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COUNTDOWN!
December
31st 2010
Reminder: Time is running out on
the Energy Tax Credit!
HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENT TAX
CREDITS
Consumers
who purchase and install specific products, such as
energy-efficient windows, insulation, doors, roofs, and heating and
cooling equipment in existing homes can receive a tax credit for
30% of the cost, up to $1,500, for improvements "placed in service"
starting January 1, 2009, through December 31, 2010. See
EnergyStar.gov's Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency for a
complete summary of energy efficiency tax credits available to
consumers.
Products
Eligible for Tax Credits Through 2010
Biomass stoves�
Central air conditioners, Electric heat pumps,
Furnaces and boilers, and advanced main air circulating fans�
Insulation material or systems specifically and primarily designed
to reduce heat loss or gain�
Roofing: Metal and asphalt� Water heaters (non solar): Electric
heat pump, natural gas, propane, and oil� Exterior windows, doors,
and skylights; qualified storm doors and storm windows30% of
cost,
up to $1,500�
Products Eligible for
Tax Credits Through 2016�
Geothermal heat pumps� Solar electric and solar waterheating
property� Wind energy systems30% of cost, with no upper limit� Must
be "placed in service" by Dec. 31, 2016�
Residential fuel cell systems30% of cost, up to $500 per .5 kW of
power capacity�
Must be "placed in service" by Dec. 31, 2016�
Primary residence; new and existing homes
Additional Tax
Credits�
Vehicles: Hybrid gasoline-electric, advanced lean-burn,
battery-electric, alternative fuel, fuel cell, plug-in
electricCredit varies by vehicle type: phased-out after
certain number of vehiclesare sold�
Visit fueleconomy.govfor eligibility
How
to Claim YourTax Credit
Use
IRS Tax Form 5695 to claim improvements made on your
home.
Use
the 2010 version of the following IRS Tax Forms for vehicles: - IRS
Form 8936 for plug-inelectric vehicles-
IRS
Form 8910 for other eligible vehicles (personal use) -
IRS
Form 3800 for other eligible vehicles (business use)
Forms
for 2010 will be available from the IRS in late 2010 or early
2011
Save
your receipts and the manufacturer certification statement for your
records.
Visit:
www.irs.gov for
more information on the Energy Tax Credit. |
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Have
a safe, warm and happy holiday season!
-Your
friends at Critter Control
Critter
Control of Alabama
140
Applegate Circle
Pelham,
AL 35080
205.621.2180
birmingham@crittercontrol.com
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How Animals are
Getting into your House
Common
Criminals
This trio of rodents accounts for 80
percent of animal break-ins.
MICE
Diameter
of entry hole: � inch or larger.
Likely
entry points:Garage, basement, gaps around utility
lines.
Signs
of infestation: 1/8-inch-long droppings; smell of urine;
noises at night; holes gnawed in food boxes.
Best
spots for traps: Along walls; anywhere you suspect
activity.
Preventive
measures: Seal exterior gaps with mortar; weatherstrip the
bottom of basement and garage doors; keep all foodstuffs in hard
plastic, glass, or steel containers.
Stopgap
measures: Stuff copper mesh or bronze wool into foundation
cracks.
Job
for a pro?: A large breeding population might require
professional backup.
RATS
Diameter
of entry hole: � inch or larger.
Likely
entry points: Garages, basements, rotted sills or
foundations, damaged or unused drain pipes.
Signs
of infestation: Black, greasy smudges around openings;
smell of urine; �- to 5/8-inch-long droppings; nests of discarded
food; fur; matted-down insulation; gnawing and squeaking at
night.
Best
spots for traps: Poisoned bait stations outside the house
and around the perimeter of the property line.
Preventive
measures: Eliminate all water and food sources around the
house, including bird feeders and pet dishes; store food (pet and
human) in airtight containers.
Stopgap
measures: Cover entry points with hardware cloth or
16-gauge steel flashing.
Job
for a pro?: Definitely.
SQUIRRELS
Diameter
of entry hole: 2 � inches or larger.
Likely
entry points: Where dormers meet roofs or where roof
shingles overhang fascia boards. (The second-story men of household
pests, squirrels can jump 10 to 12 feet through the
air.)
Signs
of infestation: Scampering noises in ceilings or attic;
insulation missing from spots near eaves; �- to 1-inch-long
droppings; piles of nuts.
Best
spots for traps: Live traps, clamped in place near the
spot on the roof where they're getting in. Bait them with peanut
butter, dried corn-on-the-cob, or suet.
Preventive
measures: Prune trees away from house; keep roof and
exterior trim in pristine repair; remove bird feeders.
Stopgap
measures: Nail hardware cloth over potential entry points
until they can be repaired.
Job
for a pro?: You bet. Squirrels can carry rabies. Plus,
it's tricky climbing ladders with traps, clamps, and jar of
Jif.
Occasional
Visitors
Depending on where you live, you may
get a drop-in (or burrow-in or slither-in) visit from one of
these:
Skunks: These
four-legged stink bombs will easily burrow under your patio slab or
stake out territory in your garage, crawl space, or basement.
