Skunks in Kingston Chase

DOES SOMETHING STINK IN KINGSTON CHASE?

If you live in Kingston Chase, you may have smelled a skunk lately. You may have even seen a skunk - a live one - if you've been out at night. Here's a little primer on skunks and why they make themselves known during this time of year.

 

Skunks are members of the weasel family. Adult skunks only weigh 5 to 8 lbs. Skunks eat home and farm pests such as mice, rats, moles, aphids, grubs, beetles, yellow jackets, grasshoppers, cutworms, cockroaches, black widow spiders, snakes, etc. An estimated 70% of a skunk's diet consists of insects considered harmful to humans. They also eat decomposing fruit fallen from trees.

 

They live in hollow logs, wood or rock piles, and under buildings. Skunks are not social but may den together in winter for warmth. Skunks do not have a true hibernation but are dormant for several of the coldest weeks in winter. 

  
Their defense mechanism is a distinctive, noxious oil sprayed from glands near the anus. Skunks spray only in self-defense. They are very passive, and they don't spray where they sleep. When threatened, they put their tail straight up to look bigger for self-defense. They will face their attacker, stamp their feet, and hiss and chatter. When they are ready to spray, they curl their body around and put their tail completely over their face. They aim for their enemy's eyes. Skunks can spray 10 feet with extreme accuracy. The spray burns in the eye and temporarily blinds. This is extremely irritating, but no permanent damage will occur. Wild animals recognize the skunk by it's distinctive markings and do not provoke it to spray. (Dogs, unfortunately, often have to learn the hard way. )

Skunks breed in late winter through early spring. A female will spray an overly zealous male when she is not ready to mate. Skunks do not like their own smell! So if you see and smell a skunk, chances are it's a rejected male who just lost any chance of getting near another female!

 

Although it is not very common, skunks can be carriers of rabies and distemper.   Keep your pets' vaccinations up to date.

What Attracts Skunks to a Residence?

 The following items will attract skunks.

• bird seed
• pet food
• piles of brush
• gardens
• compost
• garbage
• BBQ grills
• fruit fallen from trees
• lumber or rocks
• openings under houses, decks, or sheds

To avoid attracting skunks:

• Feed pets inside or remove food after a meal
• Keep BBQ grills clean and stored in garage/shed
• Keep garbage in metal sealable containers
• Be sure no animals are currently present, and then block any openings under buildings
• Pick up any fruit in your orchard/yard

For more information about what to do about encounters with skunks, visit http://www.eapl.com/wildlife_problems_skunk.html

(from the Winter 2012 issue of Conservation Currents, Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District)

Hold on to Your Fertilizer!

Contrary to popular practice, spring is not the time to fertilize your lawn.

If you fertilize in early spring, the blades will grow at the expense of the roots developing. This can lead to disease and insect problems later in the season. In addition, you will have to mow the lawn more frequently.

Fall is the best time to fertilize, when the roots that will sustain the plants through the following summer are actively growing. Even if you missed fall fertilization, you should limit spring fertilization to a light feeding (.5 lbs. of 10-10-10 per 1000 sq. ft.) after the initial flush of growth has subsided in May or early June.

Lime, on the other hand, should be applied in early spring if soil tests show it is necessary. Most lawn grasses grow best at a soil pH of 6.0 to 7.0. Look at the recommendations in your soil test report to see how much lime to apply. Then spread lime instead of fertilizer.

When your lawn requires its first cutting, do not cut it too short. Mow to about two inches during the spring and then raise the cutting height another half inch or more when summer’s heat arrives. Mow frequently so that you remove no more than one third of the grass blade at one time.

For more information about lawn care, contact the Fairfax County office of Virginia Cooperative Extension at 703-324-8556, TTY 711.