Articles on Pest Control:

Who to call for Pest Control
Bat Rabies and Dog Bites
The Common Black Widow Spider
Snakes: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Dangerous Summer Critters
Local and Exotic Scorpions
The Hills are Alive – with Rodents!
Spring Brings Aggressive Raccoons and Skunks
Snakes and Varmints
Fire Wood Season
Tick Season Is Upon Us — Literally!
Got Gophers?
West Nile Virus Is In California
Watch Out for Snakes!
Lyme Disease and Wood Ticks; Rodents
List of web resources regarding pest control

Who to call for Pest Control

For Silver Creek Valley Country Club Residents only:
For pest control in common areas call the Main Guard Gate at 239-5898:
For situations in the common areas that require animal control such as wild pigs, gophers, ground squirrels, rattlesnakes, skunk nests, the HOA hires Animal Damage Management Inc. to trap problem critters only in the common areas every Friday. Ask the guard to connect you to the HOA representative who can arrange for this service to provide animal control in common areas near you.

For routine pest problems on your private property: Animal Damage Control Inc. at 1-800-292-9845, or 408-776-0080
You can pay this same animal control company to provide personal services in your yard or you can look in the yellow pages for other animal control companies. They can schedule one-time or routine treatment of your house or yard.

For emergency pest problems on your property: Isaac from Animal Damage Control Inc., cell phone—408-234-5414
In an emergency situation like a rattlesnake in your house, Isaac can usually be here in 20-30 minutes.

For all Silver Creek and Evergreen Residents:
City of San Jose Emergency Services: Dial 911, or from a cell phone Dial 408-277-8911
This is the San Jose City Police and Fire Dept, and they deal with any human emergency or injury. If someone has been attacked, injured, or threatened by dangerous wild animals or strays, the city will coordinate with the proper animal control agency listed below to contain and control the animal. Also call Emergency Services for sightings of very dangerous or distressed animals like aggressive, wounded or rabid dogs, dying bats (think “rabies”), dead birds (think “West Nile Virus”), any very large sick or injured wild animals (deer, wild boar, mountain lion) or roaming cattle or horses.

From your cell phone call 408-277-8911 instead of 911 to reach City Emergency Services. If you dial 911 from your cell phone you get California Highway Patrol in Vallejo rather than the San Jose police.

California State Fish and Game Dept.
General DFG Phone Number, Sacramento Office - (916) 445-0411
Monterey Ecological Reserve Office: (831) 649-7191
Carrie Wilson, Marine Biologist, cwilson@dfg.ca.gov
Emergency Dispatch for Threatening Wildlife: (916) 445-0045
Website page for contact list based on subject matter:

The Fish and Game Department responds to highly dangerous wild animals endangering human life, such as attacking mountain lions or wild boar, but not to animals damaging property, like a large family of wild pigs who are damaging your yard or common area but are not threatening anyone. The Fish and Game Dept. provides depredation permits to control animals that damage property such as coyotes that kill farm animals.

Santa Clara County Vector Control, 792-5010, 800-675-1155: They deal only with problem insects and animals that can pass diseases on to humans. They will trap skunks, raccoons, or opossums only if they have taken up residence in your roof or foundation and provide information on mammal pest control. They will advise you on how to control rats and mice. The can I.D. most insects and advise on insect control for mosquitos, wasps and other dangerous insects like black widow spiders. They also deal with major predators like coyotes and mountain lions.

Banner for the Santa Clara County Vector Control District


S.J. Dept. of Animal Care and Services, 654-5875: Will come out for confined stray animals, unconfined stray dog sightings, sick strays/wild animals, strays/wild animals that are injured or vicious (posing a threat to humans/animals), and large dead wild animals.

The Humane Society, animal shelter: 727-3383 is open 24 hours a day for drop-off and pick-up of lost pets.

Bat Rabies and Dog Bites

According to Laurel Trost, Animal Service Officer-Investigator of the San Jose Animal Care and Services Dept., the discovery of rabies in San Jose is not unusual, particularly when related to bats. Occasionally dead or dying bats are discovered by pets or children, who are tempted to touch the animal. Most of the recent human rabies cases in the US have been caused by rabies virus from bats, and there have been numerous rabid bats found in the Bay Area in recent years. Bats are common here.

What is rabies and how do people get it?
Rabies is a potentially fatal virus that can be spread between animals and to humans. Most mammals can spread the disease but it is most often spread by bats, raccoons, foxes, skunks, and coyotes. Rabies is most commonly spread by bites, which are often tiny and hard to see. It is also possible, but rare, that people may get rabies if infectious material from a rabid animal, such as saliva, gets directly into their eyes, nose, mouth, or a wound.

