Author Topic: Critters digging up circle (Read 3666 times)

Bob Reeves · « **on:** May 05, 2009, 10:09:59 AM »

Learned my lesson last time so no more pictures but do think this is a good subject for those maintaining grass circles.

Caught another skunk last night so did a little research.. From what I have gathered from google, skunks can and will dig up a lawn looking for food just like an armadillo. Our problem may not be Armondo at all, could very well be Pepe and his brother(s).

If you set live traps and that is the only kind of trap to use do not put them on the circle. A skunk can and will dig a 6 inch deep hole trying to dig out through the bottom of a wire mesh trap. I shouldn't have set the trap in the circle but thinking Armondo... I wasn't sure if my bate would work and was hoping to increase the odds by putting the trap where he was digging. Really didn't expect to trap another skunk..

From what I've found the best way to stop it is by putting out a pesticide designed to kill grubs in your lawn. Kinda wondering if it won't also run off or kill the crawdads which is another problem we have. Have a club meeting coming up Thursday and will see if the members will go for purchasing something to spread on the circles. Sure would be a whole lot more pleasant than dealing with a trapped skunk.

Dick Fowler · « **Reply #1 on:** May 05, 2009, 10:13:21 AM »

We also had a "skunk" dig up our circle... with a backhoe!

Steve Fitton · « **Reply #2 on:** May 05, 2009, 10:22:12 AM »

Bob, maybe you need to put out a few mines on the circle at night.....

Bob Reeves · « **Reply #3 on:** May 05, 2009, 10:32:33 AM »

Quote from: Dick Fowler on May 05, 2009, 10:13:21 AM

We also had a "skunk" dig up our circle... with a backhoe!

You need a bigger trap

Richard Grogan · « **Reply #4 on:** May 05, 2009, 11:36:23 AM »

Cayenne pepper.

Dick Fowler · « **Reply #5 on:** May 05, 2009, 01:10:34 PM »

Quote from: Bob Reeves on May 05, 2009, 10:32:33 AM

You need a bigger trap

For sure... probably about the size of a courtroom!

Bootlegger · « **Reply #6 on:** May 05, 2009, 01:30:44 PM »

What Richard Grogan said.!!!!

Roger Vizioli · « **Reply #7 on:** May 05, 2009, 05:00:57 PM »

Quote from: Bob Reeves on May 05, 2009, 10:09:59 AM

Learned my lesson last time so no more pictures but do think this is a good subject for those maintaining grass circles.

Caught another skunk last night so did a little research.. From what I have gathered from google, skunks can and will dig up a lawn looking for food just like an armadillo. Our problem may not be Armondo at all, could very well be Pepe and his brother(s).

If you set live traps and that is the only kind of trap to use do not put them on the circle. A skunk can and will dig a 6 inch deep hole trying to dig out through the bottom of a wire mesh trap. I shouldn't have set the trap in the circle but thinking Armondo... I wasn't sure if my bate would work and was hoping to increase the odds by putting the trap where he was digging. Really didn't expect to trap another skunk..

From what I've found the best way to stop it is by putting out a pesticide designed to kill grubs in your lawn. Kinda wondering if it won't also run off or kill the crawdads which is another problem we have. Have a club meeting coming up Thursday and will see if the members will go for purchasing something to spread on the circles. Sure would be a whole lot more pleasant than dealing with a trapped skunk.

Hi Bob,
We had similar problems with wild hogs, they can ruin a field in one night.
Installed an electric fence around the three circles, solar cell powered. No pig problems since.
Entrance area uses a "conductive bungee" stretched between the entry posts which is removed when we need to drive through the gate. Just checked google, electric skunk fence. People use them, they just set the wire lower so the skunks cant go under it.
It has been up for three years at our RC runway, only maintenance required is splicing the wire if some one hits it with the mower. We use the fibregalss poles to support the wire, height easily adjustable.
If you want pics, I could drive out there tomorrow and take some for you.
Regards to Pat and a pat on the head to Gigi.
Roger V.

Bradley Walker · « **Reply #8 on:** May 05, 2009, 05:19:57 PM »

Quote from: Richard Grogan on May 05, 2009, 11:36:23 AM

Cayenne pepper.

I heard that works.

22-250 4000 fps 55 Nosler

Psssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhh.....WAP!!! (dust flying)

Brett makes much of the "Godzilla" alias. It was my Quake name. It was also what groundhogs called me when I came to smash them...

Roger Vizioli · « **Reply #9 on:** May 05, 2009, 05:33:15 PM »

IF Red Cayenne works, and I believe it does,
then
Red Savina's will send them haulin' a**!

Roger V.

Howard Rush · « **Reply #10 on:** May 05, 2009, 06:00:34 PM »

We have moles. Good old castor oil is one common mole deterrent. It kills the bugs that the moles eat. Google it for more information. I have castor oil, so I tried it on the moles. No moles currently, so maybe it worked. Bob, I think your problem may be those miserly four-strokes. A castor oil dispersal system like a Supertigre .60 would keep those varmints at bay.

