Relocation of Skunks in Ohio? Not Allowed Off-Site

Two questions we often answer are,

“Can I catch a skunk on my property and release it somewhere else?” (State of Ohio)

“Can you release a skunk somewhere else unharmed?”

The short answer to these questions is NO.

In this post, however, we do show you a video where Ryan releases a trapped skunk and discuss the conditions that allowed the release.  We’ll also discuss the rules about nuisance skunk removal here in Ohio.

Ohio Nuisance Skunk Rules

Ohio Administrative Code Rule 1501:31-15-03 is the authority when it comes to nuisance wildlife removal in the State of Ohio.

As a professionally licensed Nuisance Wild Animal Removal company in the State of Ohio, this is the set of rules we follow.  These rules don’t just apply to businesses performing animal removal, they apply to individual property owners as well.

If you have a nuisance wildlife problem and care about operating within the rules, we strongly recommend you familiarize yourself with these rules.  It will keep your actions on the up and up.

And when it comes to re-locating skunks here is the rule that matters:

“It shall be unlawful to fail to euthanize, or release on site, any nuisance raccoon, skunk, beaver, coyote, red fox, or opossum that is captured, trapped, or taken.”

There it is.   We can’t legally take skunks (or other species listed) and release them somewhere else.  We can release them alive, but only on the same property (on site) where they are captured.

For example, let’s say you have a skunk stuck in a basement window well.  We can get the skunks out and let them walk–no problem.

But if the property owner wants them taken away, they’ll be euthanized.  We can’t release them at a park a few miles away.  That’s against the law.  What to do with any captured skunk is up to the property owner.

For a lot of people who have purposely caught a skunk in the yard, catching them outside and then releasing them again doesn’t make much sense.  This is understandable.

For those who absolutely love skunks, we realize this law frustrates and can be a hot button issue.   But, as a business regulated by the State, we must follow the laws.

Additionally, we honestly trust that the biologists who advised our lawmakers on this provision know what they are doing.

Skunk is Released from Live Trap

Based on customer decision, most of the skunks we deal with are euthanized.  But that is not always the case.

Here is a video which shows Ryan releasing a skunk caught at a different area of this property.  As you can see, this skunk was released from the trap and ambled away.

Steps were taken to keep the skunk out of the problem area after it was removed.  So, the owner is betting that it will not be a problem at that spot in the future.  There is more risk of its return at the problem area since it is still roaming freely there, but it’s what the property owner wanted to happen.  We respect that.

Solving Skunk Problems | Stark, Summit & Portage Counties

Whether the skunk is released or take away is up to the property owner.  Frontline Animal Removal is there to provide the service desired.

We have lots of experience with nuisance skunks and can help solve most skunk problems.

If you are having a skunk problem, give us a call!