No bite evidence.
Recently a man in Chico died of rabies without ever knowing he was infected, but the autopsy revealed bat rabies in his brain. The Center for Disease Control cites a similar story of a 4-year-old child whose bedroom was invaded by a bat, and who later died of rabies without any obvious evidence of a bite.

What can you do to protect your pet?
Because of the seriousness of this disease, it is required by law to have your pet vaccinated against the disease. Even if your pet never goes outdoors, it is very wise to be sure you and your pet are protected from rabies. Get your pet vaccinated regularly. Your veterinarian will advise you when the shots are necessary. The first rabies vaccine is given during your pet's first year of life. A booster follows one year later, then every 3 years.

Treatment.
Tens of thousands of people are successfully treated each year after being bitten by an animal that may have rabies. A few people die of rabies each year in the United States, usually because they do not recognize the risk of rabies from the bite of a wild animal and do not seek medical advice.

What should I do if I come in contact with a bat?
If you are bitten by a bat -- or if infectious material (such as saliva) from a bat gets into your eyes, nose, mouth, or a wound -- wash the affected area thoroughly and get medical advice immediately. Whenever possible, the bat should be captured for rabies testing.

How can I tell if a bat has rabies?
Rabies can be confirmed only in a laboratory. However, any bat that is active by day, is found in a place where bats are not usually seen (for example, in a room in your home or on the lawn), or is unable to fly, is far more likely than others to be rabid. Such bats are often the most easily approached. Therefore, it is best never to handle any bat. To keep kids and pets away from a prone bat, Officer Trost advises that you put a ventilated container over the bat and weight it down with something. Call the Animal Care and Services Dept. immediately at 654-5875, and they will come out and get the animal.

What should I do if my pet is exposed to a bat?
If you think your pet or domestic animal has been bitten by a bat, contact a veterinarian and SJ ACSD at 654-5875 for assistance immediately and have the bat tested for rabies. Remember to keep vaccinations current for cats, dogs, and other animals.

What if a neighborhood cat or dog bites me?
You should seek medical evaluation for any animal bite. In California all dog bites are required by law to be reported to the ACSD at 654-5875, and animals may be quarantined in their residence for 10 days for rabies observation. However, rabies is uncommon in dogs, cats, and ferrets in the United States. Very few bites by these animals carry a risk of rabies.

Center for Disease Control
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies

BATS
http://www.werc.usgs.gov/bats/

Bat Research in California
Photo courtesy of Merlin D. Tuttle © Bat Conservation International.

Bats are very misunderstood creatures. Although there are some risks associated with handling bats or any wild animal, they are noted for many more benefits, such as consuming vast numbers of insects, pollinating certain species of plants, and distributing seeds of fruits. Like other wildlife, if handled or molested they will defend themselves by biting. Like all mammals, bats can be carriers of the rabies virus. You should not pick up a bat that is on the ground, or touch one that is roosting.
Photo courtesy of Merlin D. Tuttle © Bat Conservation International.

The Common Black Widow Spider

The most dangerous critter you are likely to meet in your backyard is only 2 inches long. The female Black Widow Spider has a shiny black, bulbous body with long, hairless legs, and is usually seen hanging upside down from an irregular cobweb mesh, which may have 1/2 inch long pear shape egg sacs. Spiders are most likely to bite if the egg sacs are disturbed. Baby black widows drift through the air by ballooning, so an infestation can spread through a neighborhood quickly. Their webs are usually found in dry, sheltered places like crawl spaces, utility meters, sprinkler control boxes, woodpiles, BBQ cabinets, garages, storage sheds.
Always wear gloves and long sleeves when gardening or cleaning up around such areas. If you find them, spray pesticides directly on them, not just around the area. For large infestations, call a pest control operator.
Though seldom, if ever, fatal to healthy adults, their bite can cause serious illness, starting with 48 hours of pure agony. The damage may be quick and debilitating, especially for children and people with health problems. If bitten, call 911 immediately and get assistance.

Snakes: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Rattlesnakes are the only venomous snake in California. The beneficial non-venomous gopher snake is often mistaken for a rattlesnake because its defense is to act like a rattlesnake by beating its tale on the ground to imitate a rattlesnake’s rattle. Both are basically the same size (12 to 48 inches long) and brown and tan. Young rattlers are the most dangerous because they pump their full venom supply on the first bite, whereas adults limit the flow of venom for future bites. Often beneficial gopher snakes are mistaken for rattlers. It is very difficult to tell them apart without getting very close up, which you never want to do with a rattlesnake, but it you have captured a snake in a safe container, this is how to tell the difference:

Rattlesnake


• Very triangular head
• Head much wider than neck
• Verticle elliptical pupils
• Rattle at end of short tail
• Vibrates rattle in air
• Attacks in defense only
• Kills by venomous bite

Gopher snake


• Rounded head
• Head and neck near same width
• Round eye pupils
• Long thin tail, no rattle
• Thumps tail on ground
• Attacks in defense only
• Kills by constriction

Prevention: Snakes like the same hiding places and conditions as their favorite prey -- rodents. If you discourage rodents you will discourage snakes. If you see a snake, keep children and pets away and leave it alone for a few hours, and it will leave on its own.

