Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Question: We live in Mariners' Cove, on Kukii Street, near where a new housing development is going in. For the past two months, we have been inundated with mice! I think their habitats are being destroyed. Are the developers aware of this problem? We had professionals out, to the tune of $500, and we still catch mice daily. Can anyone help us solve this problem? Homeowners on own
to stop mice invasionAnswer: You'll have to take matters -- actually, the mice -- into your own hands.
The state Department of Health's Vector Control Branch has not had any complaints about mice in the area, according to vector control inspector Reid Himura.
Normally, a developer is supposed to make sure there are no rodents when clearing land or demolishing a structure, he said. But in this case, Himura said "it's very hard to say" where the mice might have originated.
On top of that, it is very difficult for any measure "to be 100 percent foolproof even if they did control it. It's impossible."
So, "It comes down everybody just being responsible for their own property," he said.
His advice is to eliminate all the possible sources on your property that would attract mice, such as accumulation of "things" that would provide a place for them to live -- stacks of boxes, wood or rock piles and any overgrowth, especially ground covering.
Also, get rid of any exposed food, such as garbage that is not bagged properly, birdseed, leftover pet food and even dog droppings, "because the smell attracts rodents," Himura noted.
He also suggested checking around your home for areas the mice might be able to sneak in, especially exterior doors. "If there is a space underneath the door that a pencil can fit through, then mice can go through that," he said. "Mice don't normally climb, so normally, they come through the spaces on doors that a pencil can fit through. So (you should) weather-strip those places."
Also, check carefully anything you've brought into your house that you've left outside for a while.
"Other than that, the only thing you can do is to put traps in the house to catch the ones already in the house," Himura said.
Q: Can you tell me who I can call to have somebody pick up a battery that someone left on the sidewalk in front of my house? I am concerned that it will start leaking or worse.
A: You can call the city refuse division, but you'll be advised to dispose of it on your own, if possible.
The batteries shouldn't just be left out with the trash.
According to the city's household hazardous-waste guidelines, auto batteries are among the materials people should dispose of themselves.
By law, car battery retailers are required to accept your old battery when you buy a new one. You can see if a retailer will accept the one you found abandoned, or you can call a battery recycler.
Battery Bill's (formerly Battery Exchange of Hawaii), 960 Ahua St. in Mapunapuna, accepts old car batteries for $2 each, while Interstate Battery Systems of Hawaii, 94-110 Leokane St. in Waipahu, will take them for $1 each.
Got a question or complaint?
Call 529-4773, fax 529-4750, or write to Kokua Line,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu 96813. As many as possible will be answered.
E-mail to kokualine@starbulletin.com