A dozen critter-complaint calls a day are coming in to State Wildlife District # 3 office at Portage Lakes--noticeably more than in most years.  Some people think they’re seeing more raccoons and skunks because of the draught.  But, wildlife researcher Laura Graber says the real cause is what happened earlier in the year. “We had a very mild winter, so skunks and raccoons were able to interact with each other, hence the higher population this year.  And, too, before things got really dry, things were greener this year, so they had plenty of food to feed on there for a while.”

And, how do you get rid of them? Start by looking around. “What is it that they’re attracted to.  A lot of times it’s a food source.  Or it could be shelter.  So take a look around at those things.  If you have a bird feeder out, you’re also attracting raccoons and skunks.”

Graber says the best way to get the animals to move out is to stuff rags soaked in household ammonia into their hiding places.  And once their gone, fill-in, board-up or otherwise block these sheltering places.