Advice on Removing Wild Animal Without Costing Me a Lot

Last year we had a racoon mama and her babies living under our front cement steps. I called animal control and they had some steep prices so we decided to leave it alone until the nursing mama and her family left their nest. I think they were gone by July/early August.

Hubby was to seal off the holes, but never did and low and behold, last night, there was a FAT racoon hanging out in front of the steps. Looks like we'll go through this again this year - although with a toddler running around, I think we'll have to bite the bullet and pay for removal.

I don't know what happens with skunks - except the obvious, but we were told that with racoons, if the dog ate the droppings, it could make him very sick. Just a heads up. Our dog was banned to the back yard, but with kids, it's a very different story. Good luck!

We have racoons living under our shed. We just looked in the phone book under "pest control" and found tons of licensed companies. Most charge between $95 and $125 to come out and set the traps to catch the animal. Then, once an animal is in the trap, another $50-$90 to remove the animal. I think we are going with a campany called Rose Pest Control, just because they are the cheepest. They are only charge $40 everytime a racoon gets caught in the trap, we have about 6 or 7 living under the shed. Some companies charge $85 to come and remove the animal. Also, some comanies will check the trap for you while others have you check every day. I am sorry, but I want nothing to do with checking traps!! Good luck.

I have raccoons and skunks in my yard. So do my neighbors. It's just part of living in suburbia I guess. We think they're cute, but certainly don't want my dogs to get sprayed. Here's what you can do. Soak cloth rags in ammonia and push them into the hole with a stick. Don't put your hands in there. Then stuff the opening with wadded up newspaper. Not too tight. This should flush out the offender. When you see the newspaper moved you'll know if something is still there. If you do, then repeat again the next day (I would do it early evening, since they come out at night usually). It costs WAY too much to have them removed and you'll just get more within the month, so I'd just continue to try to deal with it on your own. Skunks don't stick around long. They move from place to place quite often. Unless they are ruining your house or are out during the day looking sickly, I'd just take a deep breath and work on it on your own. No big deal. I've been dealing with this for YEARS so if you want you can send me a message and we can talk more about it.

Oh, I forgot one thing. Put a radio out there and tune it to a talk show on low. That actually worked for a friend of mine who had them under his shed. They haven't been back since he used the ammonia rags and put the radio out there.
Bobbi

http://www.projectwildlife.org/living-skunks.htm

http://www.dupageforest.com/education/skunks.html

Hi J.~
No suggestion but we are having exactly the same problem!! I'm hoping that someone responds to you because it would be helpful to me as well.
K.