keeping mice out

[Ricky 4]

We took our Casita to Branson, Mo this past weekend.
When we opened the storage door under the seat-we had a mouse nest there.
Can`t figure how they got in.
Any ideas as to how to keep kritters out of our vacation home on wheels.
I have used the fabric softener sheets but apparently they don`t work.

[Scott S.]

moth balls work if you can handle the smell in the spring.
mice can get through an opening of only 1/4 inch so it's tough to keep them out. I used steel wool in every opening I could find on our stationary 31ft trailer and it's working for now. they don't stay if there's no food or nesting material (tissue).

[Ricky 4]

moth balls work if you can handle the smell in the spring.
mice can get through an opening of only 1/4 inch so it's tough to keep them out. I used steel wool in every opening I could find on our stationary 31ft trailer and it's working for now. they don't stay if there's no food or nesting material (tissue).

There was no food but they chewed the carpet for nesting. Will see if steel wool will work-hard to find a hole in the camper though.
My mother-in-laws house smelled of mothballs and it just was a smell I couldn`t stand-although she was a wonderful lady.
Thanks

[Ken J]

Best I've used is those electronic untrasonic thingies - they work very well especially in small trailers - moth balls work good - I throw them under the trailer - so as to no smell in the trailer - lots of traps all over the place and yes aluminum wool - steel tends to rust.

Ken J.

[Scott S.]

good idea to throw them under. I'll do that at the lake for sure.
where did you get aluminum wool?

[pjanits]

Holes I have found in the past, Gas line thru floor or body,electric line through body.
Get a strong light and lay on the ground under the trailer and think like a mouse.
Really, follow along the axle and see whats there or where the frame is exposed enough for little feet to grab on.
They didn't just fly in so there has to be an opening somewhere.

[Carolyn Patterson]

I have an classic car that I store in the winter. When I first stored it, I never thought about mice getting in and did nothing - BIG MISTAKE there!! Not only did they use the interior as their bathroom, but I had acorn shells in every a/c vent, engine compartment, trunk -etc. It was a nightmare!!

I then learned to put 2 pie trays of mothballs under the vehicle - 1 front 1 back. sprinkled some around the engine area and a few in the trunk - worked like a charm! Yea, come spring it smelled a little like mothballs inside, but kept the windows open for a week and it went away - sure beat the smell of mouse urine!

This winter we'll be storing our trailer in a rented barn on a farm and I'm already worried about mice getting in - we'll take everything out, cushions and all - inspect the underside of the trailer (to make sure there are not holes or cracks to enter) and put out a couple pie pans of mothballs just to make sure.

If anyone else has ideas I'd be sure glad to institute them!!

[Bigfoot Mike]

good idea to throw them under. I'll do that at the lake for sure.
where did you get aluminum wool?

Here is just one source.
<blockquote>Aluminum Wool
http://www.briwax-online.com/GMTAlum.html

Stainless Steel Wool
http://www.briwax-online.com/GMTStainless.html
</blockquote>

[brendaross]

I found this on http://en.allexperts.com/ (they're with "about.com") This is part of the experts answer below. DeCon and the sticky things have worked excellent for me in my seasonal camper and my Scamp. Checking the camper from time to time of course. People at our seasonal site throw them under their trailers, but not inside. Eventually, they melt. Personally, I can't get past the smell. I don't think you can ever get rid of the smell once mothballs are inside.

Topic: Waste Management

Expert: Rob Janus
Date: 3/7/2008
Subject: mothballs

"I don't know where you got the information about using mothballs to get rid or rats or mice. This is definitely not an appropriate use for these. Mothballs are made or either 100% naphthalene (if they're older) or 100% 1,4 dichlorobenzene (modern ones, and probably the ones you have used). Both are highly toxic substances, and dangerous to people, as well as moths and other pests. But rats and mice are not likely to be killed by mothballs, at least not over any kind of short period."

[Bill K]

Another one is Bronze wool.
Can be bought at marine supply.

Bill K


where did you get aluminum wool?

[Patty C.]

I don't know about "throwing" mothballs under my trailer! What if one of my precious pugs gets one and eats it when they go outside to potty?

Yikes! Does anybody know what happens if these things are ingested?

Patty

[Herb Sutton]

It doesn't take a very big opening for mice to get in. I had them get inside a stick built that we had through the opening where a wire harness came up through the floor. I bought a can of aerosol foam and sealed anything that looked like a gnat could get in. Also think about the door for the shore power cable, Casita could do a lot better.

[Benny K]

I use Bounce softener sheets and have success with them....a few in each trailer....also a few years ago it was mentioned to use bars of Irish Spring soap.....tried that in my attached garage for mice and seems that they would just chew on the ends of the bars for dessert....Benny

[peterh]

I go for a more direct approach. Alas, the mice caught on, and upped the ante.







At great expense I called in a mercenary force to counter this new threat.







The enemy escalated the conflict and deployed a robotic combat force.







My mercenaries responded with an army of robots to carry bombs deep into enemy territory.







Which was a real pity, because the front line had moved inside my trailer.

[Orlen Wolf]

Ya better send that kitten back to sniper school. His stance is all wrong and, if he doesn't practice good eye relief, he'll end up with a bad case of scope eyebrow.

You're not getting your money's worth with that mercenary.

[Pete Dumbleton]

I can't speak to mice, but I tried using moth balls to keep a pet rat out from under a low piece of furniture -- She loved them and carted them all back to the food pile in her cage.

Steel wool seems to be the best thing -- I fixed up a friend's pump house that way and it's still working after years.

[Roger C H]

Ya better send that kitten back to sniper school. His stance is all wrong and, if he doesn't practice good eye relief, he'll end up with a bad case of scope eyebrow.

You're not getting your money's worth with that mercenary.

Yeah. What ever happened to Rat Terriers?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rat_Terrier

Plus they're cute, but, like all terriers, probably have an attitude.

[Ken J]

I don't think eating mothballs by anyone would be very good - its the smell that keeps the mice away - it won't kill them, but like the electronic devices as I understand it mice use smell and their ears to get around - moth balls and electronic devices mess that up.

Someone mentioned an old car above - I had a friend that had a barn full of old cars - the mice got into everything - headliners and all - put one of those electronic thingys in and has need seen a mouse since....

Ken J.

[Gerry]

On my 1979 Boler I had mice the 1st year I owned it and I took was just determined to take care of all the holes where they can get in.
As said anywhere something goes from outside to inside and on a 13ft Boler there was more then one thinks, gas lines, Main wire harness, drain and water lines, I plugged with plumbers putty. Regular perferations which have those little plastic doors seam to do thier job just fine.
Also I found where the shell comes down around the back of the camper there was quite a gap where the floor was suppose to meet the wall so I filled this 1 inch gap with "Great Stuff" foam.
As a camp-Host, I have left dry-goods food in my camper all summer and not a mouse in the house.
There are mice around and they do inhabit the hollow frame as I can see droppings around the tounge area but none inside.
Gerry

[Scott S.]

I did the steelwool thing last weekend while putting things away for the winter. I know it may seem early to many of you but we're getting into freezing temps at night here and there's snow in the forecast for this Sunday. I'll check back in the spring with a pest report.