Penn State Ag Sciences Newsline -- October 7, 2008

Winterizing your home can stop the "Invasion of the Small, Furry Creatures" (:44)

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Suggested Intro:

THE CHANGING SEASONS CAN SEND THE OUT-OF-DOORS INSIDE, AS ANIMALS SEARCH FOR PLACES TO SPEND THE WINTER. A WILDLIFE EXPERT IN PENN STATE'S COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES SAYS NOW'S THE TIME TO WINTER-PROOF YOUR HOME. GARY ABDULLAH HAS THE STORY:

Story:

(::16) SMALL MAMMALS LOOKING FOR A WARM PLACE TO WINTER ARE COMING INTO GARAGES, CABINS AND HOMES. PENN STATE WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST GARY SAN JULIAN RECOMMENDS SEALING THE HOLES AND CRACKS THAT ALLOW THEM IN. IF FIELD MICE MOVE IN, SAN JULIAN SAYS, USE CARE IN MOVING THEM OUT:

San Julian Actuality:
(:16) "IF YOU FIND SIGN OF MICE -- FECAL MATERIAL, BEDDING MATERIAL -- OPEN ALL THE WINDOWS AND LEAVE IT AIR OUT FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES AND THEN SPRAY THE AREA WITH ABOUT A TEN PERCENT BLEACH SOLUTION. THERE'S ALWAYS A POTENTIAL FOR THE HANTA VIRUS."

(:12) SAN JULIAN SAYS NOW IS ALSO A GOOD TIME TO SEAL UP ANY PLACES IN ATTICS OR RAFTERS THAT MIGHT BE USED BY BATS. ONCE BATS HAVE LEFT FOR THEIR WINTER DENS, CLOSING UP CRACKS WITH NOTHING MORE THAN MASKING TAPE WILL KEEP THEM OUT. FROM PENN STATE, I'M GARY ABDULLAH.

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Learn more:

PROTECT YOUR HOME FROM HOMESTEADING ANIMALS WITH A CHIMNEY CAP (from the College of Agricultural Sciences news archives)

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