Any advice for 4 legs and bald tails!

[Simon Select]

We have had 2 customers in this week. Mice in engine bays. One stores in a storage bay on Dartmoor, the other stores in a barn. One has killed a Mercedes engine and the more we look the more damage and hazelnuts we find. The other van has gone from the back to the front. Chewed cables, heating vents, even the insulation on the drivers seat.
How can you repel them? I suggested if you are going to leave your van in such places you may want to invest in mouse/rat traps. Said customer said that’s inhumane.
One bought from us, one didn’t. One said warranty I said no obviously as I can’t get that through.
Are there any deterrents that actually work?
Are there humane traps?

 

[Reallyretired]

This works for dogs but I dont know if it'll work for any other animal. I use to bring dogs with me, but I dont have a dog any more. But if you get apple juice (like orange juice) but only use apple juice, put it in a spray bottle and spray/mist it on furniture, seating etc in the MH and what ever it does to dogs, they wont pee or chew on anything in the MH, the smell of it to dogs, they dont like it and they keep well away from it. I cant smell it. I had one dog (bitch) in particular and she picked on another dog (male) by pulling his hair out on his tail, so to stop her from doing it, I sprayed apple juice on his tail, not only did she keep away from him but all my other dogs avoided him too LOL
But for mice in the MH when I'm not using it, more so over the winter months, I set mouse traps in the MH and rat traps out side it...corn lased with poison. So far so good But I'm going to try the apple juice in the MH this winter without mouse traps and see if that works too.

If you have a bitch in heat/season, spray her with apple juice to keep the boys away

Surprised this works as most dogs like apple as long as you peel it first.
One GSD I had when teething used to attack skirting boards. Mustard had been suggested to prevent it so I liberally applied Colemans best to the skirting boards. I think it just improved the flavour.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

Surprised this works as most dogs like apple as long as you peel it first.
One GSD I had when teething used to attack skirting boards. Mustard had been suggested to prevent it so I liberally applied Colemans best to the skirting boards. I think it just improved the flavour.

Lots of animals don't have a reaction to spicy foods.
Mike.

 

[Wildbill]

Pepper mint spray I have herd works
WB

 

[Wee Bold Davy]

I use peppermint spray but no idea whether it does anything, probably doesn't last for long.
After 7 years our van is still mint

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[ManTheVan]

Blimey, Simon! Sounds a mare! I tried “humane” traps years ago. The mice just ended up eating each other. Disgusting.

We live out in the sticks and there’s a healthy population of rodents. I did a commercial license course a few years ago, so can buy and use the proper strong stuff around the property. I use bait stations spaced evenly around buildings from early Autumn when rats and mice are looking to move indoors. You’re not allowed to keep them baited on spec, “just in case”, as this can lead to resistance building up.

Lethal traps work very well indeed. You can buy “The Big Cheese” attractant at Mole Valley. Mice cannot resist this, but I’m sure peanut butter works too.

Place traps for mice at different locations and heights as they love to explore and climb. Rats are neophobic (highly suspicious of anything new) so usually need a couple of weeks to get used to a new bait station before they’ll go near it.

Jim’s advice is good, particularly the bit about leaving no food on board.