Skunks in the Crawl Space

**Dad_of_4** · 05-16-2008, 11:03 PM

About a week ago I started hearing scratching coming from our crawlspace in our bathroom. So, we got a wildlife guy to come set a trap. He caught one the first night, and reset the trap for two more nights catching nothing. Well, we had a couple rainy days and I noticed the groud was disturbed buy where the first one was caught. So, I raked the ground smooth last night and sure enough this morning it was dug up again. So I called the wildlife guy again this morning.

Well, during the day the bathroom started to stink. By the time the kids were ready for their baths it was smelling like death. The wildlife guy showed up around 8pm and another trap has been set. He said it may have died in the crawl space, but he won't go in to see and says I should'nt either. The problem is we have had to seal off that bathroom because the smell is that bad.

Any suggestions on masking the smell until the crawl space is clear to remove whatever it is and spread Lye?

**annymoll** · 05-16-2008, 11:28 PM

If it had been earlier I would have suggested that you take Christie and the kids to a nice hotel.... you watch the kids... Christie can relax by the pool. The only thing I can suggest at this late hour is to insert a dab of Vicks into each nostril. I would not suggest it for the kids, the response is worse than ear drops or nose drops.Let us know what you find under there.(I think)

**Laurie in Bradenton** · 05-17-2008, 07:53 AM

Thats the problem when you catch anmials in the spring. You may have caught the mama and her litter of babies has died without her care. Better to encourage them to move by mothballs or distrubing the area alot.
Surprised your wildilfe guy didn't investigate the area better before he took the cage away.

Laurie in Bradenton

**YankeeMom** · 05-17-2008, 07:54 AM

Poor baby skunkies

**Holly** · 05-17-2008, 08:42 AM

That's what I'm thinking babies died after they took their mommy.

**Dad_of_4** · 05-17-2008, 09:30 AM

The one he caught was a little one. There were signs of them coming and going after the first one was caught. After I get off work, I am going to investigate. The smell this morning was horrid. I got a throw away painters suit and a dust mask rated for mold enviroments from work. I will be getting a drop light and Lye on the way home. I'm hoping it did not get up into the wet wall or under the tub. If so, it is going to be a long day.

Anyone, know how to get rid of the oder once the source is removed?

**Frugal Nurse** · 05-17-2008, 10:22 AM

LOL!!!

Time will take the smell away.
That happened to us when something (we were afraid to look) fell into our chimney flue- and died.

Flies EVERYWHERE!

Anyway.. it won't last long. a week or so.

**Dad_of_4** · 05-17-2008, 05:46 PM

Well, the source of the smell is gone! I got all geared up in a throwaway set of coveralls, mask with Vicks on it, heavy rubber gloves, and face shield. I had a bag of Lime, a bucket and trash bags to dispose of the source. After over an hour of searching through the crawl space I found nothing.

I then moved up to the bathroom. I checked behind the panel of the wet wall still nothing. So, I got the hole saw and started making holes. After the fifth hole I found the source and a huge nest. I'm not sure what it died from, but it expired at least a week ago. It had built a huge nest under the tube opposite the wet wall. There were at least a dozen plastic bags, pieces of foam, insulation, newspaper, and some rags. I got it all cleaned up best I could and covered the area real good with Lime to absorb the moisture. It still stinks but DW says it is smelling better.

Hopefully by tomorrow, the worst of the smell will be gone. Now I just need to patch the drywall and seal off the crawl space. I'm going to put the trap in the crawl space for a few days to see if we catch anything else.

**magnolia** · 05-17-2008, 06:08 PM

Yuck, Dad of 4, I'm sorry you had to go through all that. Our neighborhood gets skunked often (usually in the middle of the night) and it is an awful smell. I live in fear of one of those little sweeties getting under my house or encountering my dog.

I am always so proud of my husband when he takes care of a nasty problem like you did. I bet your wife is proud of you too!!

**janelane** · 05-17-2008, 06:16 PM

I'm glad you found the smell. We had some squirrels get into our kitchen a few years ago via a hole under the sink and vents that weren't capped. I thought they were rats (otherwise I would've rather they been trapped) and the maintenance guy came and sealed the hole, put poison down. We knew they were dead somewhere because the smell was just awful. For awhile I thought they were in the wall until I nearly stuck my hand into their putrid remains while reaching into a cabinet. Apparently the poor things were hiding in a drawer or something while the guy was there and ended up trapped in the kitchen instead of the other side. It'll just take time, let everything air out.

Is it skunk smell, too? When I was young we had a skunk get stuck in a window well, and that basement window was open. Panicked, I guess, he sprayed. And sprayed. And sprrrrayyyyed. Yeah, that'll take longer than death to get rid of.

Man I'm all creepy crawly feeling with this talk, lol.

**Dad_of_4** · 05-18-2008, 09:09 AM

One Trapped.....One Dead.......but we still have some living in the crawl space.

After the whole ordeal yesterday, There were signs this morning of skunks coming and going again. They avoided the trap that I had left out. The wildlife guy is going to be back this morning and hopefully we can come up with a plan.

I still have a 2' X 3' hole in the wall to repair and sealing off the piping where they were orginially getting under the tub. I still have a bunch of other week end choirs, mow the yard, work on my car, finish the windows. I am about ready to give up sleep for a couple nights and solve the problem with a .22.

**Frugal Nurse** · 05-18-2008, 09:46 AM

Originally Posted by Dad_of_4

solve the problem with a .22.

Drastic measures call for drastic ....... YIKES!!! did you say a .22?

Good gracious! that IS a job I wouldn't want to do.
Is there a word for that?
Husbandry?

lol!

Glad you got the source.
Hope those critters find some other place to palace.
Like... the woods.. where they belong! sheesh!

**annymoll** · 05-18-2008, 11:11 AM

The good thing is, at least you are a fixer and save money on the work. We have had a few creature experiences also. I know it is not pleasant.Hope the smell is better.

**frugalfriend** · 05-18-2008, 11:43 AM

Oh man, I feel for ya! In our old house we had a rat crawl up under the tub from under the house somehow, and die. That smell I will never forget!!! It was so gross and there was nothing we could do, couldn't figure out at the time where exactly it was coming from. Later on when dh remodeled the bathroom, there were the remains under the tub!

Hope you get it resolved soon!