Who is leaving stinky, disgusting “gifts” on the doorstep?
DEAR JOAN: I’m hoping you can help me figure out who is leaving me “gifts” at my front door, which you have to open a gate and walk through my courtyard to get to.
A few months ago it was a pile of poop, more cat sized than dog. I figured it might be a raccoon. Then last week when I opened the front door and looked down there was a small pile of what looked like it had an earthworm, slug and maybe a small plum in it.
I didn’t look that closely at it and grabbed a plastic newspaper bag, picked it up and tossed it, first being sure to wrap it several times.
Am I right to think it’s a raccoon? I live in the suburbs.
Also, could a raccoon be pooping on my front lawn, almost the same place every time? I’ve been blaming a neighbor with a small dog, but as I write this it dawned on me that it could be a raccoon.
Karen S., San Carlos
DEAR KAREN: It appears that your secluded entryway is perfect for some discrete pooping. Or you’re just really popular.
From the description of your gifts, it could be a raccoon or a fox. Their presents are similar in size, and both would contain bits of things they have eaten and not fully digested.
Both animals are omnivores, meaning they eat meat and plant materials, so plums and slugs would be in both their diets.
If you’re finding gifts in the same place repeatedly, that would probably be a raccoon. Foxes deposit their gifts as a way of marking a trail, food or territory. Raccoons like to create gift galleries, also known as latrines, thus they repeatedly go in the same place.
When handling these gifts, be sure to protect yourself. Raccoon packages can contain roundworms and nasty bacteria. You should wear gloves and a mask before scooping it into a plastic bag. Tossing it in the garbage is the best way to dispose of it.
DEAR JOAN: I have a question regarding tree trimming and squirrels.
l have an acre of land with several large mature trees and a few squirrels. I enjoy watching their antics. A few of the trees need to be pretty heavily thinned out or even removed in one case, but I don’t want to injure or disturb any baby squirrels.
Is there a time of year or safe months to undertake this job that would be “squirrel safe?”
Steve Leeds, Livermore
DEAR STEVE: Thanks for keeping wildlife in mind when considering tree trimming and removal.
The accepted best time for doing that kind of work is late fall and early winter. There will always be squirrels living in trees, but there is much less chance of disturbing babies in November, December and January.
In the meantime, you can do some light pruning if you’re careful not to bother nests.
DEAR JOAN: Regarding the letter about something making holes in planting beds to get to bulbs, a neighbor told me that skunks make holes and that they go under fences.
We added motion-sensing lights and may have cured the problem in our lawn.
Bill Ashurst, Danville
DEAR BILL: Skunks can squeeze under fences and through small openings, but they probably wouldn’t search for bulbs. When they dig, they’re after grubs and beetles.
I had another letter suggesting it is the work of voles, and they could very well be the culprits.