Skunks are mammals that often enter your property. They are found in most parts of North America. Their feces is often confused with that of a cat. It can make you very sick if you come into contact with it. A variety of diseases can be transmitted to humans or animals.



Different diseases
• equine protozoal myeloencephalitis. This is a neurological disease that can be transmitted to horses by Long Beach skunk feces.
• Salmonella. Some people show no symptoms when they come into contact with salmonella. Others develop nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea and headaches. It affects people with compromised immune systems or stomach and bowel disorders more than the average person.
• Leptospirosis. It is a bacterial disease that can affect people and animals. The symptoms range from nothing at all, to a range of non-specific symptoms. They can include fever, chills, headaches and abdominal symptoms. It can lead to organ failure, meningitis and even death. In animals it can lead to abortions and infertility.
• Hepatitis. This is a disease that affects the liver. People often present with no symptoms. Some of the symptoms include fatigue, flu-like symptoms, dark urine, light stool and yellow skin and eyes.
• Canine distemper. It is a relative of the measles virus that affects people. It presents as a high fever, red eyes, watery discharge from the nose and eyes. Dogs will become lethargic and will lose weight rapidly.
• Baylisascaris is a parasite that can cause neurological issues. Not all infections cause major disease. Some of the symptoms in humans include nausea, enlarged liver, loss of muscle control and blindness. Human infection is very rare. When roundworms are ingested the larvae hatch and travel to the organs and muscles.
• Tapeworms and roundworms. These intestinal parasites can infect both people and California animals. The symptoms include weight loss, even though diet doesn’t change, abdominal pain and worms in the stool. It can also lead to a cough if they enter the lungs.

How to keep from getting infected
1. Make sure that you remove all feces from the vicinity.
2. Wash your hands before you touch food.
3. Don’t let your children eat sand.
4. Keep your dog away from the feces of other Long Beach animals.

How to keep Long Beach skunks away from your property
Make sure that your property is not contaminated by keeping California skunks out. In order to do this, you need to close all points where they can enter.

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