FRIDAY, MAY 11, 2018 • HOME & GARDEN, DAILY COURIER, Grants Pass, 7

often than not — with their two a kid. They aren’t afraid of people. If you anal scent glands containing sulfide mer- don’t move up on them fast and don’t Ideas to keep captan, accurately squirting the vile fluid spook them, they might come up to you. up to 15 feet — are nuisances to homeown- I’ve crawled up to them in the wild and out of your garden ers in the country as well as the city. actually petted them,” he says laughing. “I “Skunks appear in the city. It happens don’t recommend others doing that!” CORVALLIS (OSU Extension) — quite a bit anymore,” says Dave Siddon This past February mating season, There are measures you can take to Jr., executive director at Images, Downes trapped 46 nuisance skunks. He make it less likely that cats will visit, a non-profit rehabilitation and education dispatches them humanely with CO2. and misuse, your garden. center in Josephine County. “We don’t relocate because I can’t OSU Extension Horticulturist Brooke Siddon recommends leaving guarantee they don’t carry parvo, worms Edmunds uses black-colored bird net- TIMOTHY BULLARD/Daily Courier babies alone, as with all wildlife. and diseases. Also they can return from ting to cover the soil in parts of the gar- Skunks love to hang out in cul- “This is the time of year, where baby five miles away. Plus it’s more cruel to put den she wants to keep free. animals of all types will be appearing, an animal out in another location to verts in the country and some- Additional material might be chick- don’t pick them up, because even at young starve.” en wire, mesh produce bags, or pine times underneath homes and stor- ages skunks are armed and functional,” Downes doesn’t recommend putting cones. Lay it on the ground or slightly age sheds. Siddons says. “Last year we had 27 baby mothballs on the ground or under your under the soil and the cats will get an skunks brought in from people who found house to discourage skunks. unwelcome surprise when they start them orphaned or the mom killed. We try “It’s a toxic pesticide, its naphthalene. scratching. Get the stink out to keep hands off. We provide them with It is hazardous to pets, livestock and Thin bamboo stakes or forks placed What do experts recommend if your , but keep our distance so they don’t humans. Besides some skunks just kick among the plants will also thwart them; pet is sprayed? become habituated to humans. They do them out, they don’t always work.” leave those sticking out of the soil so Don’t rinse the animal off. Instead, pretty well. They are foragers, they’ll eat Siddon recommends soaking a rag with you don’t accidently stab yourself. using the solution of your choice — anything.” ammonia and placing in a plastic bowl An edible garden plot should be first and as soon as possible — thoroughly As far as deterring skunks, which are with a perforated lid and sliding that on your list to protect. Cats can carry wet the victim outside. members of the weasel family, Siddon under the house. diseases that can transmit to humans If a skunk sprays your pet’s eyes, advises not feeding your pets outside and Even though skunks can be a nuisance, through feces. flush the eyes with plenty of water. not leaving garbage and debris out. their role as great mousers and control- Edmunds’ other tips: Deodorizers include everything “Skunks could carry distemper so that’s ling harmful insects is what earns the • Though there’s no scientific evi- from vanilla extract to white vinegar. another reason not to interact with them. skunk its stripes. dence to back it up, some people swear • Ricky Downes carries hydrogen They can bite and have claws. Treat them Because they are scavengers they’ll eat by repellents. They must be reapplied peroxide, baking soda and liquid soap like any other wild animal, give them a insects including cutworms, potato bugs, often and can be expensive. The active with him. wide berth and let them do their thing!” as well as scorpions, black widow spiders, ingredient in these products varies. “Mix it up fresh, and use it all up Veterinarian Heidi Buehner-McKenzie, snakes and larvae from yellow jacket or • Motion-activated sprinklers work because it doesn’t hold.” owner of Allen Creek Veterinary Hospital bees nests in the ground. “A skunk can with an infrared field. When a cat wan- Stir one quart 3 percent fresh says local skunks don’t carry . get more mice in one year than an aver- ders into it, the sprinkler shoots out a hydrogen peroxide with 1/4 cup baking “We don’t have skunk rabies in this age house cat will in its lifetime,” Downes stream of water. soda in a large bowl. Add a teaspoon region, however does. Here we affirms. • Anecdotal evidence shows that cats of Dawn dish soap, which makes the have the bat variety of rabies. If a ——— dislike the smell of lavender, pennyroy- solution easier to distribute through tries to play with them, absolutely a skunk Freelance writer and reporter Mary al, rue, lemon thyme and Coleus canina pet’s hair and attacks the oily portion will try to bite them. Ann Bullard is from Grants Pass. (also called scaredy cat plant). of the spray. “We have a ton of skunks right now. We • Dr. Heidi Buehner-McKenzie didn’t have a cold winter and I think there explains, “First you have to break up was a better survival rate,” Buehner- the sulfurous chemical oils, and that’s McKenzie continues. “They can be territo- simply using Dawn dishwashing liquid. rial, especially during breeding season. I Then you have to oxidize, whether you see danger to folks with poultry who have use peroxide or baking soda or a com- those brand new chicks. I’m surprised at bination. how adept skunks are at climbing and dig- “My favorite solution is using a bot- ging to get to chickens, killing them some- tle of Diet Coke. Because Diet Coke is times. They like eggs extremely.” a weak phosphoric acid. Some people She and Siddon both advise wiring shut prefer tomato juice or vinegar. Work all crawl spaces under houses, barns and in the cola and let it sit for the oxida- out buildings. tion process to happen. Just make sure Buehner-McKenzie adds, “Keep bird to get a diet cola, you don’t want a seed and grains off the ground, which CelebratingC Ceelleebbrraattiinngg OOurOuurr 221st211sstt YYear!Yeeaarr!! sugary sticky dog.” encourages squirrels, skunks and rac- • Erica Geer at Mini Pet Mart says coons.” besides Dawn, Nature’s Miracle Skunk If your efforts to keep skunks from Sat., June 9 & Sun., June 10 Tickets: Odor Remover, a bio-enzymatic formu- invading your space fail, you can always $ 20 la sold at the store for $8.99 works in call the skunk man, also known as Ricky Time: 10am – 5pm both days per person breaking up and removing the spray Downes, who has worked for Bugs North- oil on pets, clothing and carpets. west for 17 years. The intrepid 58-year old Tour eight private gardens with artwork • Luckily odors can be washed off animal trapper has been around diverse clothes if done quickly. animals all his life. available from 50 local artists. Mix one part household ammonia “I’ve been dealing with skunks for to six parts water, enough to complete- years, so I pretty much have it down,” he Tickets are also available at: ly cover the sprayed fabric. Soak says. “I’ve been sprayed more times than I Grants Pass Museum of Art washable clothing in the solution for a can count. I always make sure I know least 30 minutes. Then wash as usual where the water facet is.” Gallery One in hot water and using a heavy duty Downes says Bugs Northwest will do PenniesWorth Acres Nursery detergent. Add a half cup of baking wiring six inches into the ground and two soda during rinse cycle. Line dry out- feet out all around a building after trap- Diamond Home Improvement side. Dryer heat could infuse the odor ping out existing skunks. Oregon Books deeper into fabric, while ultraviolet “Every skunk within a mile would know rays from sunlight will help neutralize where that den site is and re-inhabit. They the odor. don’t hibernate, I’ve caught skunks all • Febreeze detergent or Simple year round. They pick their den site in Green can be effective on fabrics and September and October so folks need to furniture. Dry cleaning non-washable watch for them then too,” Downes cau- clothing, renting a steam cleaner for tions. carpets and power-washing outside Downes has lived in the valley since structures are also options. 1975. “My dad had when I was