JT Eaton Answer® Skunk & Medium Pest Live Trap, Dark Interior, Easy Capture Trigger, Easy Release Door

Been trying to catch the skunk for two weeks got the trap in the mail got him the first night works perfect like a little wind in top where you can look at him door on the end is easy to open to release him. Would definitely buy again.

The trap worked great once I found the right bait for my skunk. I assume different skunks are drawn to different bait, but mine went for dog food the first morning after I put it out. The trap’s instructions were not very good and it took some tinkering for me to figure out the operation of the trap, but once you do, it’s really very simple to set and use. One feature that I didn’t realize until I got the trap is that it has a small clear section on the top so you can look in and make sure you actually got the skunk. The release lever worked great as well. I caught the skunk and then drove it FARRRR away, turned the trap release away from me, dropped the door and ran a good ways away. After about 10 seconds the skunk came scampering out and on his way. No stink or spray whatsoever through the whole process. I don’t know if this was necessary or not considering the trap is solid on the outside but I covered the entire trap in a large towel before transporting.

As other reviewers have noted, the engineering exceeds the construction quality, but it does work. I used two traps and quickly caught the skunk that was living under my kitchen. I thought it was fighting with another skunk - it had sprayed twice and the house was unbearable - but shortly after catching the skunk the second trap caught a woodchuck (and the woodchuck had definitely been sprayed, as it stunk). Both were relocated safely. However, it was difficult to set the traps again. After one use, one screw was missing on the piece that connects the release latch to the trap mechanism, and the steel trap door was bowed on both of them and had to be bent back into place to be reset. So they are not great for multiple uses without a little tinkering, but they did solve my skunk problem. They seem to be a much better option than a Havahart type wire cage trap because the black plastic enclosure seems to keep the skunk at ease and greatly reduces the risk of being sprayed. We had a hard time getting it to leave the trap once we opened the door.

I have several types of skunk traps and this is the one that has never failed me! I had skunks escape from wire traps and have another more expensive pipe trap that is being ignored by skunks. This one has already caught 32 skunks. It is easy to set and the mechanism works excellent. The black color trap design likely helps to evoke dark hole/den environments so the skunks feel comfortable walking inside it. Only one of the skunks sprayed inside the trap for whatever reason. The others I caught didn't. I did replace the flimsy piece of clear Plexiglas on top of the trap with a thicker one as it was recommended by someone else reviewing this product. That ensured that the window is still there and I can have an idea of what animal is inside. I would recommend to the manufacturer to do the same - no need to compromise an excellent design with a cheap Plexiglas window. I also use a motion sensor camera near the trap to help me with the identification of the caught animal. Highly recommended skunk trap!

2nd night and CAUGHT! Only reason I didn't catch it the first night was my mistake, the skunk just pushed the trap around from the bait door until it sprung. So, seeing it was moved around, I secured it against two walls (on bait door wall and on one side) then placed a heavy rock against the other side leaving the trap door open (just make sure it can't get pushed around).BAM! CAUGHT! Literally within a couple hours of setting it. I was able to relocate it 8 miles away and thanks to the black solid wall it never sprayed. I will however agree that the plexiglass on top is a bit flimsy, but it has hard plastic cross bars under it so it still can't get out, but would be nice if that was a thicker plastic window.When releasing, release bait door bar push it open and RUN. I didn't see him leave as I bolted back to my truck, and since I covered it with an old towel when I picked the trap up (just in case) I couldn't see it had left...waited quite a while, then pulled the towel off and sure enough it was gone, pretty sure it bailed immediately after I opened the door when I was headed back to the truck.Anyway, great job on this trap, worked *almost* on the first try, and now after learning a lesson the first night, pretty sure it will work first try from here on out.EDIT: caught the 2nd one the next night, get this one!EDIT: I left this baited in our barn overhang / coop area and had pretty much forgotten about it until I went out to get eggs today and found the trap door tripped and sure enough, it had another skunk in it. 3 skunks caught and relocated now.EDIT: Removed two stars because while it did catch three well, it broke (looks like 3rd one really tried hard to get out) misaligning the trigger bar and removing it's screw that connects it to the trigger pad. Replaced the screw with one as close as I could find to fit it but it must have been super light as now it takes much more force to trigger it and they are just getting away with the bait now.If this was made with solid heavy duty construction it would be perfect and I'd gladly pay the difference. If you think you only have one or two to catch this will still do the job, but seems it won't last.

Purchased this for catching skunks around our house. They were visible on our Ring Spotlight cam every night. Received the unit in Dec. 2019 and baited and set on well used path. Watched every morning, they just passed it by. Used four different types of bait. Nothing attracted them. I would not give it such a poor rating for that. My poor rating is the quality of the unit. Just slightly above junk. Poor quality control, very difficult to set and make the placement without tripping. Finally, just gave up and stored it. A couple of weeks ago, a skunk took up residence at our horse barn. Tried the trap again, no luck. Ordered a Connibear #110, set it at the entry hole and the next morning had the skunk in the trap.