Hire a pro to trap them live and transport them
elsewhere.
Bats: Given
the opportunity, they'll happily take up residence in your attic
for the summer and leave behind potentially disease-ridden guano as
a present. Seal off their entranceways with a double layer of
insect screen and hardware cloth, but only after you evict them
first (Bat species are protected nationwide). Call in a pro to
erect a "bat flap," a layer of screen that lets the bats crawl out
but blocks their way back in.
Birds: In
spring, starlings and sparrows have a knack for building nests in
hidden, difficult-to-reach openings in a house. The louvered vents
for dryer exhausts and the openings behind roof fascia are
perennial favorites. Bar them from entering with hardware cloth.
Take down the bird feeders that are attracting them to your
property.
Raccoons: The
masked marauders of the animal world, they'll barge down chimneys
and into open garages or attic vents. Best captured with a live
trap baited with peanut butter, suet, raw eggs, or dried corn on
the cob. To keep them from coming back, cap your chimney, keep
basement and garage doors closed, eliminate bird feeders and
outdoor pet bowls, and lock down trash lids with bungee
cords.
Snakes: In
the fall, they'll work their way into openings around basement
doors or cracks in foundation mortar, looking for a place to
hibernate. They'll leave of their own accord when the weather warms
up in spring. Seal those openings behind them.
Opossums: You'll
occasionally find these nocturnal fruit-and-insect eaters camped
out under your deck or blundering into open garages, basements, and
crawl spaces. They won't stay, unless they think you're going to
feed them. As with skunks, you'll need a pro to capture them and
ferry them out of the neighborhood.
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| Raccoon |
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Raccoon
Facts
With the cold months approaching, it is important to ensure
that your home is prepared for wildlife animals such as raccoons,
to enter your home. Squirrels, raccoons, opossum and rodents will
typically make their way into attics, and crawlspaces to seek
shelter from the cold temperatures.
Description
The raccoon (also
spelled racoon) is easily recognizable by its mask and
ringed tail and is often referred to as a "masked bandit". The mask
may enhance its vision at night and is also believed to reduce
glare when camouflaging itself from predators. Its bushy tail,
about 8-12 inches in length, is used as a fat storage (particularly
during the winter time), to balance itself when climbing, and to
brace itself when sitting up.
The average weight
of a raccoon is 12-20 pounds. Their front paws are very sensitive
and manipulative. They can identify an object before touching it
(because of special hairs above their claws) and have the ability
to open jars, garbage cans, doors, and even complex locks. Their
back legs are short compared to their torso, making it difficult
for them to run quickly or jump great distances and their hind feet
can rotate (point backwards), making it easy for them to climb down
a tree headfirst. Raccoons can cool their bodies by sweating and
panting.
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| Raccoons
Playing/Eating |
Habitat
The raccoon is
native to North America and was later introduced to other
countries, including Japan and the European mainland. They prefer
living in heavily wooded areas near rivers, lakes, or streams but
can survive in many regions, including coastal marshes, mountainous
areas, and even urban areas. They are the most common wildlife
species to live in towns and cities.
It is a fact that
the raccoon does not construct its own den. Instead, it relies on
natural processes (such as rock crevices and hollow trees) or the
work of other animals. It will use several dens within its range of
land.
Diet
The raccoon feeds
on plants and animals. They prefer fruit and nuts but will also eat
grain, insects, worms, fish, birds, garbage, and even bark when
times are tough.
Before eating, the
raccoon is sometimes seen rubbing the food between its paws and
even dipping it into water, as though it was washing it.
Researchers don't believe they are washing it but suggest they may
be examining it and removing any unwanted parts. Water is thought
to increase their sense of touch.
Behavior
and Reproduction
The raccoon is
usually nocturnal but can be seen active during the day. The male
adult is usually unsociable with other raccoons except during the
mating season. Some unrelated males will form a loose group
(usually no more than four) to keep outsiders away. Related females
are more sociable with one another.
Breeding occurs
mostly between the months of January and March. The male raccoon
will mate with more than one female and will have no part in
raising the young. The female will give birth to one liter per
year. The size of a liter can range from 1-8 kits (also called
cubs) but the average size is 3-4.
Most baby raccoons
are born in the month of April or May. After 6-9 weeks, they begin
to explore the world outside of the den and start consuming solid
food. By 16 weeks, they are usually weaned. Many females will
remain close to their mother while the males usually move away (an
instinct to prevent inbreeding).
More
Raccoon Facts
The average life
expectancy of a raccoon is about 2-3 years in the wild, although
there have been reported cases of some living up to 16 years. In
captivity, they have been known to live past 20 years.
In most areas, the
majority of raccoons die from hunters and collisions with vehicles.
In North America, the most common natural cause of death is
distemper.
The raccoon
can carry the rabies virus and transmit it through its saliva. Main
symptoms include aggressive behavior, impaired mobility, a sickly
appearance, and abnormal vocalization. Some may show no signs.
Often, rabid raccoons will retire to their den.
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Squirrel Facts & Habitat
Squirrel's
belong to the order "Rodentia", with 1650 species, it is the
largest group of living mammals. It also comprises forty percent
of all present day mammal species.