That reminds me of another story. A couple of us stopped at the Woodland, CA field to practice on the way to Clovis. I was holding the other guy's airplane while he went out to the handle, and I noticed smoke in the dry grass a couple of feet beyond the airplane. I thought we had started a grass fire. I was going for some water after I launched the airplane, but the smoke disappeared, and there was no trace of fire. We later discovered that we had parked the airplane with the exhaust from the pipe blowing into a gopher hole. The smoke had come out of another connected gopher hole.

John Stiles · « **Reply #11 on:** May 05, 2009, 06:03:05 PM »

Over and Out, for the fireants and crawdads, or spray diazinon. A friend of mine swears by powdered sugar donuts as bait in traps. Said he caught armadillos goin and comin......should work for skunks too. There are most likely way fewer skunks than armadillos. If you catch a skunk, in a fairly small sized trap, he can't lift his tail to spray.....throw the trap in a pond or large washtub/barrel...drown the sucker then you can safely dispose of them!

Dennis Adamisin · « **Reply #12 on:** May 05, 2009, 10:41:35 PM »

we got varmints that fight back! Have been wreaking havoc on the airplane population...

Howard Rush · « **Reply #13 on:** May 05, 2009, 10:53:21 PM »

"If you catch a skunk, in a fairly small sized trap, he can't lift his tail to spray.....throw the trap in a pond or large washtub/barrel."

You go first to show me how. I'll watch from upwind.

Bob Reeves · « **Reply #14 on:** May 06, 2009, 04:34:42 AM »

Quote from: John Stiles on May 05, 2009, 06:03:05 PM

Over and Out, for the fireants and crawdads, or spray diazinon. A friend of mine swears by powdered sugar donuts as bait in traps. Said he caught armadillos goin and comin......should work for skunks too. There are most likely way fewer skunks than armadillos. If you catch a skunk, in a fairly small sized trap, he can't lift his tail to spray.....throw the trap in a pond or large washtub/barrel...drown the sucker then you can safely dispose of them!

Donuts are what I've been using and they sure work for skunks. Heard dead bananas are suppose to work for Armadillos but as I said above I don't think our problem is Armondo as I first thought. Showed how I deal with skunks in the thread that got deleted but must have been too graphic for someone. I believe my method is much more humane than drowning and much safer. Haven't expierenced the full essance of Pepe till your wife lets a skunked dog in the house. Believe me, going through this once will make you think twice about how to deal with these critters.

Brad LaPointe · « **Reply #15 on:** May 06, 2009, 06:45:54 AM »

Dealing with a skunk in a live trap can be interesting.Howard is correct - stay up wind.I have seen skunks in traps dealt with two ways .First a twenty-two shot to the head. Still is messy.On a farm shooting varmits is a perfer-ed option.

Tactic number two act very calm and treat the skunk like a skittish cat,approach the cage and place an old blanket over it.Walk like you have a bomb with a motion detector on it and dispose as you feel comfortable .Skunks can become "tame" and don't fear humans like a lot of other wild animals.Rabies is another consideration so keep away from contact.

Brad

Larrys4227 · « **Reply #16 on:** May 06, 2009, 07:21:08 AM »

I had a couple skunks as pets when growing up ... the cat brought them home as babies. Never once did we get sprayed, and they were just like any other pet around the house, except they didnt come 'in' the house. You could pick 'em up and hold 'em and feed 'em. Dont remember what happened to them ... probably just wandered off. Can't say I have any affection for nusance animals (wheres my .22?) but if handled/raised as young-ins, they can be fun and interesting.

FlySafe! Larry (Larrys4227)

Bob Reeves · « **Reply #17 on:** May 06, 2009, 07:27:13 AM »

More research...

From what I have read on the web Bayer's Complete Insect Killer is the best bug killer, at least the lawn forum guys seem to think it is..

http://www.bayeradvanced.com/product/Complete-Insect-Killer-For-Soil-and-Turf/granules.html

A 20 pound bag will cover 10,000 sq/ft and costs $20.00 at Lowes. An 80 foot circle is a tad over 20,000 sq/ft (1/2 acre). We have 3 circles, $40.00 each totals a big chunk of change, ouch...

Steve Fitton · « **Reply #18 on:** May 06, 2009, 02:46:58 PM »

Quote from: Bob Reeves on May 06, 2009, 07:27:13 AM

A 20 pound bag will cover 10,000 sq/ft and costs $20.00 at Lowes. An 80 foot circle is a tad over 20,000 sq/ft (1/2 acre). We have 3 circles, $40.00 each totals a big chunk of change, ouch...

a .22 LR cartridge is about 7 cents a round, vs your insecticide @40.00. Somebody needs to sit out over the circle with a spotlight and blast the intruder for the most economical solution.

Lee Thiel · « **Reply #19 on:** May 06, 2009, 06:20:38 PM »

Ouch Steve, Just paid 12.70 w/tax for 550 22LR and I thought I was getting ripped. Thats about 2.3 cents a round. At the gun show 500 were selling for 34.50. Ya gotta watch em.
Lee TGD