~ —~ T INTS FOR HOMEOWNERS ( Tips On Maintaining A Mouse-Free House (NAPSA)—It isn’t just family, friends and neighbors coming over to enjoy the warmth of your home and hearth during colder weather. This is the time of year when rodents head indoors in search of food, water and shelter. These critters do more than just give people the creeps. They may be hazardous to your health, possibly carrying numerousdiseases such as salmonella, trichinosis, leptospirosis and hantavirus. According to national home improvement expert, Mr. Fix-It Lou Manfredini, “It’s best to set baits and traps before you even see a mouseor rat in orderto help keep you and your family safe. Proactive baiting and trapping is the number one way to deter destructive rodents from entering your home.” Thanks to an innovative new product from d-CON” Rodenticides, it’s easier to fight a rodent problem without the usual contact or messiness of handling a dead mouse. The No View, No TouchMouse Trap’s unique design makes the trap look more like a hockey puck. This poison-free device kills the mouse and keeps it concealed in the trap for a clean and easy disposal. Its sleek packaging is a key benefit for consumers wishingto hide their rodent prevention efforts from visitors. There are other ways to ensure rodents don’t take over your home this winter: Keep your house clean—Wash dishes and cooking utensils and clean spilled food from the counters and floors immediately. Dispose of any trash andclutter. Clean with bleach—Bleach kills bacteria that may have been Don’t let rodents take over your home during colder weather. Give it a good sweep and keep rodenticides on hand. left behind by rodents. Mix one part bleach to 10 parts water and wipe down countertops, as well as the inside of all kitchen drawers and cabinets. Seal up spaces and seal out unwanted guests—Close cracks in the foundation with plaster and all other potential entrances with steel wool, sheet metal and cement. A mouse can fit through a hole the size of a dime, and a rat can fit through a hole the size of a quarter. No food, no water, no prob- lem—Keep all food, water and garbage in metal or thick plastic containers with tight-fitting lids. Never leave food or water out overnight, even for your pets. Keep the areas surrounding your house well maintained— Trim bushes, hedges and plant debris away from the foundation to reduce nesting. For more information on main- taining a mouse-free house, call d-CON Rodenticides at 1-800-2284722.
