Raccoons, porcupines and skunks – oh, my!
PET BULLETIN
‘Mews and Yips’ from the Central Aroostook Humane Society
By Gail Wieder
I am sure at some point in your lifetime, you or your pet have come across one or more of these pesky beasts. I know I have, especially living in the country surrounded by wooded areas.
I have a high powered flashlight I use on a regular basis. I use this before I let my dogs out for the night; I need to scout out the yard after dark for one or more of these critters.
Unfortunately, I have had to deal with these critters on a regular basis. I don’t know which one is worse. I would say for me it is the porcupines, they don’t scare easily and they are very slow to move. I have one almost every night eating the fallen apples off the trees. Before I let my dogs out I have to run out and tell it to move, scooting it into the woods or up the nearest tree.
Porcupines are rodents with a coat of sharp spines, or quills that protect against predators. They have approximately 30,000 quills on its body! Wow, that is a lot. These quills are mixed with soft hair, which grow from its back, sides and tail.
Porcupines cannot shoot the quills at predators as once thought, but the quills do detach easily when touched. Quills have sharp tips and overlapping scales or barbs that make them difficult to remove once they are stuck in another animal’s skin. They grow new quills to replace the ones they lose.
My dog Eppie, a larger breed, got in a porcupine one morning before I left for work, it was a baby porcupine, no bigger than cantaloupe. I thought she was playing with a rabbit until I got up to her and she had about 10 little quills in just her nose. I took her into the house and sat her down and actually pulled them out myself with my fingers because they were so small, I actually cut the tip off and they came right out pretty easily. A little blood ran down my dog’s nose but she sat right there. I applied some peroxide and went to work.
I did call the vet when I got to work to see if I should bring her in. The vet told me to check her chest, mouth and legs to see if any more quills were embedded in her. I checked on her at noon and found no more; I think that is because it was just a baby porcupine. It is suggested that anytime your pet gets into porcupine quills, take them to a veterinarian. They are best equipped to remove the quills. Removal is painful and quills may break off inside your pet, and sometimes the animal needs to be sedated.
Skunks — phewww, what an odor. If your pet gets sprayed it stays with them for days. Skunks are nocturnal mammals known for their strong odor. If I see these black and white critters in the yard I go out and make as much noise as I can to get them to run in the woods, just so I can let my dogs out to do their business. My dogs have been sprayed one too many times.
The best remedy I have used is straight white vinegar to get the smell out, and then shampoo the animal after that. One of the groomers I used for my dog told me this remedy. Another remedy is a half-quart of hydrogen peroxide, 1/8 cup baking soda and 1 teaspoon of Dawn dishwashing soap. Avoid getting in the eyes. It never takes all the smell away, but I say enough, so at least the dog or cat can come in the house again.
Raccoons are the cutest critters, but very much a nuisance; they can carry rabies and other diseases. If they get into your house or other structure they can make a big mess. Raccoons are active at night. They are nocturnal mammals that live throughout much of the world. These critters can be quite fearsome when approached. A raccoon’s hand looks like a human’s. They have five fingers and use their hands to collect food, open shells, open doors or trash cans.
We have had raccoons get in our garden for years. In one night they can strip down a row of corn. Sometimes at night before I let my dogs out, I shine my light out and see several sets of eyes. Most always when the light hits them they take off into the woods. I don’t want my dogs to get in a fight with one of those — they can be mean.
These are just a few little facts on the wild side.
Check out the Central Aroostook Humane Society on petfinders.com and Facebook, and find your friend for life. We have some wonderful furbabies looking for their forever home.
Please be responsible: spay and neuter your pets.
Gail Wieder is a member of the Board of Directors of the Central Aroostook Humane Society.