Most people fear all snakes, but a 4-foot gopher snake could be your biggest asset in a garden riddled with mice, rats, moles, gophers, and ground squirrels. Don’t kill your gopher snakes! They help control the rodent population!

The WESTERN RATTLESNAKE of Northern California

Western Rattlesnakes are the only rattlesnakes found in most of Northern California. Most rattlesnakes like the very large Western Diamondback are in desert regions of Southern California. Baby rattlers are the most dangerous because they inject their full load of venom on the first bite, while mom holds back some for later. If you haven’t controlled the mice and gophers in your yard, you will be attracting lots of snakes this summer. All other snakes are beneficial!! Don’t kill the harmless gopher snakes that look somewhat like rattlers, and try to imitate rattlers by thumping their tail on the ground.

Patterned, most often with a rattle on the tail which the snake sometimes uses as a warning sound .
Do not use the rattle alone to identify this snake as the rattle may be missing or small and not seen.

Caution! These snakes are all venomous and potentially harmful.

Western Rattlesnakes

The most commonly seen rattlesnake in California, found throughout the state, except the southern deserts.
Active day and night. Often seen while hiking in undisturbed areas, or on roads at night.

http://www.montereybay.com/creagrus/CArattlers.html

Rattlesnakes are California's only venomous serpents. According to traditional taxonomy (e.g., Stebbins 2003, Crother et al. 2001) there are just six species, all in the genus Crotalus:

• * Western C. viridis
• * Western Diamondback C. atrox
• * Red Diamondback C. ruber
• * Sidewinder C. cerastes
• * Speckled C. mitchellii
• * Mojave C. scutulatus

[June 1997; Sequoia NP, Tulare Co.]

Western Rattlesnake (above; the subspecies C. v. oreganus, Northern Pacific Rattlesnake) is certainly the most widespread species in California, and is the only rattlesnake across most of northern California.

GOPHER SNAKES

http://www.photovault.com/Link/Animals/Reptiles/Snakes/show.asp?tg=ARSVolume02/ARSV02P06_05

http://www.sacsplash.org/critters/gophersnake.htm

http://www.desertusa.com/mag99/july/papr/gophersnake.html

Dangerous Summer Critters

Here are the most dangerous and aggressive critters to watch for and avoid during the warm summer months:

Black widow spiders: These 1-2” shiny black, bulbous, hairless spiders are the most dangerous critters likely to be right in your house or yard. Potentially fatal to children or elderly, their bite will give adults 48 hours of pure agony. Always wear garden gloves when working in the yard or reaching into hidden areas in your garage. They prefer to hang upside down under protected, dry areas like storage cabinets, BBQ counters, and seats. Check inside gloves!

Rattlesnakes: Baby rattlers are the worst because they inject their full load of venom on the first bite, while mom holds back some for later. If you haven’t controlled the mice and gophers in your yard, you will be attracting lots of snakes this summer. All other snakes are beneficial!! Don’t kill the harmless gopher snakes that look somewhat like rattlers.

Wild pigs: They sleep hidden in the creek during hot days, and feed along the creek, the golf course, and any irrigated garden in herds of 10 - 40 at night. Golfers looking for lost balls and runners running at dusk and dawn are most likely to encounter them. Because they usually travel in family groupings, the male boars (who can get huge and weigh several hundred pounds) are aggressive at protecting their young, and they can easily overtake a sprinting human, so stay clear of any wild pigs! Fortunately they are rather noisy and obvious.

Local and Exotic Scorpions

There are 59 identified species and subspecies of scorpion in California, mostly in the deserts of Southern Caklifornia. Scorpions are rarely seen in the San Jose area even though we do have a 2” medium brown local species called “Wood Scorpions” that live in dry wooded areas, whose sting is equivalent to a bee sting. According to the website below, this Centruroides exilicauda (Wood, 1863) scorpion is the most medically significant species of scorpion in California. However, according to Mike Phillips of Santa Clara County Vector Control, many other types of exotic scorpions are commonly sold to kids and collectors as pets (websites abound). These pets are frequently released to the wild when owners (or parents of owners) get tired of having them around.

A resident of Silver Creek was startled to find a 3” dark brown scorpion in her garbage can. This was not a local scorpion, and Mike Phillips requests that anyone finding a scorpion around their home trap it and bring it to him for identification. He can be reached at 800-675-1155 or 408-792-5010.

http://pw1.netcom.com/~wsavary/calscorps.html

The Hills are Alive – with Rodents!

