tail. They can be found throughout much of North America, Canada and Mexico and prefer open areas with a mixture of habitats such as woods, grasslands, farms and suburban areas that are near water sources. They usually nest in burrows constructed by other animals, but can also live in hollow logs, under fences/walls, in drainage pipes, ditches, under mobile homes, crawl spaces, porches or even vacant buildings. When the weather is warm, they choose resting areas above ground and during he coldest parts of winter, they prefer underground areas, where they will spend most of their time. Striped Skunks breed from late-February to mid-March and the females will give birth 59-77 days afterward. Skunk litters average 6, helpless baby kits. Theses babies are blind, deaf and hairless when they are born and very noisy, uttering a twittering sound. They don't open their eyes or ears until they are 24-35 days old, however they are capable of spraying skunk musk as early as 8 days old (although they have little ability to aim). Striped Skunks are omnivorous and nocturnal, whith excellent hearing, but terrible eyesight. They hunt at night and eat mostly insects (a wide variety of them), many of which are pests to humans. They also eat plant material, grains, fruits, nuts, bird & turtle eggs, reptiles, small mammals, mice, garbage and even fish. They eat more heavily during the fall to increase their stored body fat for winter survival. Striped Skunks have perhaps the most widely known defense system of any mammal, the scent-spraying mechanism; a hard-to-remove, horrible smelling spray.They usually do not spray unless their life is in danger, then they will bend into a U-shape with both head and rear facing the enemy and squirt out two streams of fluid from their rear end that can travel up to 10 feet. The spray often causes nausea and burns the eyes and nasal cavities of the unfortunate target (If you do get sprayed, natural tears will quickly remove the chemiclas from the eyes or you can flush eyes with cold water to ease the discomfort. You can use Carbolic soap for the skin. For clothes, combine 1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide with 1/4 cup of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of liquid soap). Because of their offensive odor, Skunks are rarely preyed on by mammalian predators, instead they are eaten primarily by large birds, such as great-horned owls and red-tailed hawks. Striped Skunks are usually very docile, gentle, non agressive animals, but are also primary carriers of Rabies. Those affected will bite or attack humans or other animals. These Skunks show signs of abnormal behaviors such as paralysis, unprovoked aggression, moving in circles, self-mutilation and should immediately be reported to your local animal control center. Some measures can be taken to discourage Skunks from sticking around, which include: removing garbage, putting away pet food at night and eliminating convenient denning sites such as wood and rock piles, elevated sheds and openings under concrete slabs / porches / crawl spaces.

limb). Adults measure about 2.5 feet in length and 1 foot in height. They look like big Rats, but are not related to them in any way, but are closely related to the Kangaroo & Koala. Females can give birth up to twice a year (typically 5-8 in a litter). These babies are very tiny, about the size of honeybees. They will immediately crawl into the mother's pouch after birth, where they continue to develop (usually about 4 months of age when they are ready to leave the pouch). Opossums are scavengers and eat almost anything, including fruits & vegetables, snails/slugs, snakes, a wide variety of insects, garbage and dead animals of all types. They also catch and eat rats & mice, in some way they help maintain a clean & healthy environment and have a naturally high level of immunity to most diseases, including rabies, but can carry fleas ,as do most domestic animals. Opossums are nocturnal and typically go about their quiet task late at night. They are also excellent tree climbers but cannot jump and sometimes get trapped in trash cans and other containers. Opossums do not dig holes/destroy properties and are non-territorial. They are always on the move and adapt to any environment where food, water & shelter exist. They live in hollow logs, attics, crawl spaces, pipes and ready made burrows. Opossums may drool, growl and show their 50 teeth when frightened, but in reality are non-aggressive and prefer to avoid confrontation, however, never try to grab one, they can bite. During cases of extreme fear of being harmed or attacked (unable to flee), the Opossum will collapse and "play dead", they become stiff, eys closed or half closed, their mouths will gape open (teeth bared), tongue extended and foul-smelling fluid is secreted from the anal glands; mimicking the appearance and smell of a sick or dead animal. This physiological response is involuntary (like fainting), rather than a conscious act. This condition will last 40 minutes to 4 hours and most preadtors will abandon their attack, once the Opossum is thought to be dead. In the case of baby Opossums, however, their brain does not always react this way at the appropriate moment, and therfore they often fail to "play dead" when threatened. If you do see an Opossum, just leave it alone, it will go away or you can always call your local rescue group or a professional Pest Control Company for help if you don't want them around or if they are trapped (they will catch & release them) ;Trying to scare it will just make it "play dead". Some other tips to avoid having Opossums around your house include: Keeping lids on garbage cans, picking up fallen fruit, putting away pet food at night and close potential entrance points into your home.

