Chemist calls for fight against brown skunk

Chemist Ömer Karahasan stated that the most effective method against the brown skunk beetle, which causes serious damage to agricultural activities in the Black Sea region, is wintering control and that it is important to carry out this control in September and October.

The brown skunk beetle, which causes serious damage to hazelnut production, continues to spread rapidly in the Black Sea region. Agricultural experts have drawn attention to the importance of combating this invasive insect, which is especially seen in the provinces of Giresun, Ordu and Samsun.

Chemist Ömer Karahasan stated in his statement that the most effective method of combating brown skunks is “Wintering Control”. Karahasan said, “Skunks choose living spaces for themselves, especially in gardens, hazelnut gardens, houses used as hazelnut houses, balconies and woodsheds for wintering. In other words, billions of skunks retreat from gardens to these village houses and similar areas in September and October. In April, they enter the gardens. The suggestions of collecting and destroying brown skunk adults that enter these closed areas and combating with appropriate insecticides in the field of public health are unfortunately difficult methods for our citizens living in Giresun and Ordu. Especially since Ordu and Giresun are cities of expatriates, people in these regions open their village houses for use only in July and August during the hazelnut season. Therefore, wintering control is not carried out in September, October and April. When skunks enter the garden, it is already very difficult to combat. We do not prevent the rapid reproduction of skunks with either biological or garden pesticides.”

“This issue can be solved with an expert team”

Chemist Karahasan stated that it is extremely important to carry out wintering control in village houses with teams to be established under the leadership of the Governorships and consisting of provincial directorates of agriculture, municipalities and public health experts, and said, “In districts where skunks are dense, the owners of village houses located in, next to or on the edge of hazelnut gardens in villages will be interviewed and the owners of houses that have gone abroad will be forced to open their houses when spraying will be done. This task can be overcome by establishing a team consisting of open and closed area pesticides used in the field of Public Health and the provincial directorate of agriculture, municipalities and companies that perform pesticides in the field of public health. While there is a possibility of destroying billions of skunks in these closed areas where they enter for wintering and seriously reducing the population, other struggles will be a waste of time.” – GİRESUN