Each spring, thousands of pregnant mice, voles, gophers and rats emerge from their winter burrows in the hills of Silver Creek, looking for a nesting place to bear their young. Working day and night, field mice and voles are racing through your yard, creating slightly furrowed paths that meander under the ground cover, dense grasses, and low growing shrubs in your yard. Any mouse finding such a trail uses it because it is an indication of a safe path well-traveled by other mice, so deep furrows indicate heavy activity.

Field Mice
Field Mice is a generic term that includes many different species of mice. Many mice make a surface nest under a low shrub, unless they can get into your garage, storage, or house. If you see a stubble of stems from a young plant that has recently been chomped down, and a little pile of soft new leaves buried under a low shrub, you have found a rodent nest, and mom will be within 20 feet, anxiously watching you. If you have one mouse in your back yard, you have many, and so do your neighbors. Within a couple weeks after nesting, each mom will have 5-6 babies, and if she is allowed to stay in your yard, she will have 5-8 litters in one year. Her daughters will be just as prolific.

Below are several descriptions of common mice, voles, and rats. Go to the link shown to read the full instructions on identification and treatment methods.

Organic Control of Rodents
The most effective organic control for mice and other rodents are snakes. Large gopher snakes also take care of the rat and gopher population. If you have a snake, be grateful, and treat it kindly. If not, set mouse traps directly into the deepest, most narrow part of a mouse path so the mouse cannot avoid having to crawl over it. Putting traps in open areas where the mouse can easily walk around it is pointless. Check the traps twice a day. Chances are good a trap on an active mouse path will be triggered within minutes of being set. If left too long, ants take over, and its fleas may jump to the first pet or child to come by. Double bag any dead rodents you put in your garbage can to deter ants and control the smell.
If you kill the snakes in your yard, but allow the rodent population to grow, you will attract more snakes. If you see snakes in your yard, it is a good indication you have mice, rats, voles, and/or gophers. Control the rodents, and the snakes will leave to hunt elsewhere.

House Mouse

Adult house mouse.
Photo by Jack Kelly Clark.

The house mouse (Mus musculus) is one of the most troublesome and economically important rodents in the United States. House mice thrive under a variety of conditions; they are found in and around homes and commercial structures as well as in open fields and agricultural lands. House mice consume and contaminate food meant for humans, pets, livestock, or other animals. In addition, they cause considerable damage to structures and property, and they can transmit pathogens that cause diseases such as salmonellosis, a form of food poisoning. House mice have not been found to be carriers of the deadly hantavirus.

IDENTIFICATION
House mice are small rodents with relatively large ears and small black eyes. They weigh about 1/2 ounce and usually are light brownish to gray in color. An adult is about 5-1/2 to 7-1/2 inches long, including the 3- to 4-inch tail.

Droppings, fresh gnaw marks, and tracks indicate areas where mice are active. Mouse nests are made from fine shredded paper or other fibrous material, usually in sheltered locations. House mice have a characteristic musky odor that identifies their presence. Mice are active mostly at night, but they can be seen occasionally during daylight hours.

While the house mouse has not been found to be a carrier of hantavirus, other mice have. Most notable are the deer mouse and the white-footed mouse, which sometimes invade cabins and outbuildings in California. The house mouse is distinguished from the deer mouse and the white-footed mouse by its overall gray-colored coat. The other two species have a white underside with a distinct line of demarcation between the dark coloration on top and the white underside. In addition, the tail on the house mouse has almost no fur on it whereas the tails of the deer mouse and the white-footed mouse are moderately to well furred and are light underneath and dark on top.

Voles

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7439.html
This information is from the UC Davis website. Go to link above for full details

Vole (meadow mouse).
Photo by Jack Kelly Clark. Vole (meadow mouse).
Six species of voles of the genus Microtus occur in California. They are collectively called meadow mice or voles. Two species of voles are responsible for the majority of damage. The California vole (Microtus californicus) is the most widespread vole in the state, found in the Owens and Central valleys and nearly the entire length of the coast range. The montane vole (M. montanus) inhabits northeastern California and the eastern Sierra slope. Voles do not commonly invade homes, and should not be confused with the house mouse, Mus musculus.
Voles are intriguing small mammals because some populations regularly go through cycles from low to high numbers with occasional irruptions that can send numbers soaring (up to several thousand per acre).

IDENTIFICATION
Voles are mouse-like rodents somewhat similar in appearance to pocket gophers. They have a compact, heavy body, short legs, short-furred tail, small eyes, and partially hidden ears. The long, coarse fur is blackish brown to grayish brown. When fully grown they can measure 5 to 8 inches long, including the tail.

Although voles do spend considerable time aboveground and may occasionally be seen scurrying about, most of their time is spent below ground in their burrow system. The clearest signs of their presence are the well-traveled, aboveground runways that connect burrow openings; the runways are usually hidden beneath a protective layer of grass or other ground cover. The maze of runways leads to multiple burrow openings that are each about 1-1/2 to 2 inches in diameter.

