HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-05-03, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 2000.
Catching creatures
Paul Finch of Walton has turned his hobby of trapping and
releasing nuisance animals into a business.
Walton man gets rid
of some pesky animals
18 new schools start gardens
By Janice Becker
Citizen staff
From a love of animals and a
personal need, a Walton man has
created a business which can rid
homeowners of pesky creatures.
Paul Finch began trapping
creatures, from mice and chipmunks
to raccoons and skunks, three years
ago, first to solve his own animal
control problem then as a service to
others while preventing the animals
from being destroyed.
It turned into a paying business
where lie not only traps the
offending creature, but transports it
to a location far enough away so it
will not return.
If the animal trapped appears to
have rabies. Finch says he takes it to
either the humane society or local
vet so it can be put down.
Because he traps several types of
animals, Finch has a large selection
of cage sizes geared to the specific
animal.
“The skunk cage is smaller so it
can’t get its tail up,” he smiles. Even
with that. Finch always throws a tarp
over the cage before transporting,
just for extra insurance. Due to the
added risk of spray on both himself
or his vehicle and the possibility of
rabies, the cost for trapping skunks is
$65.
A first visit to the property is $25
then an additional $55 for the
trapping of other animals. There is
also a seniors’ discount.
For those interested in trapping an
animal themselves, Finch will
remove the creature, but at a higher
cost than with his own traps.
He covers Perth and Huron
Counties but will travel farther with
a mileage charge.
If land creatures aren’t the
problem, Finch also has a solution
for bats in the attic. An ultrasonic
sound system is installed in the
attic area to disturb the bats’
environment.
“They can’t eat, sleep or breed
with the sound,” he says.
A bat house is included so the
creatures will nest in another
location but not at the neighbours’.
A more costly endeavour, the
system costs $700 to $800. Finch
suggests it is only needed in the
summer and can be shut off once the
snow and cold temperatures
arrive.
He estimates the hydro cost
at about 25 cents per month while
operating.
The ultrasonic systems also work
on rodents in the house, he says.
Whether using one’s own traps or
with Finch’s on the property he
warns parents to ensure their
children stay away from trapped
animals. Even though they are in a
cage, the animals can be vicious if
children get their fingers too close,
he says.
To date, Finch says he has a 100
per cent success rate.
For those needing the services of
Good Riddance Pest Control. Finch
can be reached at 887-8818.
Spring has arrived, the evidence is
in. 18 new Earth Friendly Gardens
are sprouting up in elementary
schools in the Avon Maitland and
Huron Perth Catholic school boards.
In the past school year there were
18 gardens started in Huron Schools
with 21 volunteers. This year there
are 18 more gardens in Perth
schools. “This doubling of the
number of gardens is very exciting
and a testament to the work of the 27
new volunteers and participating
teachers,” says Lynda Rotteau,
gardens co-ordinator.
The Earth Friendly Gardens are
possible this year thanks to a grant
from the Ontario Trillium
Foundation. In past years the
sponsors included the Canadian
Living Foundation, Millennium
Bureau of Canada, Shell
Environmental Fund and Heart
Health Huron. The Children’s Aid of
Huron, Rural Response for Healthy
Morris gets $529,000 from prov
Morris council received word of
increased government funding at
the April 18 meeting.
The township will receive
$529,000 through the Community
Reinvestment Fund. That amount is
up from the 1999 figure of
$491,000, but lower than the
$532,000 received in 1998.
After reviewing four tenders for
gravel, council accepted the quote
from Joe Kerr Construction. The
cost to supply, crush, load and
spread 23,000 metric tonnes of 5/8”
granular A gravel was priced at
$2.75 per tonne for a total of
$63,250 plus taxes. The tender
acceptance is subject to approval
by the transition board.
A quote from Lavis Contracting
for $276,068.67 for paving in Mor
ris Twp. was accepted by council,
subject to transition board
approval.
The township will submit an
application to the Waste Diversion
Program for one composter per
household. The township will be
informed if the proposal would be
acceptable in the program.
A bylaw was passed to approve
the Belgrave Community Centre
agreement for 2000 pending,
approval from the transition board.
Council endorsed the resolution
from Hastings Centre asking the
provincial government to change
regulations so that a director with
the Ministry of Environment must
consult local municipalities and
conservation authorities before
issuing permits. The petition
referred to the Ministry of Environ
Children, Huron and Perth Health
Units and the Stratford Red Cross
are the sponsoring agencies.
The goal of the gardens is to teach
students from kindergarten to Grade
8 how to grow healthy vegetables
and fruit in an organic manner.
Students are also instructed in
nutrition, composting, and garden
construction. “It is hoped that over
time these lessons will influence
many children and families to grow
more fruit and vegetables without
the dse of pesticides and chemicals,’’
said Rotteau.
Over the summer months school
families will take turns maintaining
the gardens for one-week periods. In
the fall when the students return to
the school they will harvest their
food. In the past some schools made
vegetable soup for the whole school,
preserved it for a school harvest
dinner or took produce home to their
families. It is up to the students to
ment allowing the taking of water
from municipalities without consul
tation.
Support was given to a resolution
from Chatham-Kent petitioning the
provincial government to retain the
present municipal outlet drainage
grant program as well as the tile
loan program without any reduc
tions.
Council also supported a resolu-
decide how to consume the food
they grow.
The-gardens are also dedicated to
peace as part of the International
School Peace Gardens program that
was created to celebrate the 50th
anniversary of the United Nations in
1995.-This project allows students
from all over the world to
communicate with each other over
the internet.
In the local schools, the garden
area provides a place for quiet
reflection or a neutral site for
teachers to mediate a dispute
between students.
In June the students will have the
opportunity to taste some of their
early produce before the summer
recess to remind them of the bounty
to come in the fall. They will also
receive a site visit from the co
ordinator to thank the children,
teachers and volunteers for their
participation.
•
tion from Welland petitioning the
provincial government to amend
assessment legislation to include
cultural clubs and non-profit halls
in the assessment classification for
non-profit service organizations
and non-profit private clubs for the
purpose of exempting them from
paying commercial tax rates.
May 7-13 was proclaimed Drink
ing Water Awareness Week.
@ Ontario
Now you hove the power to choose your electricity
from a number of companies.
CALL 1-888-668-4636
anti receive a free, i2-page brochure. |
Visit our website at www.est.gov.on ca or Email: fvi@est gov.on.ca '