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Realizing "rats don't recognize indi- vidual popeny boundaries," White said White thought that was that. but this spring the rats were back more vora- cious than ever, chewing a hole through the plastic of her composer bin. Loathe though she was to kill more of them, White finally resorted to poison and has found at least one dead rat inside her property and another just outside. "mat only re-locates the problem to another area," said Amalfa Tony Amalfa. the Region's are.a supervisor for environmental health, said he understands White's dilemma but explained that simply moving the rats is not the answer. 'Tm sum that's not the recommend- ed approach ... but short of shooting them in the head what do you do?" Hard-pressed to figure out what to do with them. White released the caged critters into the railway lands north of Maplegmve Road. "We trapped all winter." she said. "We lost count of how many we trapped. Into the twenties." "extremely healthy looking" rodents into a squirrel cage with peanut butter. (Two were caught at one time.) ‘argaret White first realized Mmmething was wrong in her 'r: y _ backyard late last year when she repaired a leak m her pool and dis- covered the presence of strange holes Later. after tinding tunnels in the debris of her composer. White knew yiome- thing weird was going on, "We thought "Good, it must he aer- ating a bit.' " she said "Rats didn't even cross our minds." But rats they were, some as big as eight inches, invading the subdivision from out of Joshua Geek to make their way into basements and even gnaw a bag of dog food in White's garage. The best word she can think of to describe it is "hommdous." After killing a couple with traps, White lured several "extremely healthy looking" rodents By HOWARD MOZEI Oakville Beaver Sta/f July Canada's National Catalogue SEARS CATAL,iji'tsr,tui: - /. MONDAY, JULY 19THTO $AIURDM JULY 31 ST We apologize for any inconvenience this may havekauiied. mm the best of homes can attract rats 'TC, 396%» onarcrir Our July 18th issue of The Oakville Beaver contained an error in the 1993 This Sale Event applies to all in stock merchandise on pages 2 to 352, and pages 645 to 807 of our Spring and Summer Catalogue. Jackson’s Barn Value Foods "ALL PRICES EFFECTIVE MONDAY, JULY 19th TO SUNDAY, JULY 25th." Call Your Nearest Catalogue Store To Place Your Order! It should have read SAVE 15 (7't, ' V (SEA. advertisement. Expect more from SEARS! on all in stock Family Apparel "P, and C mee Fashions , ifrmn our r SEARS Owners who follow the rules and don't put meat, fish or cheese inside - but leave their compost in a static pile - are still asking for trouble. Jones rec- ommends that compost be turned week- bsothatitaemes,driesoutandbreaks down more efficiently. Jones said he If you don't like the suit of armor look, says Mark Jones, the inside of composers can be lined instead. (New composers can be placed on top of a layer of wire to help prevent burrowing horn the bottom.) The one weak spot, of course, is the door use to get the compost out. The best way to avoid problems, says Jones, is better public education. "The question I ask people who call us about rats is what are they doing to amact them?" he says. One of the tips recommended by the Halton Regional Health Department is to keep composers covered. In theory this solution sounds great but, as White's case reveals, is not entirely foolproof. One way to encourage suc- cess, says the Town's solid waste man- ager, is use "hardware cloth" - a thicker version of chicken wire - to line or cover your composer. a little embarrassed by the situation since Some people might assume she maintains a grubby household, "I would like very much to know what the next step is, what the Town is doing about it and how do you dispose of a dead rat killed by poison?