There
are over 365 species of squirrels in seven families. They include
the tree squirrel, ground squirrel, and flying squirrel. Plus many
squirrel-like mammals such as the gopher, ground hog and prairie
dog.
Squirrels
are the most active in late winter, when the mating season begins.
The males will chase a females, as well as, chase off other
suitors. This ritual of chasing, occurs through the trees at top
speed. While they perform some of the most breathtaking acrobatics
imaginable.
The
period of gestation varies from 33 days in the smaller species of
pine squirrels, up to 60 days for the larger species such as the
common gray and fox squirrels.
Squirrels
are usually born in the early spring. The average litter consists
of four. This varies with climate and location. A second litter
can occur in mid summer, if there is an adequate food
supply.
A
female squirrel will choose the strongest male during mating
season, but is unlikely to breed with that male again. This is
natures way of reducing inbreeding, and to preserve the
species.
A
baby squirrel weighs approximately one ounce at birth, and is
about one inch long. They do not have hair or teeth, and are
virtually blind for the first six to eight weeks.
Gray
squirrels come in many colors. Shades of gray are the most common
followed by shades of brown. There are also pure white and pure
black squirrels, but both are variations of the gray
squirrel.
The
common Red squirrel can have an all black coat. While the Kaibab
squirrel has a black body with a white tail. Both are found in
coniferous forests.
In
the summer squirrels are most active two to three hours after
sunrise, then they'll rest in the afternoon. Resuming activity
again two hours before sunset. The squirrel will retire to its nest
well before dark, and will rarely leave the nest in the dark. In
the winter, the squirrel will complete its activities between dawn
and mid- day, and will remain in or around the nest until the next
day.
During
winter storms, or severe cold, the squirrel may not leave the nest
for days. But, the tree squirrel does not
hibernate!
An
adult squirrel normally lives alone. But will, in severe cold,
share its nest with other squirrels to conserve body heat. Once the
temperature rises, the guests will be on their way.
Squirrels
eyes are located high, and on each side of their head. This allows
them a wide field of vision, without turning their
head.
The
gray squirrels diet consists of nuts, seeds and fruit. It will eat
bird eggs, bugs, and even an animal carcass if there is no other
food source available.
The
gray squirrel requires some salt in its diet, and may find this
salt in the soil along roads where snow and ice may have
been.
Squirrels
chew on tree branches to sharpen and clean their teeth. That's why
you may see many small branches on the ground around large trees.
They will also chew on power lines for the same reason, this has
caused many major power outages throughout the
country.
A
squirrel's brain is about the size of a walnut.
The
average adult squirrel needs to eat about a pound of food a week to
maintain an active life.
Squirrels
communicate through a series of chirps. The frequency, and the
duration of the notes communicate everything from laughter to
alarm. Their frequency range is normally between .01 KHz. and 10
KHz. (kilohertz). These sounds when used in conjunction with tail
gestures, form the basis for squirrel communication.
If
a squirrel has taken up residence in your attic or crawl space, the
only practical way to remove them is by trapping.
A
squirrel will break the shell of a nut with its teeth, then clean
the nut by licking it or rubbing on its face before it is buried.
This action applies a scent to the nut which helps the squirrel
find it later, even under a foot of snow.
The
sweat glands of a tree squirrel are located on their feet, between
the foot pads and on their paws between the toes. When hot or
excited a squirrel will leave wet tracks on a dry surface. This
scent is also used to mark the trees in their
territory.
If
a squirrels nest becomes infested with fleas or other parasites, it
will move to, or build a new nest. This is why there may be more
nests then squirrels in a given area.
The
gray squirrel has been known to build a nest in many unusual
places, in an attic or a crawl space seems to be the most common.
Squirrels have also built nests in automobiles, chimney's, barbecue
grills and under porches.
When
a squirrel senses danger, its first instinct is to stand
motionless. If on the ground it will race to the closest tree, or
other climbable object to escape. If it is in a tree, it will
circle the trunk with its body pressed tightly to the
bark.
The
squirrel's erratic path while crossing a street is an attempt to
confuse the oncoming vehicle... thereby causing it to change
direction. This is obliviously the squirrels biggest, and often
last mistake.
The
male tree squirrel takes twice as long, as the female, to groom
itself. They are the cleanest animal in the rodent
family.
A
squirrels teeth grow continuously. Their incisor's will grow six
inches per year, but stay short due to the constant wear they
receive.
The
most common type of squirrel bite is a result of feeding a squirrel
by hand. Never hold the food between your fingers, chances are very
good you will be bitten. A squirrel's eyes are always looking for
predators and they rarely focus on what they are
eating.
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Save
$50.00
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Mention Critter Control's
monthly newsletter, and receive up to 50.00 off your next home
inspection.
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Expires: January 31, 2011 |
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About
Us
Critter
Control, 140 Applegate Circle, Pelham AL
35124
1.205.621.2180
Birmingham Office
1.334.265.6191
Montgomery Office
1.901.737.7474
Memphis Office
1.205.345.9288
Tuscaloosa Office
1.256.519.9100
Huntsville Office
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