Meadow mouse (vole) runways connect numerous shallow burrows.
Photo by Jack Kelly Clark.
See the link http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7439.html for recommended trapping and baiting control methods.

Deer Mouse
http://www.sdnhm.org/fieldguide/mammals/pero-man.html

Photo courtesy Dr. Lloyd Glenn Ingles
California Academy of Sciences

Peromyscus maniculatus
Family: Muridae
Subfamily: Sigmodontinae (includes deer mice, harvest mice, grasshopper mice, woodrats, cotton rats)

Description
Deer mice are the prototype for "field mice" with large, bulging eyes, big ears, a bicolored pattern and a long tail. They are larger than the harvest mice (Reithrodontomys), but noticeably smaller than woodrats (Neotoma) and cotton rats (Sigmodon). The deer mouse is about 148-200 mm (seven in.) long, including the tail. The bicolored tail is less than 90% of the head and body length; this distinguishes the deer mouse from the high desert pińon mouse (P. truei), which has a tail over 90% of the head and body length.
The deer mouse coloration is described as "bicolored", meaning it has a distinctly darker upper body coloration compared to the white undersides. The body color varies from a yellowish or reddish brown to grayish above, with pure white undersides and feet. The bicolored body and distinctive large ears distinguish the deer mouse from the introduced house mouse (Mus musculus), which is uniformly gray. The house mouse is found in city and urban areas while the deer mouse prefers natural habitats. You can get either where development pushes against undeveloped lands.

Range and Habitat
Deer mice are commonly found in California and Mexico. Throughout their range, they are found in nearly all ecological communities and life zones from the desert floor to the high mountains. They can be highly abundant, numbering as many as ten per acre.

Roof Rats and Norway Rats

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74106.html

Adult Norway rat.

Photo by Jack Kelly Clark.

Adult Norway rat.Rats are some of the most troublesome and damaging rodents in the United States. They consume and contaminate food, damage structures and property, and transmit parasites and diseases to other animals and humans. Rats live and thrive under a wide variety of climates and conditions; they are often found in and around homes and other buildings, farms, gardens, and open fields.

IDENTIFYING THE RAT
People do not often see rats, but signs of their presence are easy to detect (see sidebar). In California the most troublesome rats are two introduced species: the roof rat and the Norway rat. It is important to know which species of rat is present in order to place traps or baits in the most effective locations.

Norway Rats. Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus), sometimes called brown or sewer rats, are stocky burrowing rodents that are larger than roof rats. Their burrows are found along building foundations, beneath rubbish or woodpiles, and in moist areas in and around gardens and fields. Nests may be lined with shredded paper, cloth, or other fibrous material. When Norway rats invade buildings, they usually remain in the basement or ground floor. The Norway rat occurs throughout the 48 contiguous United States. Generally it is founds at lower elevations but may occur wherever people live.

Roof Rats. Roof rats (Rattus rattus), sometimes called black rats, are slightly smaller than Norway rats. Unlike Norway rats, their tails are longer than their heads and bodies combined. Roof rats are very agile climbers and usually live and nest above ground in shrubs, trees, and dense vegetation such as ivy. In buildings, they are most often found in enclosed or elevated spaces in attics, walls, false ceilings, and cabinets. The roof rat has a more limited geographical range than the Norway rat, preferring ocean-influenced, warmer climates. In areas where the roof rat occurs, the Norway rat may also be present. If you are unsure of the species, look for rats at night with a strong flashlight or trap a few. There are several key physical differences between the two species of rats; Table 1 summarizes identifying characteristics.

Table 1. Identifying Characteristics of Adult Rats.
Characteristic	Roof rat	Norway rat
general appearance	sleek, agile	large, robust
color of belly	gray to white	mostly grayish
body weight	5 to 10 ounces	7 to 18 ounces
tail	extends at least to snout; black, fine scales	shorter than body; dark above; pale below; scales
head	muzzle pointed	muzzle blunt
ears	long enough to reach eyes if folded over	do not reach eyes

While rats are much larger than the common house mouse or meadow vole, a young rat is occasionally confused with a mouse. In general, very young rats have large feet and large heads in proportion to their bodies, whereas those of adult mice are much smaller in proportion to their body size. While both rats and mice gnaw on wood, rats leave much larger tooth marks than those of a mouse. For additional information on mice, see Pest Notes: House Mouse and Pest Notes: Voles (Meadow Mice) listed in References.
How to Spot a Rat Infestation

Because rats are active throughout the year, periodically check for signs of their presence. Once rats have invaded your garden or landscaping, unless your house is truly rodent proof, it is only a matter of time before you find evidence of them indoors. Experience has shown it is less time consuming to control rodents before their numbers get too high, and fewer traps and less bait will be required if control is started early.
Inspect your yard and home thoroughly. If the answer to any of the following questions is yes, you may have a rat problem.

