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Breaking the Cycle of Skunks on your Property
 No doubt you've smelled them and considered that smell an aromatic inconvenience. But skunks in Contra Costa County are more than a mere inconvenience; they are a risk to public health.
The county is home to two types of skunks: the Striped and Spotted Skunk and both are capable of transmitting rabies. That makes them one of the five vectors for which the Contra Costa Mosquito & Vector Control District provides free service. The District also provides free services for mosquitoes, rats, yellowjackets and ticks.
County residents that have evidence of skunk habitation on their property can contact the District for free inspection and advice from a state certified Vector Control Technician or Inspector. The inspection includes checking the property for signs that the skunk has taken up residence, and detailed information on how to remove the skunk and prevent it from returning. click here to continue...
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Virus Risk: Why Sweeping and Vacuuming Rat & Mice Droppings Can Be Hazardous to your Health
Follow the advice here to reduce your risk of disease
Rats and mice are dangerous from a public health standpoint because they can transmit disease through their waste. For that reason, properly removing rodent feces and urine is very important. Rats and mice can also be destructive because they can chew through plastic, wood, soft concrete, glass, rubber, even electrical wire that if it sparks, could start a fire. CCMVCD Vertebrate Supervisor Jonathan Rehana has the answers on how to properly remove this risk to public health.
How should residents properly get rid of rat or mouse droppings and other rodent evidence?
The most important thing to remember is to never sweep or vacuum rodent evidence including feces, urine and nesting material. When these substances are swept or vacuumed they can break up, forcing virus particles into the air where they can easily be inhaled, infecting the person doing the cleaning. Hantavirus and Arenavirus are transmitted in this manner.
Steps for proper cleaning:
a. Make a solution of one-part bleach and nine-parts water in a spray bottle or use a general purpose household disinfectant.
b. Wearing rubber or plastic gloves, spray the solution or disinfectant on the dried urine, feces and nesting material until the substances are soaking wet.
c. Let the wet materials soak for five minutes.
d. After five minutes, use a damp paper towel to wipe up urine, droppings and nesting material.
e. Place the paper towel and waste materials in a plastic bag.
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It seems everyone is busy setting new resolutions for 2010. In addition to the usual goals surrounding diet and exercise, why not add the goal to be more healthy by being vigilant with vectors? That is, ensuring no breeding of mosquitoes in your yard, making your property skunk and rat free and ensuring your neighbors are in-the-know about vectors as well. It's easy to do because everything is right here at your fingertips. Pass this newsletter on to your friends and neighbors. Working together, we can ensure our communities are free from vector-borne diseases.
