Yeeeeeeew-Haaaaaaaawl!!! | Main | Torta Cubana 

July 20, 2007

Skunks

I haven't blogged about vectors lately, and I'm happy to say it's because I haven't had any. But a neighbor has a skunk, and another neighbor just emailed me to suggest that we do some fund raising to buy a trap and my immediate thought was: why on earth would you want to trap a skunk yourself? Skunk trapping is very far down on the list of the things I want to DIY, and high on the list of things I'd be happy to pay someone else to do.

I was reminded of the information Fred Allen gave me on why Multnomah County Vector Control doesn't deal with skunks (apparently, they aren't considered vectors, although in my mind, they are vectors of stink). And also his scheme to catch a skunk using many, many blankets.

Anyway, some quick googling brought me to these people. I love their website, especially the part on rats -- "Rat! OMG! I just saw a rat!" that just about sums it up, doesn't it?

What's really awesome, too, is they have more than
one website -- or, anyway, both websites have the same phone number. The first one is kind of cheeky and brief, the second has a lot more content.

Anyway, in case you missed my vector blogging, there is some reading for you.

Posted by mary at July 20, 2007 11:31 AM

Comments

On the second site, the way they are talking about rat and mouse permit fees has me all confused. Are these permits to own a furry rat or mouse? or to trap them? And who is supposed to pay them, the people beset with vectors or the ones who successfully nab the vectors?

Also, is there a permit fee that applies to skunks? Do you need to find out whether it's a male skunk before you can tell how much the permit costs?

Well, that should be enough questions for now.

Posted by: Rich Magahiz [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 20, 2007 9:28 PM

well, I was going to call you up with this question (and to say hello), but here's the perfect opportunity to ask it in public!

I'm not quite sure if they count as a vector, but we are beset with ants. I know everybody has ants, but we have ants above and beyond the call of duty. I think that essentially every cavity in the structure of our house is filled with ant nests. It has suddenly gone (at least in my mind) from a mild annoyance to something that is kind of freaking me out. I think we need to hire an exterminator.

But I don't want to hire an evil exterminator, I want a kinder, gentler exterminator. I don't actually want them to be kinder and gentler to the ants (reincarnation be damned, I want them dead!), I just don't want them replacing the ant nests in our walls with horrible toxic chemicals. And the exterminators in the phone book who claim to be "environmental" say things like, "we use only chemicals approved by the EPA!" Well, duh.

So do you, with your pest expertise, have any words of wisdom on the subject of ants and/or exterminators?

Posted by: melissa [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 22, 2007 2:38 PM

So... How's those skunk trapping plans coming along?

Posted by: justin [TypeKey Profile Page] at July 26, 2007 8:17 AM

Post a comment

Thanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)

(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)


Remember me?