The necessity of baiting a skunk arises when live trapping becomes the only viable solution to a persistent problem. The goal is to successfully lure the target animal into a trap without inadvertently catching non-target species, such as neighborhood pets or other wildlife. This process requires a careful, deliberate approach to bait selection and placement, focusing on the skunk’s natural omnivorous diet and strong sense of smell.
Highly Effective Food Baits
Skunks are opportunistic omnivores, and their diet consists heavily of insects, grubs, small rodents, and plant matter. They are particularly receptive to baits that mimic their natural prey or offer a high concentration of protein and fats. The most effective attractants are those with a strong, pungent odor that a skunk can detect from a distance. Canned fish, such as sardines or tuna packed in oil, are highly recommended because the potent, oily scent is irresistible.
Another highly successful option is canned or wet cat food, as its high protein content and strong aroma mimic the scent of fresh prey. Peanut butter is also excellent because its sticky texture makes it easy to smear onto the trap’s trigger plate, ensuring the animal must engage the mechanism to eat it. Other effective, strong-smelling items include crispy bacon, eggs, or fresh insect larvae, which are a staple of the skunk diet.
Bait Preparation and Placement Techniques
The physical placement of the bait is just as important as the bait itself, ensuring the skunk fully enters the trap before the door is triggered. The main portion of the attractant should be secured at the very back of the trap, well past the trigger plate, so the skunk’s entire body must be inside for it to reach the food. For a one-door trap, the bait is placed at the end, while in a two-door trap, it is centered on the trigger mechanism.
To encourage the skunk to approach the trap confidently, a small bait trail can be created leading from the entrance to the main bait portion. This trail should consist of only tiny, sparse amounts of food to avoid satiating the animal before it reaches the trap’s interior. Handling the trap and bait while wearing gloves is also beneficial to mask any human scent, as this can make some wildlife wary of the device.
Baits to Avoid and Why
Certain foods should be avoided because they dramatically increase the likelihood of catching non-target animals, complicating the removal process. Highly sweet items, such as excessive amounts of fruit, honey, or sugary processed foods, are more likely to attract animals like raccoons and opossums. While a small marshmallow can be used to attract a skunk, large quantities of sweet bait may reduce the specificity of the capture.
A primary consideration is avoiding baits that will attract domestic pets, such as bacon grease or large amounts of loose cat food left outside the trap. Using these can result in accidentally trapping a neighbor’s curious cat or dog. Furthermore, using any form of poison is inhumane, illegal in many jurisdictions, and poses a severe danger to all non-target animals. The goal of live trapping is humane capture, making responsible bait selection a necessary boundary for safe wildlife management.