RATS!!!

[begete]

We are getting our Class C Bigfoot ready for a trip to the Okanogan wine festival in a couple of weeks and discovered that some creatures had made a winter home in our sewer hose which is stored when not in use in the rear bumper. We have not used the RV since returning home from Palm Desert last February, and it is stored outside with a canvas cover near our garage.

Any suggestions on how to keep creatures out in the future?
Thank you

[Ramblin]

RATS??? CATS!!!

[MrIguana]

Mothballs tend to keep the critters away. We put 3-4 in a zip lock baggie and leave a bit of the zipper open to allow the smell to do its thing.

[RVNeophytes2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramblin RATS??? CATS!!!

Just minutes ago, my faithful RV bay defender was carrying one the size of a 1st grader's foot in his teeth, marched indoors under the rig and spit it out , and the wounded creature immediately climbed the rear duals! It took a leaf blower from a foot away to dislodge the still very agile rat.

My private predator is getting long in the tooth and his understudy was recently overwhelmed by a pack of coyotes with whom he unwisely chose to pick a fight. In the future, I think a simple cheapie mousetrap in the middle of the floor loaded with peanut butter will suffice: if there is a rodent within sight of the bus resourceful enough to gain entry <WHACK!>. 'Course, you have to take a look inside, now and then. But, the litterbox and endless catfood routine will be unnecessary

[Sumar]

If trying to keep them out of the sewer hose in the future, get a piece of screening and put that over each end secured with a thick black band...see if that helps.
If trying to keep them out from under the canvas cover altogether than ...good luck..

[Yellowreef]

You can buy end caps fairly cheap, like these:

http://www.amazon.com/Blueline-Sewer.../dp/B0053ZOGTI

Or these:

http://www.rvpartscountry.com/RhinoflexEndCap

Or buy end caps for the bumper itself instead of the hose if yours has open ends, depends on how theyre getting in there.

[begete]

End caps would not have helped. Somehow they chewed right thru the middle!!

[JimM68]

Of the bumper?

[okmunky]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVNeophytes2 Just minutes ago, my faithful RV bay defender was carrying one the size of a 1st grader's foot in his teeth, marched indoors under the rig and spit it out , and the wounded creature immediately climbed the rear duals! It took a leaf blower from a foot away to dislodge the still very agile rat. My private predator is getting long in the tooth and his understudy was recently overwhelmed by a pack of coyotes with whom he unwisely chose to pick a fight. In the future, I think a simple cheapie mousetrap in the middle of the floor loaded with peanut butter will suffice: if there is a rodent within sight of the bus resourceful enough to gain entry <WHACK!>. 'Course, you have to take a look inside, now and then. But, the litterbox and endless catfood routine will be unnecessary

You'll catch rodents faster if you put the trap bait side against the wall. They have very poor eyesight and tend to navigate by feel using their whiskers. They will eventually find it in the middle of the room by smell, but they don't have bladder control so the leak urine everywhere the walk. The less time inside the better.

I like the leaf blower idea!

[Yellowreef]

Quote:

Originally Posted by begete End caps would not have helped. Somehow they chewed right thru the middle!!

The middle of the hose? Then secure the bumper so they cant get in there. Did you figure out how they got in? Can you take pictures?