-- -- - -, -- -- WVhlby Fme Presa Weckdmy, June 15,199. POge 23 Keeping the wildi,îfe ont FROM PAGE 20 becomne logged with leaves or other rubbaU Look for cracks and hales It's also a good idea to check your horne's exterior for large cracks or holes. Although a srnall hole May not look lilce much from the outside, it May provide the perfect doorway to your home. Mice, for instance, only require a amail space of about one-haif- inch to wriggle through. And, keep in niind that, in addition to furry littie creatures, insects can also gain easy entry through cracks and holes. It's also a good idea to Malte suJre that any doors leading to attached garages are adequately sealed when shut. The samne goes for gaps around windows -- When choosingy strawberis. * Although a strawberry May continue to turn red after picldng& it wiIl neyer develop its fai flavour in that way. For the true ripe strawberry taste, look for bernes that are cOMPletelY caloured, have a sweet smell and no whitor green spots(as it happeras, there are white strawberries, ut nome are grown coomerial in Ontario). Avoid cruéhed beres and b. wary of berries packed in juice-stamned containers * size, colour, 101avour and texture wiflVary according to vaniety. Ealy-nipening Vesrs for example, are amali, soft and very dark when rpWhich makes them partacularlygood for jam-niaking. Lighter-coloured, frmer Governor Sfimcoes, by contract, are preferred for eating raw because of their brighter colour and theïr texture. A HISTORICAL YFUTURE Wbitby FPree Press 1. .Who was thé first suparintandent of music in Whitby's public schools? 2. Famous Canadian artist Tom Thomson has two connections with Whitby, athoug h he neyer lived here.What were they? 3. Why did the Protestant community contribute generously to building Whitby's f rst Roman Catholic church in 1867? 4. When was the stne foundation buit under St. Thomas' Anglican Church in (905)71--1 particularly in sunporches or mudrooms. (Don't leave these doors open for long periods of time.) In addition to checking yu home's exterior, keep, garag cane safely stored out of harrn s way and don't leave any food refuse lying about. Raccoons are notorious for their midnight rummages through neighbour- hood garbage cane. Make sure tenants are vacant frst Before you seal anything Up, niake sure there aren't any animale already inhabiting armes of your home. Othewis, You'1l be trapping themn inside with no visible means of escape and tIs will cause problenis for both you and your unfortunate 'house- guests. y For tipe on the humane handling of mice, raccoons or squirrels, rytalking to somen at your local humane society, or a nature or wildlife group. Ask for advice on the best way to coax these cratures out of your home and back into their own natural environment. PtoeSting your garden Wildlife damage is usually much more apparent in the gardon than it is in the home. And if you grow vegetables or fruit, you can expect to have at least a few four-legged visitors dro i fo amunch or two during the rowng eason. Bird ar particularly fond of fr-uit bushes and trees, while rabbits and groundhogs prefer to nilbble on a wide variety of things. Groundhogs alo like to tunnel their way underground. Raccoons and skunks, on the other hand, like to dig up lawns and gardens while looking for grubs. This can cause some damage, but can be hard to discourage unlesa you are able to rid your lawn of grubs. Raccoons alolike fr-uits (and, of course, garbage) anid are quite dexterous with their niinble little paws. To protect your garden crops from birds, you can erect scarecrows and instail protective and netting on bushes and trees. Fences are also helpful at =keeping certain creatures, like rbits and deer, at bay. Mesh wire placed beneath and around plante can also offer protection from burrowers like groundhogs and rabbite.