“ White also wondered if newer com- posters could be lined with a mesh bar- rier to prevent the rats access to the interior. "The entire rat problem is one that should be pursued," she said. "lt is a public works and a public health prob lem." "I tried to make people aware in our immediate vicinity," said White, who is the small son of a neighbor said he saw a "big mouse" in his basement. Other residents have reported "noises" com- ing from their gauges. The problem. it seems, is far from over. SPECIAL EVENT An Oakville teen got the scare of his life Monday morning when he returned home to find a masked gunman lurking in the shadows. A 19 year old male had just pulled up to his Greenn'dge Circle home around 2:45 am. and was heading for the front door when he saw a masked figure hiding near some trees. The prowler ran toward the young man, who saw a revolver, and promptly kicked the intruder in the groin. The victim then ducked in and around some parked cars until the gunman fled. The Halton Regional Health Department (825-62l l) suggests sever- al other steps to try and ward off - or eventually dispatch - the critters: Remember that food set outside for birds and pets is also,food for rats. Faced with a rodent problem, you should consider stopping outdoor feed- ing. (Jones explained that almost all sightings of rats this past winter corre- lated to bird feeders in people's back yards.) The man police are looking for is described as male, six feet with a stocky build. At the time of the incident he was wearing a red plaid jacket with dark pants and shoes with a beige ski mask with eye and mouth holes. FOOD Store food supplies and garbage in solid containers with tight fitting lids, FANTASTIC FRESH has responded to at least l5 calls - one involving a squirrel that gnawed through a composer - and found all involved unturned heaps. "lf you are doing that and are still getting rats then there must be some- thing you're doing to get visitation," said Jones. Teen's kick repells gunman KEEP OUT! Plug any holes in your home th / "j; 'l E . $499 _ ()yj Carnations only...' Doz. v..tici. J 355,99 h Iéb‘ffl Roses only... Doz. FHON? ALONE , _, 845-5585 THE FLOWER BASKET 440 Speers Road VT? THE OAKVILLE BEAVER 844-9601 il; {at are "We Deliver" POISON The Region recommends that you hire a professional exterminator since rat poison can be dangerous if not han- dled properly. If not, follow product instructions carefully. Again, ensure poisons are set out and stored where children and pets can't get at them. KEEP WATCH Once you get rid of rats check often for droppings, tracks, chewed wood and food or other signs. Use non-poisonous bait (meat or peanut butter) in a spring trap. Change baitoften. Place traps at right angles but make sure they are not where children and pets co them. larger than one-half inch with metal sheeting. Keep property free of old lumber and rubbish. Store firewood six in.ches above around. EXTERIOR ACRYLIC FLAT LATEX PRIME? 'omtramt to St Claws In" Sale Free on thsslonal and Fun: Susan: Paint and tumor Monaco Blinds may Sale Price m mm Sunday Aug. g, 1993. CUSTOM AlUMINl VENETIAN BLINDS . Camera: to St Clan . Am! Sue Pm;- an thm nun HE J i" Lum- ' Arie! 5m Arr', qi . 3 lit Lures C', Ana: Sale Due: TI 99 842-0032 Mon - Fri, Sam -9 pm -Sat. Sam OAKVjLLty-" Under New Management 134 Lakeshore Rd. W. (Lakeshore W. & Kerr St.) (open 7 days a week) TRAPPING gEii E173 It an to walls located LATEX SATIN More books a t than any national competitor. Choose from over 20,000 patterns Otter expires and borders. Sat Aug 7:93 amp-Ind lo St Clan I woe-a! 3 " Litres . Arm Sate Paco " 99 " VERTIC/ BLINDS . Compared to St Clan: 3 After Sale Price STOM FABRK . See our display Saturday, July 24th at Hopedale Mall. Your friends tell us that we are Oakville's favourite place to brew your own beer and wine. This is what they say: . You have the cleanest store . You use hot water sanitation and sterilizing . You use traditional firebrewing in sanitary stainless steel kettles . Your staff is friendly and knowledgeable to service our individual needs . Your counter pressure bottling system is superior... . Your clarity of wine and beer are superior as well as your guarantee for quality See why your friends brew with us. "'nere yCiiraikc, we” _ Come Brew With Your Friends Come brew with the originators not the imitators li95 North Service Road West, Oakville 847-3473 'rrr: Str" ‘17)??? -tii""iiiii"aGi'iii'iirl SAVE LATEX SATIN LUSTRE Mor 845-7748 Upper Oakville Shopping Ctr. (Upper Middle Rd. . 8th Line) t V w , " Lures . Ann Sale PM: Jr 9! Offer expires July 3lst/93. Friendly Professional Decorating Advice No Hassle Returns [AI-STOCK l" VINYl VENETIAN BLINDS AC RY LIC SEMI-C LOSS LATEX SEMi-GLOSS at FttirT 05" mm " 20' T2aiCi 6.99 22 EE- 739 24 m 7.59 27 779 31 m- 9.79 as 6.39 9.99 . After Sale 9307AI