see. If you happen to catch a skunk, and I am assuming this is a live skunk trapped in a cage, you would have to ensure that the lock is safely secured in a way that the skunk cannot use its paws to break it open. Any trapped animal would be agitated and try to break free.



After catching the Virginia skunk, you should let it sit awhile and calm down before you approach it gradually. Ensure that you are completely covered with protective wear such as a disposable apron and gloves. You do not want any part of your skin exposed. You can use a large garbage bag as an apron by simple cutting a wide enough for your head to fit and a hole on each side for your arms. Depending on how tall you are, you can cut a hole big enough for your waist to fit through and have your lower body covered as well. For gloves, you can use 2 small plastic bags that are large enough to fit your hand, securing it with rubber bands around your wrists.

You would need to cover the cage to blind the Norfolk skunk. As mentioned before, the skunk would not spray anything it cannot see. You can use an old sheet or blanket to cover the cage. Approach the cage quietly but not so quietly that you catch the skunk off-guard to scare it. When approaching look for warning signs, such as turning its rear end toward you, stomping of its feet and the raising of its tail. If you notice these things, I suggest you turn around and run as fast as you could. Skunks can spray as far as 15 feet away and you would not want to have that on you, especially if you aren’t wearing proper clothing. You can always try again to cover the cage as the darkness would soothe it.

If you notice that the skunk is very aggressive, you may want to call the local animal control to come pick it up or hire a professional. There are several actions you can take for disposing of it yourself but ensure that you check the wildlife laws so that you do not do anything illegal. One option is killing it, but you risk contracting airborne diseases that can spread from its blood. If you do this, you should wear a HASMAT suit, dispose of the carcass immediately by double bagging it, and throwing it in the trash or incinerating it. You should also disinfect the cage thoroughly.

The second option is releasing it into the wild, so to speak. Once you have managed to cover the cage, you can wait a couple minutes and place the cage in your car. Take the skunk at least 10 miles away from your home, preferably in a location where there is an adequate water source. Stand behind the cage before opening it and keep a stick close at hand. Hopefully the skunk will run off and leave you unharmed. You should still have on your protective clothing while doing this, just in case.

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