• * Do you find rat droppings around dog or cat dishes or pet food storage containers?
• * Do you hear noises coming from the attic just after dusk?
• * Have you found remnants of rat nests when dismantling your firewood stack?
• * Does your dog or cat bring home dead rat carcasses?
• * Is there evidence rodents are feeding on fruit/nuts that are in or falling from the trees in your yard?
• * Do you see burrows among plants or damaged vegetables when working in the garden?
• * Do you see rats traveling along utility lines or on the tops of fences at dusk or soon after?
• * Have you found rat nests behind boxes or in drawers in the garage?
• * Are there smudge marks caused by the rats rubbing their fur against beams, rafters, pipes, and walls?
• * Do you see burrows beneath your compost pile or beneath the garbage can?
• * Are there rat or mouse droppings in your recycle bins?
• * Have you ever had to remove a drowned rat from your swimming pool or hot tub?
• * Do you see evidence of something digging under your garden tool shed or doghouse?

Getting Rid of a Rat Infestation
This process involves multiple steps:

1. First and formost, make sure you cut away any vines that are growing up the side of your house leading to the roof. That is like a nice convenient ladder for the rats. If you have vines, look for signs of rat droppings in and around that area, on window sills and any horizontal surfaces. Place rat poison in trays in all these areas, securely tied on with wire in the middle. Open the paper lid of the tray at each end so the rat can reach his face in.
2. Cut away any tree or bush branches from at least 2 feet from your house. Keep them away permanently. These also make a nice ladder. If you find any trees or bushes that are obvious paths for the rats, set bait at the base of the bush. Wrap sticks of gopher poison in plastic, and tie them to the tree trunk or bush branch. The plastic will keep the birds from eating them, but the rats will chew right through the plastic.
3. Check out all the fences around your yard for rat droppings. Rats like to use the top horizontal board as a raceway around your yard. Most likely you will find droppings all over it, and especially where branches and vines help cover it over. Place rat poisons in these areas. Get the little plastic trays and tie them with wire to the board so the rats don't knock them over, and open the paper cover at each end so the rats can stick there mouths in the tray. Check these trays regularly, as the poison can get eaten up pretty quickly.
4. Look around the roof for any holes or signs of entry into the attic area. Also look around the foundation for any holes in the metal screens in the vents below the house. Check inside your garage as well--they frequently walk into a garage when the door is open and then crawl up and around after they are inside, especially around and behind the water heater and furnace (for warmth). If you find any entry points, call Vector Control in the City of San Jose and they will come to help you get rid of them, or call an Animal Control agency (see the yellow pages). You want to make sure they don't die inside your house or the stink of their dead bodies will make your house completely unliveable.
5. If you still hear rats in your roof after doing all this, have an Animal Control person go into your attic and check for signs of rats. If you have even one, then chances are you have a family, so don't be surprised if there are multiple rats (or bats) in your attic. Once the rats start eating the poison, it will take about a week for them to eat enough to die, so continue to restock the poison and be patient. If they do die in your attic, you will know from the smell. You can find the dead bodies easily around the yard from the smell also. Don't touch the bodies with your bare hands, because by the time you can smell them, they are usually full of maggots.

Spring Brings Aggressive Raccoons and Skunks

Baby critters are being born all over our hillsides each spring, and protective moms will be most aggressive this time of year. Skunks, raccoons, coyotes, bobcats, feral cats, wild dogs, wild pigs, and even birds can injure you or your dog if you stroll too close to thick underbrush, unaware there is a nest inside. Dogs that are allowed to roam the hillsides unleashed are most likely to sniff out a nest and get a snoot full of skunk deterrent. Golfers hunting down stray balls are also likely candidates.

Keep alert. Assume any dense grasses or big shrubs along the creek or on hillsides are heavily populated by a large assortment of wildlife, and stay clear.

Raccoons

Santa Clara County Vector Control: http://www.sccgov.org
article--Keep Wildlife from moving in with you: http://www.sccgov.org/sccsearch

Raccoons in Santa Clara County

Raccoons (Procyon lotor) are common throughout Santa Clara County and Santa Clara County Vector Control receives an average of 350 complaint calls a year on raccoons. Raccoon are well adapted to urban areas and live in greater numbers in cities than they would in the wild. They range from 20-40 inches long, including a bushy tail with 4 to 7 black rings. Adults weigh 12-38 lbs. The fur has a salt and pepper appearance with the black mask markings on a whitish face characteristic of the species. The tracks of the raccoon are very distinctive. The hind foot is long and narrow resembling a human foot. The front paw is hand-like, with toes that are long and well separated. Raccoon can make a wide range of vocal sounds from chirps, growls and purring sounds.

