Winter's cold temperatures provide extra incentive for mice to find a way into your house. If you suspect you have mice, you need to address the problem immediately. Mice can
 carry infectious diseases and present a health hazard to you and your family. Because a female can have up to 10 litters a year with six or more babies per litter there is no such thing as one mouse! If mice have gotten into food in your home, don't take chances--throw it away. Always wash your hands after handling anything that may have had contact with mice. Stay safe by wearing gloves when handling traps. The best way to deal with mice is preventing them from entering your house in the first place. Keep Mice Out of Your House
- Store food, especially grains, pet food and birdseed, in rodent-proof metal or heavy plastic containers.
- Store grass seed in sealed containers.
- Rodent proof your garbage cans by settling them on 6-in. high wood platforms. Be sure lids fit tight; use rubber cords to fasten them if necessary. Replace cans with cracks or holes.
- Search out holes (even small ones) around your foundation, eaves and soffits and fill with steel wool, caulk, plaster or cement or cover with sheet metal.
If You Do Have Mice...there are several options to get rid of them: live traps, snap traps, sticky traps, and poison. If you have pets or children, we don't recommend poison as it is very dangerous if ingested.
Snap traps are effective. The photo above shows the best way to position a snap trap. Using two doubles the chances of trapping a mouse because it can jump over one trap, but not two. A trap can be reused--the scent of a captured mouse actually attracts other mice.
|
Winter feeding for birds....
Winter can be a difficult time for birds. 
Birds are warm-blooded; meaning they maintain their body temperature within a certain range even when the temperature around them changes. Sudden drops in temperature and winter storms are especially hard on our feathered friends; water can be hard to find, and the high-energy food birds need to keep warm is scarce. It is especially helpful to have feeders full in the winter so birds can find food easily.
Feeders should be located out of the wind. The east or southeast side of a house or near a stand of trees is ideal. It is best to have a perching spot such as a bush or tree for the birds to provide sufficient cover from predators and shelter from the wind and weather.
Oil sunflower seed is a good overall food to offer in the winter. It has a high calorie/ounce ratio due to its high fat and protein content and its relatively thin shell. Oil sunflower has twice the calories per pound than striped sunflower and its smaller shells make less mess when discarded by the birds.
Suet is a high energy, pure fat substance invaluable in winter when insects are harder to find and birds need more calories to keep warm. Suet can be fed in a variety of feeders ranging from a suet cage to a wood and cage feeder offering protection from the weather elements.
K&B True Value has many varieties of feeders, suet and seed. Stop in and check it out today!
|
