How often do you check for critters?

[CWinLV]

Living in the desert, we rarely have problems with wildlife aside from black widows, field mice, and a few lizards. Since we will be heading into the "real world" when we full time, we're wondering how much of a problem it will be to keep critters out of our basement area while at camp? Do you have a problem with squirrels or other wildlife trying to make a home in your home? How often do you check for signs of intrusion? Or am I worried about nothing?

[Arch Hoagland]

We've hit all 48 states and never had a problem anywhere. However there are people on here who have run into serious problems.

I believe it all depends are where you are located and a chat with the neighbors will soon reveal any persistent problems.

For what it's worth...When I spray my sticks and bricks house for bugs, about three times a year, I also spray the underside of my coach and the tires, which are the bridge up to the coach.

I spray the water tank and refrigerator compartments also.

[Tom3205]

I bet most problems are ANTS. Those buggers get into everything. I have heard that "seven dust" sprinkled around the site, the electric cord, the water hose, the sewer hose, and the tires, will keep them out.

[MoeBelly]

Anything that gets in a house will get in an RV. Ants by far have been the worst problem. I've been battling carpenter ants annually. You have to be aggressive at the first sign cause they spell big trouble if left to nest. An occasional mouse has been dealt with too.

As far as checking, do it everytime you can!

[scenic route]

We had a Lady Bug infestation...they laid their eggs on the underside of the slide seals. The little buggers were everywhere. Vacuuming them up on the inside and bug spray on the outside finally got rid of them...no idea where we picked them up or if the PO played a dirty trick on us.

[Razzman]

I had an ant issue last year for the first time. As i live in the rig Mon-Fri i keep it in a trailer park close to work. One day came home and there were ants in the bathroom! Now i spray all around the rig, the hoses and tires so i couldn't figure out where they were coming from. Then i thought maybe they were dropping off the tree behind the rig so i climbed up and looked. Nope, a long thing branch had grown out and down just touching the roof and there they were, running across the roof and into the rear AC unit. Sprayed they roof and the entire bathroom and they were gone in two days. Now i trim the tree myself to make sure that doesn't happen again!

[burfurd]

Ants, mice, squirrels and bugs will invade you unless you spray and eliminate their incoming areas.

Squirrels will do major damage to your coach and toads engine area by chewing electrical connectors. A friend had to replace his class C wiring harness from squirrel damage. A dog or cat can eliminate this damage if you keep it outside quite a bit.

Ants can be kept out if a problem with Comet sprinkled around your tires, electrical cable, water, and sewer lines. Don't forget the leveling jacks or anything else that touches the ground.

We keep (we think) mice out by using oil of peppermint on cotton balls throughout the coach including the basement storage areas. It also smells good.

We have the coach sprayed twice annually for other critters. So far, so good.

burfurd

[CWinLV]

Seems like we'll need to pay our due diligence to keep the critters out! I'm glad I asked this question, because I'd never thought about looking on the roof for ants!

[Davdeb1]

I use a rope light underneath when in As. I'm going to be parked in ohio near Cleveland for 4 months. I will probably sprinkle the perimeter,tires, and electric cord with seven if I can find it.