SEAL BEACH : Skunks a Nuisance for Some Residents

Families of skunks have been making more frequent contact with families of humans, but animal control officials here said the occurrence is not out of the ordinary and happens just about every year.

Nonetheless, Seal Beach Animal Control has received at least one skunk-related call daily for the past several weeks.

“The skunks walk around here like this is their city,” said Del Holbrook, a city animal control officer.

Holbrook said the skunks come into the city from such open areas as the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station and “basically walk around with their families.”

Seal Beach summer resident Hal Price said he noticed a skunk family of four taking a single-file stroll through his back yard on Sunday.

“They didn’t bother anything,” he said. “They just walked on into the next yard like they knew where they were going. They were heading towards the beach, I think.”

But for some residents, the skunks have been more of a nuisance than a spectacle.

“They like to get into yards and dig,” Holbrook said.

They will also eat food left out for pets, occasionally splash around in outdoor Jacuzzis, spray pets--primarily barking dogs that threaten them--and, if there is an opening, crawl under houses and nest, she said.

With that in mind, Holbrook offers the following advice to Seal Beach residents concerned about skunks invading their property:

* Do not leave pet food and water dishes out.

* Secure all fencing around property. Holbrook suggests using chicken wire to keep skunks away.

* Secure vents that lead under the home and areas beneath decks. Skunks like these areas because they are cool and dark.

* If you suspect a skunk is under your home, close off all access areas except one and sprinkle the front of the area with flour.

Skunk prints left in the flour will determine if the animal is under the home or if it has moved elsewhere.