.........Last Updated: 18 March 2014.........

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July & August of 2009

The Second Skunk Saga

Last year about this time, a mother skunk brought her baby into our chicken coop and he stayed a few days then left.  About two or three  weeks ago, I noticed there were fewer eggs.  I thought that either the chickens were taking a break or maybe one or two of the chickens, who are older, had stopped production.  A few days later I noticed a broken egg on the floor.  Hmmmm.   Evidently, there was a visitor.   Skunks, again,  I wondered.  A week ago, I saw two skunks traveling down the hill toward the chicken coop.  As it turns out,  two juvenile skunks,  have discovered the coop and all the yummy stuff (eggs, grain, bread, table left overs) and have decided to share with the chickens. 

The problem with skunks here in Contra Costa County is the possibility that they might be rabid, therefore,  the cute little creatures might prove more than just pests.  Plus, the skunks  can spray liquid from glands that produce the most awful smell which no ones wants to experience.

Since skunks are nocturnal,  each day, thereafter,  I collected eggs earlier in the day.  I, also, closed up the coop earlier to eliminate the skunks from getting at the eggs. 

There is always one night a person can't be home, my night was this last Friday,the 31st of July.   We had gone to a Giants baseball game.  It was dark when I ventured up to the coop.  I shut the light off, closed the door and hoped all the chickens, who were quiet and weren't fussing because  unwanted visitors,  were present.

In the morning when I opened the door to the coop,  I  saw there was a  mess inside the coop.

I immediately stepped back and thought it best that I retreated and waited at a good distance away from the door.

Was I about to see a skunk or two walking out of the coop?

Chickens came out as if nothing was wrong or unusual.

After five minutes,  there wasn't any sign of any visitor showing themselves,  so, I very quietly and carefully, moved up the step and peered around the corner of the coop wall and into the coop.   As you can see in the photo, one of the chickens was looking at something behind the plastic containers.  Because I chould not see through the plastic containers unless I moved closer,  I had to step inside to see if any creature was behind them.  And there was.  Two sleeping young skunks.  There was no doubt that they had full tummies.   I moved backward and took my distance.  Looking around,  I knew I had to fill all the water containers.  I did so as I constantly looked back at the coop door to    make sure the twin skunks were not appearing.   Then I went down to the house to tell my husband what was happening.

Later in the day,  I went up to check and see if the twins had gone.  I didn't see them and thought they had gone.  I started to clean up the sack that the twins had torn apart and then saw something move at eye level.  In at nest box which was the one by the far wall, was one of the skunks making a bed in the shavings.  Once, again,  I slowly backed away and went back to the house.  This time,  I picked up my Cannon camera and headed back to the coop.  Just as I suspected,  the twin who remained,  had gone to sleep in the nesting box.

On the first flash from the camera,  the twin open one eye.  After I took the second photo, I stood still and his eyes closed and he went back to sleep.

Later that morning I called animal control who directed me to Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District office.  The number is 925-685-9301.  Left a message.  Then I found the animal trap our elder son has used to catch many skunks where he lives.  Although he's in a residential area where houses are close,  they have wild critters.  He had told me that peanut butter was the magic food to lure the skunks into the trap.

Sunday morning I discovered that I had caught one of the twins. 

The other twin was asleep in the chicken nesting  box in the coop.

I, again, called the district office, left a message and learned at that point in time that they don't pick up animals on weekends and holidays.  I was, also, suppose to get a hose and trickle water for the trapped twin.  Since I had placed the trap where there was shade all day,  I wasn't concern about the heat of the sun.  Fortunately, it wasn't hot either, but a beautiful cool summer day.  The only kind the Bay Area can have in late July.

I closed and locked the coop  door early Sunday evening.  The one twin, who was still asleep in the nest box.  On the floor was the second skunk trap with peanut butter as bait.  The trapped twin was munching on cat food, which I'd  given earlier.

On Monday morning,  when I opened the coop door,  the cage held the second twin.

The goose didn't appear to be happy about this stranger in his coop.

When I returned to the house,  my husband told me that we had received a call that the person from the district would be at our house for his inspection.  When he arrived,  I learned information that I should have learned before I trapped the twins.  I'll quote and paraphrase the dos and don'ts from their literature they give out:

1. (1)"WE WILL NOT PICK UP SKUNKS FROM PRIVATE TRAPS THAT ARE COVERED BY TARPS BLANKETS, SHEETS, PLASTIC RUGS, ETC." 

2. (2)"The traps provided are safe, humane, live-catch cylinder traps."  In other words, a person needs to use a trap provided by the district and the ones I had purchased from a hardware store are not acceptable.

3. (3)If the twins had been trapped in one of the district's traps,  they would have been taken and "...euthanized as humanely as possible."   They never relocate or release these "non target animals" into any open space.

Ahhh, wait a second.   Did I hear right?  These defenseless twins are going to be "euthanized".

"Trapping is the last resort when criteria is based on an inspection."

So,  there I stood with a frown on my face and two trapped twin skunks in traps that I didn't  know how to open and release since I had assumed that it would be done my professionals.  The inspector's recommended I contact outside help by walking my fingers through the yellow pages....

I spent some money to get them released by a professional so  the twins are alive and probably searching for tonight's meal as I write this.