SEVEN-MILE ISLAND — Maybe you’ve seen them strolling down the street, on your lawn, or hiding under the porch. Wherever they roam, it is evident the skunk population is lively in the boroughs of Avalon and Stone Harbor. Both municipal councils discussed the critters at their respective meetings this month.

Avalon Police Chief David Dean said the borough received 89 skunk complaint calls from June 1 to Oct. 21. Stone Harbor Councilman H. Brian Levinson said the borough handled 31 animal control calls in September including 19 skunks, six dogs, three cats, one raccoon and two birds. Both boroughs share animal control services with Middle Township.

Dean said skunks are not a public safety issue but they are a quality of life issue and public nuisance. Animal Control Officer Bill Candell, who handles control calls for half the county, said skunks are considered statewide as non-threatening non-endangered gaming species and are not specially protected if causing property damage.

Candell said skunks come to the area and dig small holes in lawns to feed on underground grubs.

“Skunks try to rectify the damage already done to lawns by grubs,” Candell said. He said changing grass color to an olive-yellow is an indicator a lawn has grubs and skunks are able to smell the grubs up to three-inches below the surface.

Nov. 15 to March 15 is open trapping season for many wild animals statewide. Permits are required to trap a wild animal and can be gained through the state Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Fish and Wildlife.

If a skunk is being a nuisance, call the local police department that will then dispatch the animal control officer.

Contact Truluck at (609) 886-8600 ext. 24 or at: ltruluck @cmcherald.com