There are few parts of raising animals that I hate. This is at the top of my list! It turns me over in the middle, makes me sick inside. If I could change this reality, I would do so in a heartbeat!
I’ve always loved animals. It hurts me to have to kill the little critters that prey on my poultry. However, when a predator destroys my birds, I know I must choose between it and protecting the remaining poultry.
And so, here’s how I go about getting rid of a preying skunk. While it takes time, it’s virtually painless for the animal. That’s important to me!
It’s also very gentle, which keeps the skunk from releasing spray (usually). Here’s how it goes down ’round here.
WARNING: AN ANIMAL DOES DIE IN THIS VIDEO. PLEASE SKIP OVER IT IF THIS IS OFFENSIVE TO YOU.
I couldn’t get the video to load on my tablet. I would like to know your method. We shot the one stealing our eggs. Instantaneous death for the skunk but it is lucky chickens don’t have a sense of smell!
Hi Susanne!
You can go directly to my youtube channel and give it a try there: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jWoDQclug8
It is an unfortunate but necessary thing about protecting your meat source. It seemed to be quick and seemingly painless way to end a preying skunk.
We live in a unincorporated area of our county, semi-rural. For years we raised meat rabbits. Butchering is another hard thing to do, but necessary to feed a family. So many people forget that meat doesn’t spring into being nicely laid out on styrofoam inside a refrigerator.
Here’s a good story about skunks. Many years after the rabbits, I was really getting irritated by having to repeatedly re-stack my potting containers that were neatly stacked next to our shed. One morning I heard some scuffling around at dawn and I snuck into the bathroom to peek out the window. Imagine my surprise to see a mama skunk and litter of kits frolicking on the lawn between the shed and our bedroom window! I watched them for a good 30 minutes and really enjoyed watching them play together and feign spraying each other as they rough-housed. Fortunately, we didn’t have a dog or outside cats, so I was willing to put up with a rare smelly breeze. Skunks are good ratters so the few years mama skunk returned to her nursery den we did not have a rat problem in the shed. Sometimes, I wish she were back!
What a great story Karen! I also love watching wild animals, particularly when their playful young are about. I knew skunks were wonderful for mouse/pest control, but I had no idea they fed on rats! Thanks for sharing!