Mouse in the house

[ladagobago]

Mice are cunning little suckers. I do not have them in my MH but many years ago they stripped all the corn of the four ears Indian corn hanging on the front door for the fall decorations. Go forward to Christmas and was playing carols on the organ. This was a very expensive professional Baldwin organ. Suddenly certain things were not work properly. I opened up the top and lifted the keyboards and out came pieces of corn.

This organ sat on six pedestal legs and only two of them were hollow. Both of the hollow legs were filled with wires that nearly filled the cavity and still somehow these stinking mice were able to strip the corn, travel outside around the house to the entrance of the hoses for the air conditioner compressor, run along the duct work, crawl through a hole in the wall were the organ speaker wires were routed, find some space to get in the organ and place every piece of corn between the two keyboards on the organ.

never underestimate the genius of the mouse.
sorry for the off topic interruption but thought some might enjoy the story and other would then realize what they are up against with these critters.

[1966Racer]

We had a periodic mouse in our Dutch Star that has to be parked out near the wooded area of our property, I found a few handfuls of moth balls, the old fashioned ones from WM tossed on the ground around the perimeter has stopped them from coming around, guess they don't like the smell plus the moth ball smell isn't in the coach either. You will have to replace them as they dissolve (2-3 weeks) but they are relatively inexpensive vs. the little critters visiting. Hope this helps.

[malexander]

Originally Posted by 1966Racer

We had a periodic mouse in our Dutch Star that has to be parked out near the wooded area of our property, I found a few handfuls of moth balls, the old fashioned ones from WM tossed on the ground around the perimeter has stopped them from coming around, guess they don't like the smell plus the moth ball smell isn't in the coach either. You will have to replace them as they dissolve (2-3 weeks) but they are relatively inexpensive vs. the little critters visiting. Hope this helps.

I use moth balls to help guard against squirrels.
Place a few balls in a small tin tray/pan, place them in various places throughout the MH, especially in the engine compartment. They ate through enough wires in my class C Jayco that I had to have it towed to the shop, starter wouldn't even engage.

[markmiiler]

Catch them but DO NOT release them to come back bigger and stronger!


NoN tree huger

[scottandanna]

We got a mouse or two in our travel trailer. We tried Fresh Cab, which your RV parts supplier most likely has in stock. If not, Tractor Supply Store, if you have those in your area. Or Amazon.

I bought two boxes, and then looked up the ingredients. My wife makes soaps and other essential oil products, so we bought the ingredients, and make bottles of our own, and just add it to the Fresh Cab baggies when the smell dies out.

Haven't had a mouse since.

We also did the bucket trick, but I moved it to the feed room in the barn. Very effective, but not very humane.

I like snap traps better. Quick and painless. But the bucket gets more than a single snap trap

The Fresh Cab is all natural, and no worries about our dog or cat getting into it while we travel.

Also, while parked in storage, we put moth balls in panty hose and drape them over each tire, with moth balls on each side of the tire (front and back, not side and side). And we keep the sewer hose off. Trying to eliminate any entry points, and the few we cannot eliminate, we stink up with moth balls. We park our trailer in a hay shed when not in use, so we have plenty of rodents.

[LSC9901]

Another inexpensive method is baking soda. It needs to be used on the exterior of the unit and quite likely needs updating depending on the weather conditions. The baking soda is spread all around the RV. When mice cross through it they then lick their feet and the baking soda will end their lives. Granted it isn't a perfect method due to having to renew it and that it actually kills the little critters, but I can say that it, along with other methods, has kept our MH mouse free.

[TonyMac]

The last thing in the world I want is a dead decayng mouse stinking up my motorhome from deep inside the walls or ductwork. I want them out! I never use poison, I use traps and repellants. Lots of good ideas here, love the big bucket o' drowning.

[mojoracing]

I don't know why but for you walking dead fans, the bucket trick reminded me of the show! LOL

[cauffield64]

Get the large sticky rat pads and bait them with peanut butter before you turn in for the night and by morning you will have your predator. The bad part of the senerio is they love wire insulation. get them quick.
cauffield64

[Robby W.]

I made this video on how to make a Bucket-Trap that works outstanding for mice. It's not suggested for outdoor use as larger critters would destroy it the fist night but for those that store indoors, this really works great.


https://youtu.be/_6-97MiifZc


I also use 4 snap traps in the basement, one on each corner. I've caught two mice in the traps but both times I was camping not in storage.


Robby

[dmurdock]

Originally Posted by scottandanna

We got a mouse or two in our travel trailer. We tried Fresh Cab, which your RV parts supplier most likely has in stock. If not, Tractor Supply Store, if you have those in your area. Or Amazon.

I bought two boxes, and then looked up the ingredients. My wife makes soaps and other essential oil products, so we bought the ingredients, and make bottles of our own, and just add it to the Fresh Cab baggies when the smell dies out.

Haven't had a mouse since.

We also did the bucket trick, but I moved it to the feed room in the barn. Very effective, but not very humane.

I like snap traps better. Quick and painless. But the bucket gets more than a single snap trap

The Fresh Cab is all natural, and no worries about our dog or cat getting into it while we travel.

Also, while parked in storage, we put moth balls in panty hose and drape them over each tire, with moth balls on each side of the tire (front and back, not side and side). And we keep the sewer hose off. Trying to eliminate any entry points, and the few we cannot eliminate, we stink up with moth balls. We park our trailer in a hay shed when not in use, so we have plenty of rodents.

Can you post your recipe?

[Kro1957]

Victor Pests Company, the maker of the Original Victor mouse traps make an Electronic (4 AA batteries) per trap.

They were available at Home Depot but when I went to get them again not in stock so I purchased them direct from Victor home web site.

You can use any bait you like. I use Peanut butter. It is vented so the smell goes out to the mouse and it goes into the hole to get it and when it does. Walla.... zapped to death. The trap has a on/off switch on top. LED lights to Green to indicate ready. Blinks Red when you have a catch. Just turn off, flip the lid open and drop the mouse in a bag to dispose of.

Easy, fast, effective, clean. Nice thing if you are moving or bump it it will not trip like a regular trap does.

On the Victor Pest page, you can order them in bulk package also. We used these in our home near garage or areas mice like to seek out from fall/winter shelter.

Never had a problem with the RV. (kow) For prevention I place Mouse Poison near basement areas. One or Two in Coach like below Kitchen sink. In Bathroom. And one near each main. Toss out moth balls below the coach, near jacks, wheels. I have done this with my boat also and never have I had mice or other rodents. While other guys have had mice in the boats while stored, I have not. I think that Moth Ball trick works well.

Good Luck!!

[Rusty years]

Get a cat. Rodents don't like them.

[ransil]

I have 4 rat zappers I use around the garages, usually baited with dry dog food. 2 pieces if dog food are good for multiple kills and 6-9 months.