In addition to the damage they can do to stored foodstuff and other items, creating unsanitary conditions and spreading disease, mice are among the top culprits in many house fires because they chew on electrical wires inside the walls.

Follow these 6 recommendations to establish a mouse-free zone:

1. Check your home every spring for points where mice could enter, such as the edges of doors and windows; holes where pipes and utility lines enter; gaps at the roof and eaves; and ventilation openings for exhaust fans, air conditioning units and dryers.

2. Cover any openings with a rust resistant fine wire mesh because a mouse can enter a hole small enough for a pencil.

3. Cover garbage cans with tight fittings lids.

4. Pick up the fallen fruit and nuts from your trees every day.

5. Keep wood piles away from the house.

6. And, last but not least, keeping a good cat on the premises might help.

For Listing Alerts by Email in Blue Ridge, Ellijay, Blairsville, Jasper and Young Harris Georgia visit http://www.quicklistingalerts.com