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My friends in #FourCorners #NewMexico #Floods? A keynote of the Four Corners Hanta Virus is that cases increase when there’s a boom in the rodent population after a wet winter. This is going to be a HELLA wet winter. That means the risk for catching the virus is going to be way up this spring. (1

Start rodent-proofing from the outside in. This article is a great place to start: (2 www.countryliving.com/home-mainten...

Look in your garage. Don a good k-95 mask and old clothes. Declutter, get rid of overstuffed cardboard boxes where rodents love to nest. Hanta virus spreads via droppings/urine mixed with dust. Bleach solution is what is used to clean up safely. (3a

After cleaning, remove your dirty clothes outside, stuff into plastic garbage bag. Put clothes directly into washer by turning bag inside out directly into hot soap/bleach water inside washer. Swish bag in water before pulling out. Keep on your mask until you step into shower & soap up. (3b

Move everything to waterproof plastic totes you can safely spray/wipe clean. That pink fluffy fiberglass? They love to nest there. Replace with rigid foam insulation if at all possible. Seal all cracks by tightly packing in steel wool then sealing it with caulk. Put tight gaskets around doors. (4

Power wash and seal all concrete floors so they don’t “bleed” dust. Seal all unfinished surfaces with a clear latex varnish or Kilz paint (you can tint it to any color you like). If you have brick walls, make sure all drainage holes have metal “weepers” firmly in place to keep mice out. (5

Check the outside of house walls for cracks, seal w/ steel wool & caulk. Make sure all house windows/doors close tightly. Inside, do the same steel wool/caulk procedure around pipes and cracks inside cabinets, bathrooms, kitchens. Declutter there as well. (6

In your yard, the best rodent deterrent is a gopher snake. Look up how to build basking spaces and areas to attract them. Inside, if you like cats? Get a cat, get them fixed, and KEEP THEM INSIDE. Cats are transplanted predators that eat native birds and it’s not safe outside for cats anyways. (7

If you don’t/can’t want to have a cat around? Find a friend with an easygoing kitty to come visit every month and leave all cabinet/closet doors open to let the cat explore everywhere. Mice can smell if a cat has been around. And they’ll avoid a home that smells like one has been there. (8

If you have an RV? Do all the above, and every month spray the inside with Infinity Shield deoderant/disinfectant. It has particular qualities that disrupt rodent & other vermin’s ability to smell. They hate that and avoid it. Get your car detailed, ban snacks in the car if at all possible (9

Again, keep anything in the trunk in sealed plastic bins to avoid giving rodents nesting places. Take your cat to visit your garage & roam the room & in/out of your car. Do the same to your RV. Wash & Infinity shield all sleeping bags, tents, etc. Vacuum pack them w/ cedar or peppermint sachets. (11

Back to the inside of the house- wash extra blankets & linens & put infinity shield in the rinse cycle. Pack extra clothes & linens in plastic totes. Any spring cleaning needs to to start with three things: K95 mask, old clothes, spraying down surfaces with a bleach-based cleaner. (12

Soak well, then let the cleaner sit for 20 minutes. Wipe it down with rags that imediately go into a plastic bag for a hot soap/bleach wash. I really can’t relate my deep distaste for the germ/dust mite trap that is wall to wall carpet. But this spring, start wearing a k95 mask & start with a (13