Mouse time

[Casper46]

Any thoughts on how to stop mice keeping warm in our engine. We put pots of poison under the bonnet of the cars and MH and it gets eaten, as does the electric cable coating and anything that has insulation on it. Being an A Class it’s not that easy to see what damage is being done.

 

[Figaro]

Get a resident moggie ?

 

[Clarky]

Never had a problem with the moho but the little bu$$ers got into the car last winter and chewed up the seats, even though it was locked and in the garage.
Someone said that mice don't like the smell of peppermint so this year we have bought some peppermint essence and put it on cotton wool balls secreted in the interior of the car. No idea if it works, time will tell.
Mouse traps and poison down in the garage at home.
Apparently moth balls work well but having the car and moho smelling like an old lady is a bit much.

Richard.

 

[Northernraider]

Any thoughts on how to stop mice keeping warm in our engine. We put pots of poison under the bonnet of the cars and MH and it gets eaten, as does the electric cable coating and anything that has insulation on it. Being an A Class it’s not that easy to see what damage is being done.

Have you seen the film mousetrap ?

Be afraid be very afraid



Sorry I can't give a helpful answer it's not something I've had problems with but I've heard those electronic mouse thingies are supposed to be good

 

[jockaneezer]

We had to get our cat Lulu put to sleep 2 months ago, first time we haven't had a cat around the house. We've now got a mouse in the pantry.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Tykatem]

I plug one of these in when the motorhome is in storage winter time.

They're 12v with an average consumption of only 2mA. I put mine in the engine compartment facing downwards. Never had a problem last winter.

Pete

 

[SpeedyDux]

It's difficult enough trying to keep the neighbours' moggies out of the garden. It's been a long time since the last sighting of a mouse.

Which is preferable - absence of mice, or absence of cat poo on the lawn? Tricky ...

 

[Casper46]

Get a resident moggie ?

Casper and moggies should not be mentioned at the same time, the only time our frightened of roads dog will go onto a road is if he sees a cat he could chase.
I have peppermint oil so I will try that for the car and an electric thingy for the MH. Thanks

 

[Figaro]

Ah ok, Casper is your dog, a German shepherd ?
Looks a lovely dog.
And I thought it was only small dogs that chase cats, clearly not !
Hope your countermeasures are successful.

 

[Nicepix]

I do pest control professionally. Forget about deterrents such as peppermint and ultrasonic devices. None of them work. Any absence of mice is usually short term in the case of ultrasonics or a coincidence in the case of herbal remedies. I have posted this before but my advice is to put traps out under the vehicle, alongside the tyres as that it where they will be getting into the interior.

A cage type trap of about 30cm long with a trapdoor entrance and baited with peanut butter or hang a suet ball inside. That will catch more than a lethal trap, but obviously you will have to deal with the live mice. No good taking them to the top of the garden to release them as they will be back the next night.

Lethal traps should be housed in boxes to prevent non-target species getting in and to optimise their efficiency. I use two break-back traps that are located inside a secure plastic box and activated simply by pulling tie wraps so you don't need to fiddle with the traps like you do with old fashioned types. I put flags made from electrician's tape on the tie wraps to give a visual indication of them having been activated. You empty the traps simply by turning them on one side or the other and pulling the tie wrap. The dog biscuits bait is secured inside and usually lasts a month or so.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Casper46]

Thanks Nicepix, How do the mice get into the plastic box! I assume they don't lift a lid, what size hole does it need?

 

[Nicepix]

The box is specially made for the job, designed to ensure clean kills and no non-target species getting in:

Each box needs two Rotech Snap Traps: https://www.1env.co.uk/rotech-snap-trap-mouse

The traps clip in place, but I also put a small screw through the front of the box to prevent the trap lifting and coming free from the clip when activated. Once the traps are secured you can attach a long tie wrap to the catching bar of each trap and feed the other end of the tie wrap out through the hole provided. To set the trap you just need to close the lid and pull each tie wrap until you hear the trap click.

Inside the trap at each side is a spike designed to hold bait blocks. I put two Frolics dog biscuits on each spike and then push a sliver of plastic wine cork over them to stop them falling off when emptying the trap.

When the trap has been activated you simply turn it on its side, mouse side down, ease the tie wrap back and shake the mouse out. The bait stays inside on the spikes. The boxes are weather proof but I'd recommend putting a weight on the top to prevent it blowing away in strong winds. Also, if you put a small piece of coloured tape on the tie wraps when the traps are not set, when you pull the tie wrap to set the trap the tape will be further away. this gives an 'at-a-glance' visual indication as to whether the trap has been activated or not.

You can get larger ones designed for trapping rats.

 

[gus-lopez]

I use rat glue mats. Anything touches them is stuck. I caught one by his tail once
In the van I have 2 different ultrasonic deterrrents . Under the bonnet I use 1 x metal mouse trap & 1 x metal rat trap.
I have another ultra sonic in an outside area & 4 more in the apartment with 5 permanently wired up in the 2 loft spaces along with poison up there & glue mats.

 

[Gaston aires]

Cant help with mice problems but "Ants" now this works.
We had an Ant infestation warning by another MH owner in Spain a couple of years ago. True, the buggers started to crawl up the tyres, even the EHU cable. Some kind person gave us some old fashioned VIM (£1 from shops like Wilkinsons). It worked and they never came near us. I never go away without it.
Phil

 

[pandas]

Bit like slug pellets; you put something down to attract them! Caught 7 over a two week period with traditional mouse traps inside the MH - the storage venue had an issue with them which meant we had as well! Agree put the traps near the wheels. To my knowledge insurance do not cover damage by rodents.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[56337]

Mice are a life threatening issue for flexwing microlight aircraft users. Because the trike and wing are usually stored in low level hangars open to the wildlife, mice go in and feast on the wiring and wing coverings. We all used to get a gallon of paraffin, put it on rags, wring them out and place one around the base of each tyre. Apparently they hate the smell and I never had a single mouse feasting on mine.