What is an important concern which may necessitate a control program for skunks?

What is an important concern which may necessitate a control program for skunks?

• A. They are nocturnal only
• B. They are easy to trap
• C. Skunks are an important carrier of rabies.
• D. They do not damage gardens

Answer: (C)

The key idea is that disease risk to people and pets from wildlife can justify a control program. Skunks are a significant carrier of rabies, a deadly disease that can be transmitted to humans and domestic animals. Because rabies is nearly always fatal once symptoms appear, preventing exposure by managing wildlife populations becomes a priority, which is why a control program for skunks would be considered. The other factors—being nocturnal, being easy to trap, or causing garden damage—do not carry the same public health weight as the rabies risk, so they don’t by themselves justify a control program in the same way.

The key idea is that disease risk to people and pets from wildlife can justify a control program. Skunks are a significant carrier of rabies, a deadly disease that can be transmitted to humans and domestic animals. Because rabies is nearly always fatal once symptoms appear, preventing exposure by managing wildlife populations becomes a priority, which is why a control program for skunks would be considered. The other factors—being nocturnal, being easy to trap, or causing garden damage—do not carry the same public health weight as the rabies risk, so they don’t by themselves justify a control program in the same way.