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Home, Lawn and Garden, Friday, July 6, 2007 5 Don't be rattled by rodents Nothing can cause insomnia quicker than the sound of a rat or mouse scurrying around your home at night. According to the experts at Orkin Canada, it's no wonder these pests keep homeowners awake-- one pair of mice has the potential to produce as many as 200 offspring in only four months. "Homeowners hear rodents at night when the pests venture out from their nesting spots, which are often in attics or wall voids," says Orkin Canada Technical Specialist Karen Romel. "Most mice and rats first go to the kitchen in search of food." In fact, rodents move indoors during the cold winter months in search of food and warm shelter. Once inside, they can cause structural damage to your home by chewing through wood, plaster and electrical wiring. Rodents also pose serious health threats. Rats can carry more than 40 diseases and bacteria, including Hantavirus and salmonella, and transmit them through their urine, droppings and bites. The house mouse is the primary carrier of an illness called Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus, or LCMV, which causes symptoms such as headache, fever, chills and muscle aches in people with poor immune systems. Bites from rodents do occur, and it's usually sleeping babies, inquisitive children or the bedridden elderly who fall victim. To stop mice and rats from taking up residence, homeowners should begin reducing rodent-appealing elements around their homes while it's still warm outside. Implement the following tips to guard your home: Homeowners insurance can be your · Seal any unnecessary holes and gaps in floors, walls and ceilings with weatherresistant sealant, and install kick plates or sheet metal under exterior doors. Mice can squeeze through holes the size of the inside circle of a "toonie," while rats can enter through openings the size of the outer circle of the coin. · Trim and prune trees, shrubs or other plants that touch the exterior of the home and may provide rodents with access. · Store firewood away from the house and more than 30 centimetres off the ground to minimize potential nesting sites. · Keep food, including pet food, in tightly sealed containers. Do not leave dirty dishes out overnight. If you do notice droppings or signs of gnawing around the house, contact a licensed pest control company to help identify the culprit and quickly eliminate the infestation. More information is available online at www.orkincanada.ca or toll-free at 1-800800 ORKIN. --News Canada MOST VALUABLE POSSESSION. Reading | Writing | Math | Spelling | Grammar | French | Study Skills Lora Greene, Agent 211 Guelph Street Georgetown, ON L7G 5B5 Bus: 905-873-1615 lora.greene.b47g@statefarm.com BETTER GRADES ARE JUST A SUMMER AWAY. Summer is the ideal time to catch-up or get ahead for the next grade at Oxford Learning. First, we pinpoint how your child learns. Then, we create an individualized program that goes beyond tutoring to teach your child to learn and study more effectively. For better grades, motivation and confidence this fall, keep your child's mind sharp with just a few hours each week at Oxford Learning. LIKE A GOOD NEIGHBOUR, STATE FARM IS THERE.® Providing Insurance and Financial Services Contact us today for complete details. State Farm Fire and Casualty Company Canadian Head Office, Scarborough, Ontario P048101CN 02/05 Georgetown | 324 Guelph St. | 905-877-3163 www.oxfordlearning.com