Retired pest control guy here. Steve has it nailed. Go over your rig with a fine toothed comb, a creeper and a flashlight. A helper inside with a light while you check the outside or vice versa can help. Keep in mind that if a mouse can fit his skull through a hole, his body will fit. Just last week I thought I had my rig well sealed but discovered a hole behind my dash area where my hydronic heat hoses come up through the floor. To my eye it looked sealed with factory foam. Some probing with my fingers where I couldn't see, revealed a gap two fingers wide alongside the hoses. Stuffed with steel wool and foamed it shut. I have one more spot to check, and that's where the pipes to my fresh, grey, and black tanks penetrate the floor.
Repellants and electronic devices were all covered in our classes and the instructor had slides showing their lack of effect, just like the photo above. Even the popular one, dryer sheets was covered with a slide of a mouse nest lined with chewed dryer sheets. One mistake people make is thinking they don't have mice because they don't see droppings. I've been fooled too. Pros monitor areas with sticky traps and bait stations.
Like Steve said.
1. Eliminate entry points. Be a good detective. Look look look.
2. When prepping for storage remove all food and clean area before storing.
3. Bait stations outside. I prefer block bait because they can't run off with it and stash it like they can with pellet bait. Many bait brands now include a child/pet resistant bait station. KEEP BAIT STATIONS FULL! Give them something yummy, and deadly to eat before they enter.
4. Traps inside for monitoring. Place along a wall and in out of the way places, because mice like running along a wall. Think like a mouse and imagine where you'd run and place the trap there. Move them to other spots now and then. Load trap with a small amount of peanut butter.
If you have rats, they will avoid new things for a while and may pass by baited traps. Be patient, they will get used to the trap and eventually try the bait.
If you have rodents taking bait, rotate baits between two differing active ingredients. Check the labels. When you run out of one type, purchase the other, and so on.
I use the plastic traps that snap shut on the mouse, instead of old style snap traps and place them on cardboard. If they are killed, and I don't find it for a while because the rig is in storage, rotten mouse goo won't get on permanent surfaces. The carcass is contained and I can toss the trap mouse and all. Besides, having an old style snap trap wake you in the middle of the night going off isn't fun.
Whenever I'm under the rig greasing or servicing I roll around and check entry points new or old.
If you see any signs of mice, clean the surface well with something containing bleach. Mice mark their trails with urine.
One final note. Some mice species carry the Hantavirus and secrete it in their urine, feces, and saliva. Sweeping or vacuuming up mouse poop can release the virus which, if inhaled, causes respiratory infections in humans. Pre spray with bleach solution or disinfectant and clean with paper towels and gloves.
Hope this helps.
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