appliances, cupboards and in cracks & crevices. They are most active at night, however, if you see them during the day, this could indicate a large cockroach population.The German Cockroach is omnivorous and a scavenger. They particularly like starch, sugary foods, grease and meats. In certain situations where there is a shortage of food supply, they may eat household items such as soap, glue, toothpaste, cloth, palstic and paper or they may even turn cannibalistic, often chewing on the wings and legs of each other. Females can produce one egg capsule every 20-25 days. Each capsule contains from 30-40 eggs and newborns become adults in as little as 30 days. This rapid reproduction and growth period can mean a severe infestation in a short period of time. In addition, they crawl through dirty areas and then walk around your home, tracking in lots of bacteria (including salmonella) and germs. They can contaminate food by shedding their skins. Their cast off skin and waste-products can also trigger allergic reactions, asthma and other illnesses, especially in children. Controlling & treating infestations can be very hard because of their rapid reproduction rate, their ability to hide in very small places, due to their size and that they have few natural predators inside a human habitat. Most infestations require professional treatment from a Pest Control Company, which chemical spraying or gel will be used. These types of methods must kill 95% of the overall population to be effective. Some prevention tips you can take include: 1) Keep cooking, eating and food storage areas clean & dry. 2) Seal up cracks & crevices inside & ouside your home. 3) Repair water drips & leaks inside & outside your home. 4) Seal all human & pet foods in hard plastic/metal containers. - Other interesting facts...German Cockroaches can live almost a month without food, 2 weeks without water and one week without it's head!

elderly person. Tips to prevent a bite include: 1) Keep your home, garage, shed & any outdoor workplace free of clutter. 2) If you see the Black Widow on her web, do not disturb her, as she may become provoked and bite. if you see a web without a spider,approach with caution, esecially in the daytime, she might be hiding. 3) Wear heavy gloves when moving items that have been stored for long periods of time, inside or outside. 4) Place shoes in boxes or shake out prior to wearing.

mild-mannered European Honeybee, the new Africanized Honeybee had a very aggresive nature, earning them the nickname "Killer Bee". The sting of an Africanized Honeybee is no more potent than another variety of Honeybee and can only sting once, however, what makes them more dangerous is that they are easily provoked, quick to swarm, attack in greater numbers and will pursue victims for greater distances, increasing your chances of a severe allergic reaction which can be life-threatening, especially to people allergic to stings or with limited capacity to escape (the young, the old and handicapped, confined livestock and pets. If stung, seek shelter in a house or car. Do not jump in the water, they will just wait around until you come up for air. Once safe, remove stingers from your skin to reduce the amount of venom they inject and seek medical attention. Even though Bees are potentially dangerous, we need them. They are responsible for the life of our trees, flowers and the food we eat. That being said, avoid Bee hives and if you do see one, report to a local Beekeeper or Pest Control Company for safe handling. Also, look before disturbing vegetation areas and be cautious around old tires, crates, boxes, empty cars, meter boxes, overturned flower pots and crack & holes in walls, Africanized Honeybees nest in these types of areas and will attack very quickly. This is why it is important to clean up debris & seal/caulk holes around your home that might provide nesting sites for these Bees.

to person, especially in group settings (schools, childcare centers, slumber parties, etc.), through head-to-head contact, sharing clothes, bed linens, combs, brushes and hats (FYI: Lice are not spread through pets). Lice can't jump or fly, they have specially adapted claws that allow them to crawl and cling firmly to hair. They lay eggs (nits) on hair shafts close to the scalp, where the temperature is perfect for keeping them warm until they hatch in 1-2 weeks. Early treatment is extremely important to prevent further spreading. Over-the-counter medications or prescription medications are available to kill Lice. These medications are insecticides and it is crutial to follow the directions as indicated on the product label to ensure a successful treatment and to avoid the risk of causing harm. After treatment, you must comb out the eggs (nits) using a fine-tooth comb (usually comes with the product, but can be bought seperatly at a drug store). Seperate hairs into sections and comb one section at a time (works best on wet hair). Repeat complete treatment in 7-10 days to kill any new hatched nits. If your child is under 2 years of age, you should not use medicated treatments. You will need to remove nits and lice by hand, be patient, this can be very time-consuming. Purchase the fine-tooth comb, wet and condition hair, seperate into sections, comb one section at a time. Repeat every 2-3 days for 2 weeks. In addition, wash all bed linens and clothing that has recently been used by anyone in your home who's infested, in very hot water and dry on high for at least 20 minutes (Anything that can't be washed should be dry cleaned). Vacuum carpets & upholstered furniture in your home & car (Medicated spray is available, but use with caution, especially around small children). Soak hair-care items (comb, brush, hair ties, band, etc... in medicated shampoo or very hot water for at least 30 minutes or just throw them away & purchase new ones. Since Lice are easily passed from person-to-person in the same house, it is highly recommended to treat all family members to prevent re-infestation (Call your doctor is problems persist after treatment). It is also important to talk to your kids about Lice & how they are spread (School nurses can provide information as well). Emphasize that although having Lice can certainly be very embarrassing for them, anyone can get them and that they are not a sign of uncleanliness or poor hygiene. Kids need to understand that they have not done anything wrong and reassure them that as aggravating as getting rid of these annoying insects can be, there is light at the end of the tunnel.