CaliforniaBride

We have skunks in our garden, under the decking and under the house.

It's illegal to poison them in California so last year we had Pest Control come out several times to trap them. Unfortunately they didn't catch any!

All the time we had a dead one rotting away in the underfloor ducting. The heating guy couldn't remove the ducting until the live one's were gone. He did go under the house but came out pretty fast (dropping his torch en route) when he spotted a live on. Can you imagine what the smell and the flies were like?

We've spent a fortune on replacing al the ducts and so understandably we don't want the same problem this year.

But, they have already moved in. They stink to high heaven in the evening. They scratch around for food under my son's window and fight on the patio. His bedroom stinks at night.

I'm going to get the Pest Control guy out again to trap them and replace the grills around the house to prevent them getting back in. But does anyone have any suggestions as to how we can get rid of them? Anyone had the same problem and been succesful?

sibsie

Not a clue but you have my sympathies. Here we're plauged with coyotes who want to eat my cats.

Pulaski

I discovered that there is no restriction shooting skunks in California, so, personally, I'd buy a shotgun and shoot them myself.

Failing that I'd get somebody else who has a shotgun to shoot them for me.

sibsie

There's a ban on shooting or trapping coyotes which is why we're totally overrun with them. I'd get rid of a few myself if I could.

Pulaski

You can buy various animal repellants (dogs, rodents, rabits, snakes, etc.) at Lowes/ Home Depot for use in your yard, but the active ingredient in most of them is mothballs, so why not try them - you can buy a box of mothballs much more cheaply at Walmart than the "proper" repellants cost.

Jan Alaska

We have the same problem with chipmunks. Its all very well that they are small and cute but when they get into and under our home threatening to undermine it something had to be done. We were advised to try predator pee by our local agricultural co-op it seemed to work pretty well. My husband also tried drowning them (10 gallon bucket half filled with water, seeds floating on top) but I put a stop to that as its cruel.
These sites may help ! http://www.predatorpee.com/
http://www.legupenterprises.com/

Jan

ohh our skunks thankfully live under the barn !

effi

My friend here in AZ has a cabin in the north of the State. She was having trouble with deer eating all her flowers. She went to the local zoo and bought some lion shit. I kid you not, a big bag of it, the deer problem has been solved.

djames

That's Fantastic !!!

CaliforniaBride

Believe me I'd love to go under the house, Lara Croft style and get them. Hubby doesn't think it practical!

Besides, it's not legal to use a gun so close to the house.

CaliforniaBride

I've sent off an order. Here's hoping it works!

doctor scrumpy

Lord Longleat has for years sold the produce from the famous lions to local gardeners. Works a treat at getting rid of pests.

sibsie

I've just discovered that llamas are great coyote deterrants. We've got a couple at the farm and they work a treat. Now all I need to do is coax them up to my house.

djames

Actualy It's Lord Bath who lives at Longleat !!

Patrick

I have a mole and all I can do is think of the Jasper Carrott monologue (theres only one way to get rid of a mole) and the Austin Powers - Molee, molee, molee mole!

I have been told I can rid of him if I put grub stuff down to kill the grubs - no food and the mole will move on to someone elses yard. Simply problem, simply solution - as some dickheads would say!

Patrick

ladyofthelake

There's a woman who lives on the other side of a conservation area from us who keeps wolves and a lion on her property!
The DH thought I was going bonkers when I said I could hear wolves howling and the lion growling in the evening.