Prepare your home to repel animal invaders during spring nesting season
Posted: May 25, 2009
Suggested Intro:
YOU MAY BE ENJOYING EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN YOUR HOME TO THE WARMER SPRING WEATHER. BUT A WILDLIFE EXPERT IN PENN STATE'S COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES WANTS TO REMIND YOU THAT YOU SHOULD ALSO BE SEALING YOUR HOUSE AGAINST POTENTIAL TINY INVADERS. GARY ABDULLAH REPORTS:
Story:
(:15) LATE SPRING AND EARLY SUMMER ARE WHEN BIRDS, FIELD MICE, VOLES, BATS, RACCOONS AND OTHER SMALL ANIMALS ARE LOOKING FOR PLACES TO NEST AND RAISE A FAMILY -- AND YOUR HOME LOOKS VERY ATTRACTIVE. PENN STATE WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST GARY SAN JULIAN SAYS, FROM THE ANIMALS' POINT OF VIEW, THEIR OPTIONS ARE LIMITED:
San Julian Actuality:
(:19) "MANY TIMES YOU DON'T HAVE THOSE TREES WITH HOLLOW HOLES IN THEM. YOU KNOW:'OH, THAT TREE IS DEAD -- LET'S CUT IT DOWN.' AND WE JUST REMOVED THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOME OF THESE CRITTERS TO LIVE IN THE NATURAL HOLES THEY'RE USED TO, SO THEY'RE LOOKING FOR OTHER THINGS, AND YOU GET INTO A HOUSE, YOU'VE GOT THAT NICE FOAM INSULATION, NICE NESTING MATERIAL, IT'S WARM…."
(:12) THE SOLUTION, SAN JULIAN SAYS, IS TO CHECK YOUR HOME FOR THE TINY CRACKS AND OPENINGS AROUND UTILITIES THAT ANIMALS AND INSECTS CAN USE TO GET IN. LOCAL WILDLIFE DAMAGE CONTROL PROFESSIONALS CAN ALSO HELP YOU KEEP OUT UNWELCOME TENANTS. FROM PENN STATE, I'M GARY ABDULLAH.
