OT - rodent problem

Re: OT - rodent problem

David Bassett

I too am interested in suggestions.

I just spent $500 getting my van's anti-lock brakes & traction control fixed after something chewed up the wiring to the wheel sensors.

Re: OT - rodent problem *LINK*

Tom Dunlap

My Dad saved all of the sawdust and chips when he turned cedar. The bags would be for sale at the craft shows. They worked as pest repellents or sachets in drawers. The sawdust could be sprinkled around too. I found this too:


Herbal repellents

Re: OT - rodent problem *LINK*

Dick Coers

My Mother stopped driving for months due to dementia. She lived on a farm. Luckily I opened the hood before starting it. Mice had the air filter housing completely stuffed with bedding. Some wire were nearly chewed in half, and every blade on the plastic radiator fan had about 2" chewed off the ends. EVERY BLADE ! Actually it was lucky that it was every blade, as it was drivable after cleaning and repairing wires.

I like this mouse trap, but have never built one.


https://woodgears.ca/farm/build_trap.html

Re: OT - rodent problem

David Weaver

I couldn't recommend anything that doesn't involve poison. Maybe a cat.

We had a mouse issue in cars (field mice is what my dad referred to them as), but that ceased once we got a couple of stray cats.

Re: OT - rodent problem

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

I found some rodent residue atop the motor on our RV. Someone on the RV forum I use suggested that they prefer dark spaces, and that propping the hood up a little would discourage them from using the space; so I now prop it up, in storage, with a couple of chunks of 2x4 on edge, resting on suitable places at the front of the hood. I haven't had a repetition of the pooping there, but I don't know if I'm preventing tigers or actually keeping them out.

Re: OT - rodent problem

ebd

Subaru is famous for having the bright idea of using wiring that has insulation made from soy. Mrs. car had an entire harness chewed by squirrels.

YOu could put baited traps but that would involve setting them when you stop and removing them when you want to use the car. Mothballs work but would stink up the car if you don't like the smell. Maybe some soap flakes or hair.

Re: OT - rodent problem

Dave Bair

In my experience, the anticoagulant-poisoned (Decon, etc) mice never make it out of the building. The biggest problem is when the weather warms, the smell can be pretty bad, depending on how many were nailed.

Finding dead mice

Tom Dunlap

My Dad put D-con in the garage until a mice died and stunk up the garage. It took him a while to find where it died. He'd take time every morning to sniff out a part of the garage. After some time he was able to find where the mouse had died. The tubular weather seal on the bottom of the wide garage door...in the middle of course...was where the mouse died. He made a ram out of a broom handle to push it out. Then he 'sewed' the ends shut! After this stink a thon he shifted to live traps.

Re: OT - poisons

JL

I don’t like using poison in an outdoor setting. If a mouse or chipmunk gets poisoned, it may get eaten by a cat, dog, hawk or owl.

Re: OT - rodent problem

Stuart Johnson

I've seen what I think are mouse / rat things in front of 7-11 type stores and around the local hospital. They sit against the wall and have three entrances. One on each side and one in the middle. I don't know what they are or if they are consumer available but based on the use I think they must work.