Avoid stinky business: don’t feed the cats

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Amber Corcoran
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  Base housing has its fair share of wildlife due to the woods on and around Barksdale, but some of the more frequent critters are skunks in Main Base Housing and the feral cats found in all the housing areas on base.

In recent weeks, a few Team Barksdale members have been sprayed by skunks, who seem to be losing their fear of humans.

A running theory is the skunks are becoming agitated by sharing the same space with feral cats and having to fight over food that is left out by base residents.

"Wild animals are going to be a part of nature, especially where housing meets tree lines," said Dreamer Dowden, Barksdale Family Housing community director.

To try to keep the peace between the animals on base, Barksdale Family Housing has asked residents to refrain from leaving out any food for their pets or other roaming animals in housing as this provides a feeding ground for all types of animals and insects.

"Base residents can prevent stray cats and skunks from getting too close by making sure their yard and trash/debris areas are clean, to include feces from pets, trash can lids closed completely and by not storing pet food outside the home or feeding pets outside," said Dowden.

Sanitation and vigilance are key to keeping these critters at bay.

"Managing anything that can be used as a shelter by the animals such as porches, sheds and crawl spaces is important," said Senior Airman Thomas Davis III, 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron pest management. "Cleaning up wood piles, brush and weeds, as well as food sources, will limit skunk habitats and reduce the attraction of skunks to the property."

Base residents may think they're helping when leaving food out for the stray cats, but its causing more pests to tryst through housing than normal.

"The animals know how to take care of themselves," said Thomas. "Leaving food out for the stray cats is not going to help. Since skunks are omnivores and eat a lot of the same food as cats, they're attracted to the cat food left out by residents. Also, raccoons and opossums have probably gone through and eaten the food as well."

If feral cats, skunks or other nuisance animals are seen in base housing contact Barksdale Family Housing at 866-962-5157.