Robins are birds that I enjoy viewing, but not as they try to build nests under our porch lights which are on both sides of an area right by our front entrance door. For three days my husband has removed the straw, twigs, etc in order to prevent a completed robin's nest. They put the straw, twigs, etc. up, he takes them down immediately. Today after reading these posts, I sprayed the area with ant and roach spray that I use when the ants try to visit too close to our outside walkway. Two robins just came with straw in their mouths, but they flew away. I hope this is a long-term solution. This is the first time that we have had this problem in the nineteen years that we have lived here. I am already tired of the mess on our porch and the potential health hazard presented if the robins succeed in building a permanent nest. We have plenty of trees that the birds usually choose for their nests and are still quite welcome to do so. However, why our porch this year is a puzzle. Thanks to all who have posted for their solutions. To the haters, because one does not want a bird's nest in an area that he/she frequently uses in his/her home, does not label the person as an animal hater. Why should my quality of life be compromised daily upon trying to enter my home for the sake of a bird's nest? The answer is that it shouldn't and will not. We will win this fight and reclaim our safety and keep our good health.

I would try to get something in there like the dental tool and loosen it. Maybe brake it up into small pieces shop vac'ing with a crevice nozzle at the same time. If that doesn't do it, at least if you could drill some holes in the foam with a long bit to make channels, that could work as well. I think sill pans are most critical with brick veneer and stucco exteriors, probably not so much with lap sidings. If your windows are flashed properly, you might be okay unless you have brick or stucco, then you definetely need a place for moisture and water to channel out over the sill pan.

When we moved into a different house, where the windows were low and reachable by cat claw, it was evident right away that our four indoor kitties were going to scratch the screens. It meant sacrificing time lurking in the corner of one of the rooms with screens (where I would be behind the cats), but I stayed there and pressed on an alarm buzzer (the kind a woman might carry to scare off an attacker) every time a cat showed signs of interest in the screens. They learned quickly that trying to touch them with their paws would activate an unpleasant loud noise and were cured in less than a day. As I recall, I didn't have to repeat the process for all the screens in the house, either. I don't know if this would work with cats that have already been scratching screens with impunity, but I think it's worth a try.

I have been very happy with a non-toxic trick I use to get fleas out of carpets. Before you go to bed, take a shallow, shiny metal pan - I use a pie pan - half fill it with water and a couple of drops of dish soap. This breaks the surface tension of the water. then aim a light directly into the pan. Since it is the only light source, the fleas jump toward the light and then fall into the water and drown. When you wake up you'll see lots of drowned fleas in the bottom of the pan. I just kept doing it until we stopped catching fleas, and moved it into different rooms every night or two. I haven't had fleas in 10 years, since I moved to the High Desert but recently moved back into an area that is less desert and more suburb. Low and behold, a flea has been spotted! just another reason to not be excited about living in town. Good to know that they could have been carried in from elsewhere and my dog isn't to blame. She has only been in the house and back yard for the last month. Dawn