Is Skunk Trapping Legal – Humane Wildlife Removal

Is it legal to trap skunks?

When you find a skunk in your home it is unlikely to be a pleasant experience and you will want to remove the skunk in order to prevent any damage or risk to your home. This can range from damage to electrics or plumbing to health risks from rabies or a safety risk to other companion animals within the home.

If you have been able to locate a live skunk within your home and you are ready to remove it, you must first pause and consider if it is legal for you to do so. The laws on skunk capture do vary across states so it is important to search first for the relevant law in your state. If you have any doubts regarding this, it is best to contact your local authority or representative.

The legalities on trapping skunks will also depend on if you intend to trap and kill the skunk or if you intend to trap and release the skunk.

If you intend to trap and kill the skunk, there are more strict laws in place for this. If this is your intention it is best to contact a local Game Warden who will be able to tell you if the hunting season is open for these and if you are legally allowed to kill the skunk.

If you do choose this option it is important to ensure the skunk is disposed of properly so as not to attract bacteria or animals to your own or another person’s property.
If you intend to release the animal the laws do vary from state to state so you would need to contact your local authority or your local representative in regards to this. If it is legal for you to trap and release the skunk it is important to take every precaution when releasing the skunk to prevent harm to you or the animal.

This would include thick protective clothing and releasing it into a wooded area away from other residential properties. It is also best to cover the trap with something to shield the animal from the light as this will cause further distress and the animal may lash out in fear or spray you.

If all of this seems like too much for you to do on your own, you can of course contact a wildlife removal professional who may be able to catch and release the skunk for you so that you do not have to.