Homes Plus
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HOMES PLUS 8 Keep mice in mind when winterizing your home CAR GUYS BOOMER 2,121 Sq. Ft. 7-Car Garage $309,940 SPECIAL TO HOMES PLUS WAUKESHA – As the weather turns colder, many homeowners begin the necessary process of home winterization. While insulating the roof and maintaining the heating system are important, homeowners must also remember to take the necessary steps for protecting their home against unwanted pests. Mice are an especially common intruder when the season changes as they seek shelter and warmth during the winter months. They also happen to be particularly adept at finding unnoticed entrances into your home – due to their great agility, climbing prowess and ability to squeeze through an opening only 1/4 inch wide. A focused effort is necessary to ensure the exclusion of these tiny creatures, which are not only nuisances but also prominent vectors of disease. "Mice eat, damage and contaminate our HIS & HERS BOOMER 2014 2,152 Sq. Ft. $279,725 234949008 TAKE A BOOMER NEW HOME TOUR Watch Two New Videos on YouTube at "BADGER HOME BUILDERS" and see the His and Her's Boomer at "Boomer Ranch" Call 262-893-7440 To Design Your Wish List Into A New Home! BOOMERS NEXT STEP RANCH 1,800 Sq. Ft. $217,980 It's time for FALL CLEAN-UP FOREST VIEW RANCH 2,148 Sq. Ft. $267,953 • Lawn Mowing / Maintenance • Seeding • Sodding • Pruning • Aeration & Dethatching • Residential & Commercial 234086005 We deliver small loads of TOP SOIL 1⁄2 yards - 3 yards From $36,900 www.WesternHillsLots.com NOVEMBER 2013 Call Today! 262-542-6120 whlandscaping@gmail.com Now Accepting Contracts for COMMERCIAL SNOWPLOWING food, and spread disease," the Batzner Pest Management website said. "(The house mouse) has been found to transmit lymphocytic choriomeningitis, rabies, salmonellosis, leptospirosis and plague, as well as many other harmful ailments." There is also research to show that childhood asthmas can be triggered with mice in the home environment. Mice can transmit these diseases to humans in a variety of ways, including bites and food contamination. Their fecal remains, if broken apart, disperse particles into the air which can be inhaled by humans and cause numerous infections. Mice and other rodents will also gnaw on and through many building materials and electronic equipment, adding property damage and the potential for fires to the list of associated dangers. A standard house mouse is between 3 and 3.9 inches in length, but can squeeze through holes no larger in diameter than a pencil. They can live up to two years in a controlled setting, but typically live a year or less in the wild. Female mice can produce as many as 56 offspring annually. To reduce the chances of any mice entering your home over the winter, homeowners should use weather strips on doorways and windows and seal additional small cracks with copper mesh (steel wool will rust and deteriorate over time). They also should consult with their pest management company about using an excluder material, which is a mix of stainless steel and fabric, that protects against mice and rats. Plumbing pipe passageways often present mice with an ample amount of space. Larger openings can be protected with wire mesh, through which the mice cannot gnaw. However, concrete patching is the best long-term solution in property foundations. Inside the residence, homeowners should consider arranging their pantry so that boxed and bagged items (including pet food) are stored near the top with canned foods lower to the ground. Around the home's exterior, rake away any weeds or shrubbery near the home as they can provide safe passage to inquisitive pests. Mulch, in particular, should not be used near the foundation, and any overhanging tree branches need to be cut down. For the best results, firewood should not be stored within the immediate vicinity of the home. (Courtesy of Batzner Pest Management, New Berlin.)