Pest Management Professional, September 2011
most wanted Dr Stuart Mitchell Contributor M any pest management companies are addressing The urban bandit more wildlife damage and control issues Pest management professionals PMPs are studying wildlife biology and behavior to recognize wildlife evidence intervene humanely and legally and prevent future occurrences These actions are balanced by risk assessment and environmental awareness Controlling nuisance wildlife requires a thorough understanding of the animals biology and habits One of the most sought after urban wildlife suspects is the northern raccoon Procyon lotor or mapache which is incredibly adaptable and a familiar sight in various habitats Raccoons black robbers masks reflects the opportunistic habits of this boisterous animal Raccoons can climb dig and open doors with their forepaws Raccoons are 16 to 26 inches long and have 10 to 14 inch tails They have long blackish fur rounded short ears and black eye patches Inseminated females have gestation periods of 60 to 73 days with one to seven offspring Raccoons behavior is solitary They are omnivores and can be found from Southern Canada to Central America in deserts and tropical temperate and coniferous forests near lakes rivers and urban areas Their 2 to 3 inch diameter paws which are shaped like hands can craftily manipulate objects and food Raccoons have a unique walking gait which is used when traveling and foraging that results in a pattern in which the front and hind prints from opposite sides of the body are next to each other The gait varies from 10 to 18 inches Raccoons use lopes and gallops when avoiding danger Raccoon droppings are 3 8 inches in diameter tubular with block type ends Caution should be observed with droppings because they can contain parasitic roundworms If inhaled serious illness can result pmp Dr Mitchell is principal technical specialist for PestWest Environmental and can be reached at doc mitchell@ pestwest com When pests get tough the tough get spiders sTiNK BUGs 2011 McLaughlin Gormley King Company Unsurpassed performance against tough to control pests Ants spiders and other tough outdoor pests have met their match Onslaughts controlled release microencapsulated technology kills for up to 12 months And Onslaught has a flexible label for outdoor and indoor usage including broadcast spray Tough Control for Tough Pests ANTs Quality Insect Control Products Since 1902 www MGKpro com 74 September 2011 Pest Management Professional mypmp net
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