Tufts opens its arms to prospective students from around the world, but swarms of local, less-welcome vistors have been invading campus in recent weeks. Students walking around Tufts at night say they cannot escape the smell or site of skunks.
The stench left by the small, suburban animals is most prevelent downhill, and is especially potent near Metcalf hall. But students have also complained of smelling skunks uphill on the academic quad.
Sophomores Jay Meattle and Kevin Keating say that they smell skunk almost every day. While Meattle is bothered by the smell, Keating says he is indifferent. "I don't mind it that much," he said.
Keating said most people are not bothered by the situation, but if they were, he added, they would likely not know how to alert Tufts to the skunk infestation.
Tufts Facilities is responsible for handeling issues related to rodents on campus, and would also respond to skunk complaints. The department, however, does not directly handle the matter. Instead, Facilities officials would likely hire an outside contractor to exterminate the invading animals, according to Trades Supervisor James Pearson.
But rodent problems tend to go away before facilities workers get to them, Pearson said. "These rodents are usually dead by the time someone calls," he said, adding that oftentimes facilites does not get phone calls until students spot a skunk that was hit by a car.
According to Pearson, the reporting process is simple and convenient. Facilities takes phone calls from anyone on campus complaining of animal control issues, he said, adding that there have not been any complaints this year.
Skunks, Pearson said, are not the most lamented nusicances on campus: The majority of the complaints made to his department are related to squirrels.
