As a defense against predators, I have a raccoon sized Havaheart live trap set near the pheasant fly pen.  I’ve caught a feral cat, 4 raccoons, and a opossum and the Havaheart makes removal and disposal of the critters easy.

That is, until you catch a skunk.  This morning I found a very large striped skunk in the cage.  Skunk, like other fur bearing animals, are protected by game laws, but homeowners are allowed to protect their property.  The challenge, with a skunk in a large cage, is how to move it without it spraying.  The Havaheart web site suggests catching skunks in smaller cages (sure, makes sense to me, now tell the skunk to stay out of the bigger cage.)  Their site goes on to offer this advice:

How to trap a skunk

Very carefully! Skunks spray when they are frightened.
To move a skunk in a trap, quietly drop a sheet over the trap, pick it up gently without shaking or jerking.

In order to spray, skunks have to raise their tails, haunch up and aim. If the trap is low, and the skunk is unable to to raise their tail or turn their back to you, they most likely won’t spray.

I dont know about you, but I’m not sure “they most likley” qualifies as words of confidence.