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We are trapping skunks here. We use the Hav-a heart style traps. If you will do a little research, you can find guys that have done this before and have made cardboard covers for the traps. Once the animal is caught, you lower the cover down over the trap. It should have a place for you to get to the handle with the cover in place. I had seen a You Tube video where I guy did this with a live skunk and the same type of trap that I have. He simply slide the cover over the trap from above. I'm not sure that I'd want to be the one to release a raccoon. They may well tear the cardboard apart on the trap cover, too. My guess is that it is the sight of a human that is setting them off and they may remain more docile if they cannot see.

When we set traps. we take some of the temporary garden fence posts and drive two of them on the long dimension of the trap. That we drive another on the short side, opposite the trap entry. I then put a piece of cardboard about 2.5 high between the trap and the fence posts, bending it in a firm crease to go around the corner. What you end up with is an "L" shaped cardboard "shield" that allows you to get right up and over the trap without being seen. We've caught 8 skunks as of this morning and none of them have sprayed as we approached. I always approach the trap myself just after first light and then call Animal Services to come and deal with the animal. They approach again at least twice. We are literally less than 3 feet from the animal on approach.

I doubt that you could get it yourself but they use a Sodium compound they call "blue juice" and pull it into a syringe attached to the end of a pole. They insert that through the cage and into the animal's peritoneal area. They go to sleep pretty quick and then they get a second and permanent dose. Our Town will not allow the relocation of skunks because they have had a very bad track record in this area as rabies carriers. Many of the animals that we've trapped were in really bad shape (mange,etc.). With no natural predators in this area (it would take a large owl), they've gotten way out of control and are probably suffering from the overpopulation. By the way, raccoons are the second most prevalent carrier of rabies, according to one of our animal control officers.

Before any PETA oriented folks jump in, you might want to understand this: The chances of a successful relocation of any wild animal are less than 25%. They must find food and water sources quickly in their new area and also avoid predators that they've never seen before.

We've caught cats, possums, etc. in our traps and I always release them. The beauty of this style trap is that you have that option.