Biology Breeding season is February and March.

The diet of the raccoon is very diverse. They will eat fruit, berries, grain, birdseed, eggs, poultry, vegetables, nuts, mollusks, fish, insects, rodents, carrion, and pet food. Individual animals may learn to use specialized foods such as crops, small livestock or garbage by watching other raccoons. It is a common myth that raccoons always wash their food in water. They are fully capable of eating dry pet food where water is not available.
Raccoons are nocturnal, however urban raccoons will come out in the daytime to eat if pet food is available. They are also territorial, particularly the males. This can be a cause of fights between raccoons. Adult males may occupy areas of 3 to 20 square miles; females have much smaller territory of 1 to 6 square miles. Raccoons den up in hallow trees, drain pipes, buildings, and under decks and sheds.

Raccoon Damage
Raccoons can cause substantial damage. In urban areas they damage buildings, by tearing vent screens or shingles to enter. Once inside they can damage heating ducts, insulation, wiring and sheet rock. Flea problems are common at locations were raccoons live.

Fishponds are very attractive to raccoons. They will enter shallow ponds and water dishes destroying plants and fish. Fish are often found with their heads chewed off of the body while neither part was eaten. Raccoons are very strong and can overcome any attempt to cover ponds.

Lawn damage is cause for frequent complaint to the District. August is usually the start of this seasonal behavior. One or more raccoons will visit lawns for the pu rpose of "grubbing ". Looking for grubs and other insects will cause raccoons to pull back large portions of lawn. Grubbing activity leaves large sections of lawn looking like a sod cutter has been used to remove turf. This behavior occurs in this county from August to December. Biologists believe the behavior is driven by the onset of fall. At this time of year many young raccoons are responsible for finding their own food. All raccoons are driven to double their body weight in preparation of winter.

Raccoons can cause serious injury if they attack pets or people. Reported attacks are rare.

Striped Skunk

Striped Skunk
Mephitis mephitis: Smello, world!

And the award for the best defensive player in the animal kingdom goes to.... North America's striped skunk!

Although the competition is nothing to sniff at, the judges are proud to honor this cat-sized mammal for his ability to really stink up the place. (His Latin name, after all, means "bad odor.") When frightened or cornered by a predator like a hawk or bobcat, the black-and-white wonder turns around, raises his tail, and contracts the powerful muscles that surround his musk glands, thereby releasing some majorly stinky chemicals.

Talk about hitting the spot! The sharp-shooting skunk can spray the smelly stuff as a fine mist or as droplets up to 12 feet away. The only animal who doesn't seem to mind is the great horned owl, who regularly preys on skunk. The owl and his nest are pretty stinky, too--guess it's lucky he doesn't have a good sense of smell--or any roommates!

As an omnivore, skunks eat just about everything--including fruits, nuts, bird and turtle eggs, bees, caterpillars, rodents and crayfish. Photo courtesy of borealforest.org.

Snakes and Varmints

Most people fear slithery snakes and think furry little animals are cute. But a 4-foot gopher snake could be your biggest asset in a garden riddled with mice, rats, moles, gophers, and ground squirrels. If you have ever tried to trap a gopher or rat you know how frustrating it can be. Don’t kill your snakes!! Catch them and give them as gifts to friends with pests. But remember: if your neighbors have rats, then you have rats!

All these furry varmints are capable of transmitting deadly diseases, and an untreated infestation of mice or rats can grow into the hundreds in just months. Dangers include:
• - Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, rare but frequently (50%) fatal, with no specific treatment. Infection is by inhalation of airborne particles, or touch, of rodents, urine, or droppings. Droppings look like black rice.
• - Plague and tularemia, from fleas on or around ground squirrels or rodents that get onto humans or pets. The plague can be treated with antibiotics if diagnosed early. If not, it can be fatal and easily transmitted.
• - Leptospirosis and Salmonellosis: water/food poisening.

Precautions:
• - If you or your child becomes ill within seven days of possible exposure, contact a physician immediately.
• - Use caution when handling a sick pet that has been in a high risk area, especially a cat. Avoid close face-to-face contact. Consult a veterinarian.
• - Avoid all rodents and their fleas. Do not feed or touch rodents, especially sick or dead ones. Watch children!

Fire Wood Season

This is the time of year that some people decide to have a load of firewood delivered to their homes to burn in their fireplaces during the winter. These woodpiles can attract rodents, spiders, snakes and worse-termites. Be sure to stack wood away from your home and off the ground if possible. Use gloves (to prevent bites and splinters) when handling the wood.

Tick Season Is Upon Us - Literally!

Spring is tick season and they are out in full force.  Check yourself and your pets for ticks when you've been in your yard. Ticks are small, flat, brown, oval-shaped, eight-legged blood-sucking animals. They attach themselves to hairlines (yours, your pets' fur) and hard-to-reach places like inside of pet ears and on the backs of their necks.  Ticks can carry Lyme and other diseases.  They should be carefully and fully removed to prevent infection and disease. Check out www.pestproducts.com/tick-removal.htm   for removal information.

