MICE!!!

[DRM901]

Pack rats aren't afraid of anything! We had one in the basement for a few days last summer. Banging the doors shut, walls, etc just wouldn't get it to leave.

Finally, set a trap with PB. It took 2 times before the trap finally stunned it. I opened the basement door and it was just staring at me from 3' away. A forced ejection with the help of a hatchet to the head did get it to leave, however.

Sent from my SM-G973U using iRV2 - RV Forum mobile app

[Ray,IN]

Originally Posted by DRM901

Pack rats aren't afraid of anything! We had one in the basement for a few days last summer. Banging the doors shut, walls, etc just wouldn't get it to leave.

Finally, set a trap with PB. It took 2 times before the trap finally stunned it. I opened the basement door and it was just staring at me from 3' away. A forced ejection with the help of a hatchet to the head did get it to leave, however.

Sent from my SM-G973U using iRV2 - RV Forum mobile app

That works too!

[FredKate]

At Mount Ranier a few years ago I had caught 15 mice over a 2 week period before finally finding and filling all their entry places with steel wool. A few Glue pads and old fashioned traps worked.

[kb7uxe]

you hear stuff, when we first got our motorhome, it showed evidence of mice. rather than traps, we tried PEPRMINT OIL on cotton balls. and coated the power cord. cotton balls under all drawers ( floor level ) under sinks, shower basin, hot water tank, basement, storage and front where wiring is.. Had the rig for about 10 years, never ever saw a mouse or mouse dropping. And we lived in the northwest where you expect to see at least a dropping or two.. so it made me a believer.
it worked for us, it's cheap, doesn't harm children, pets, environment or the rig.. .
Was told anything aromatic should work...
Apparently it does... :-)

[ArtJoyce]

I count on the rodents bait stations. I put 4 down one close to each wheel they are the large ones that hold 8 blocks each. I live in the country and when fall comes the field mice exits the field and look for a better abode. I also put the around my house. Inside the camper I have about 8 one block stations. I never see any chew marks on the bait in the smaller stations.

But the big stations will become empty if I don't watch them.

[IndyJim]

We decided to go another route. We've posted little signs ("Mice aren't Nice!" and "No Mouse in the House!", etc...) all around the perimeter of the MH.THAT was the easy party. Teaching the little pests to read has been the REAL challenge! (I swear some of them seem to have the attention span of a chipmunk.)

-IndyJim

[DrT7575]

Originally Posted by kb7uxe

you hear stuff, when we first got our motorhome, it showed evidence of mice. rather than traps, we tried PEPRMINT OIL on cotton balls. and coated the power cord. cotton balls under all drawers ( floor level ) under sinks, shower basin, hot water tank, basement, storage and front where wiring is.. Had the rig for about 10 years, never ever saw a mouse or mouse dropping. And we lived in the northwest where you expect to see at least a dropping or two.. so it made me a believer.
it worked for us, it's cheap, doesn't harm children, pets, environment or the rig.. .
Was told anything aromatic should work...
Apparently it does... :-)

How often did you re-do the peppermint oil on the cotton balls?

[DrT7575]

As other say, we hate mice.

We are planning to order a new Renegade Classic in a few weeks or months.

Once we get it - allegedly next spring - shall we spend a few hours stuffing every tiny entrance with cotton balls with peppermint oil and steel wool?

We do NOT trust mice - a couple years ago our clothes dryer vent door on the north side of house - the closer door deal got bent and we got 12 mice that came through it and went through about 30 feet of dryer vent and crawled up to the first floor and chewed a hole in the flexible tube going to the dryer - it took a couple weeks but we fixed the dryer vent and caught the mice - ouch

[kb7uxe]

"""How often did you re-do the peppermint oil on the cotton balls?"""

about every ~2 years. let your nose be a judge.
IT doesn't take much. we don't re-do them, we throw out the old ones and install new ones. but I guess you could reload them. :-)

seems mice want nothing to do with any area with peppermint oil..

steel wool is problematic as it gets into other stuff, and like other poisons, the mice have to eat it, then hope they don't die inside the motorhome. that's a whole nuther stink. ..

The peppermint oil seems to work in that they don't even enter any area treated... and it doesn't take much.
I wiped a little it on the power cord, and dump hose as well thinking they may use that for access..
I've been using it here in Yuma to keep pigeons off the eves by the pool... seems to work for them as well....
While it's not permanent, it does seem to work..

Bottom line, for us, it works well keeping the varmint's out, and even if the grandkids pick up the cotton ball and eat it, you won't be calling poison control. or worry about your dog chewing on a poisoned mouse.

[DrT7575]

Thanks, Dan, I am WTØQ! I buy essential oils from libertynaturals.com in Oregon or newdirectionsaromatics.com in Canada - great oils, small bottles or big bottles and great prices. Blessings.

[MO Fred]

Originally Posted by kb7uxe

you hear stuff, when we first got our motorhome, it showed evidence of mice. rather than traps, we tried PEPRMINT OIL on cotton balls. and coated the power cord. cotton balls under all drawers ( floor level ) under sinks, shower basin, hot water tank, basement, storage and front where wiring is.. Had the rig for about 10 years, never ever saw a mouse or mouse dropping. And we lived in the northwest where you expect to see at least a dropping or two.. so it made me a believer.
it worked for us, it's cheap, doesn't harm children, pets, environment or the rig.. .
Was told anything aromatic should work...
Apparently it does... :-)

Peppermint oil works for us too especially in the engine compartment where there is easy access. Haven’t had and pack rats or mice in there for three years since using it.

[Ray,IN]

Originally Posted by kb7uxe

you hear stuff, when we first got our motorhome, it showed evidence of mice. rather than traps, we tried PEPRMINT OIL on cotton balls. and coated the power cord. cotton balls under all drawers ( floor level ) under sinks, shower basin, hot water tank, basement, storage and front where wiring is.. Had the rig for about 10 years, never ever saw a mouse or mouse dropping. And we lived in the northwest where you expect to see at least a dropping or two.. so it made me a believer.
it worked for us, it's cheap, doesn't harm children, pets, environment or the rig.. .
Was told anything aromatic should work...
Apparently it does... :-)

Mice and rats live in sewers, that aromatic too.

[DrT7575]

Originally Posted by MO Fred

Peppermint oil works for us too especially in the engine compartment where there is easy access. Haven’t had and pack rats or mice in there for three years since using it.

Fred - where to you put the cotton balls and peppermint oil and how many? That is a great idea sir.

[MO Fred]

Originally Posted by DrT7575

Fred - where to you put the cotton balls and peppermint oil and how many? That is a great idea sir.

I don't use the small cotton balls. Instead I use two long strands of cotton about 18 inches long each that were part of a Christmas decoration for snow. I soak them with the peppermint oil and put them in openings where mice and pack rats had been before a few years ago with their acorns. I get the pure peppermint oil from Amazon. I also put moth ball bags from wall mart directly on top of any wiring. To protect the basement area I use rodenticide also from amazon. Thus far... rodents have not found their way inside the motorhome itself.