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Pestgon
FactSheet
“
If they fly they die…if they crawl they fall”
SKUNKS (Mephitis mephitis)
Description:
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The striped skunk is the common skunk species found in our urban and suburban
developments of Southern California. The stripe skunk is a house-cat sized
animal, weighing about 6 to 10 pounds. It has long black fur with two variable
broad white stripes down the back. The head is triangular and the tail is large
end bushy. Their strong skunky musk odor often precedes their visual presence.
Biology:
Skunks are nocturnal creatures, preferring to hunt and scavenge at night. They
are generally beneficial creatures but their odor makes them obnoxious. Around
retail/commercial buildings skunks are scavengers, so they seek out the garbage
and dumpster areas for food. They also feed on insects, rodents, bird eggs
and pet food left out for house pets. Pestgon, Inc., has found them in burrows,
culverts, woodpiles and building openings where they have created a den for
shelter and to raise their young.
Economic Impact:
Skunks become a problem when their activities conflict with human interests.
Many people consider skunks odorous pests and so obnoxious that they should
be avoided at any cost. Their presence is never tolerated or accepted by occupants
of a building. No one wants a confrontation with a skunk. Pestgon, Inc., has
been called where skunks in search of grubs and insects have done severe damage
to flower beds, landscape plantings and sod, resulting in significant economic
loss. They are also primary carriers of rabies in southern California. According
surveys done by the Department of Agriculture, 65% of all skunks are rabies
infected. In addition, they are carriers and transmitters of a half a dozen
other serious diseases. So the presence of skunks on a retail/commercial property
is economically damaging.
Management Methods:
Pestgon, Inc. is very knowledgeable and experienced in dealing with nuisance
wildlife problems, around commercial, office and industrial buildings. As with
most such pests, prevention and exclusion are the first line of defense. Eliminating
the food sources by means of sanitation procedures and rodent control is paramount
to a good wildlife management program. Trapping, by means of humane live traps,
and removal of the animals from the property, is an effective method often
used by Pestgon, Inc.
Additional Links:
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74118.html