Got Gophers?

Mounds of dirt or raised tunnels may be an indication of mice, gophers, moles, voles and ground squirrels in your yard.  If gophers and other ground-burrowing animals are damaging HOA common area land, our contractor, Animal Damage Management (408-776-0080), can be called to take care of them. They are in the HOA every Friday to treat for pests. If you are having these problems in your private yard, they will service private property for $55.

West Nile Virus Is In California

This disease is now in Santa Clara County.  It is spread by mosquitoes, which can then infect birds, horses, and other animals (you) it bites. The flu-like symptoms in humans (fever, headache, muscle pain) can last 2-3 days.  In severe cases (<1%), it can cause potentially fatal brain inflammation. Those most at risk are the elderly and those with compromised immune systems. There is no approved vaccine. What can you do to protect yourself? To avoid the mosquitoes that carry the disease, you can control their breeding areas and change some of your outdoor habits. First, ensure there is no stagnant water in your yards.

If you have a water feature such as a fountain or birdbath, clean or flush it routinely. Mosquitoes lay eggs in water that hatch into larvae that look like tiny wriggling worms. If you have a pond, the County will deliver free mosquito-eating fish right to your home! Just call 408-918-4770. Tell them the size of your pond and they'll drop off the fish at your front door. If you are outdoors, avoid dawn or dusk when mosquitoes are most active. Wear long sleeves and pants. Wear light colors (mosquitoes seem to prefer dark colors). Use insect repellant with DEET on exposed skin areas and clothing.

What to report? Call Santa Clara County Vector Control (408-918-4770) for the following:

• Report dead crows, ravens, jays or birds of prey (They are all particularly susceptible to West Nile).
• For a free inspection of stagnant water or dead mosquitoes.
• To order free mosquito-eating fish.
• Any other vector questions.

Watch Out for Snakes!

Snakes (along with a myriad of other wildlife) are all part of our country community at SCVCC. Last year some of the neighbors had rattlesnakes show up in their backyards, especially during the mowing season. Mowing usually begins in April and runs into July. Apparently this activity can stir them up, so please exercise special caution when you, your children or pets are in your backyards at this time of year. This is also the time of year when they reproduce. Baby rattlers can have more concentrated, venomous bites.

We also have 'friendly' snakes in the HOA such as gopher snakes, which eat (you guessed it) - gophers. These snakes are very helpful in eradicating rodents, which destroy our garden plants. If you need to have a snake removed or identified, please call our animal control contractor (Animal Damage Management: 408-776-0080).

Lyme Disease and Wood Ticks; Rodents

A long, wet Spring can bring more vegetation, and along with it, more pests. We hear about increased numbers of mice, gophers, and wood ticks in our yards. If gophers and other ground-burrowing animals are damaging HOA common area land, our contractor, Animal Damage Management (408-776-0080), can be called to take care of them. If you are having these problems in your yard, they will service private property for $50 (call for current rates).

Also check yourself and your pets for ticks when you've been in your yard. Ticks are small, flat, brown, oval-shaped, eight-legged blood-sucking animals. They attach themselves to hair lines and hard-to-reach places like inside of pet ears and on the backs of their necks.

Ticks can carry Lyme and other diseases. They should be carefully and fully removed to prevent infection and disease.

List of web resources regarding pest control

Santa Clara Country Vector Control
Regarding control and treatment of disease-carrying pests.
http://www.sccvector.org

Emergency Fish and Game Dispatch for threatening wildlife:
(916) 445-0045
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/

San Jose Animal Services
http://www.sanjoseanimals.com/

The Humane Society of Silicon Valley
http://www.hssv.org/

Center for Disease Control
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies

Skunks
http://ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74118.html

Opossums
http://www.mastergardeners.org/resources/animals/opossums.html
http://www.fundwildlife.org/coexist/opossums.html
http://www.hsus.org/wildlife/a_closer_look_at_wildlife/opossums.html

Raccoons
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74116.html
http://www.holoweb.com/cannon/racoon.htm

Coyotes
http://www.mdia.org/coyotes.htm

Mountain Lions
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/keepmewild/docs/lionbrochure.pdf
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/news/issues/lion.html
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/news/issues/lion/lion_faq.html

Wild Pigs
www.ces.ncsu.edu/nreos/wild/pdf/wildlife/WILD_PIGS.PDF
http://www.stpfriends.org/Pigs/STP-Pigs.htm
http://www.coestatepark.com/wild_pig.htm
http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-wild_swine.html

Rattlesnakes
http://www.desertusa.com/may96/du_rattle.html
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/news/issues/snake.html