mouse proofing

[greg g]

Just read on another forum that oil of wintergreen, who's active ingredient is methyl salicylate, is effective as an area denial means to keep mice and spiders away from confined areas. It is also a very effective rust penetrant, and keeps your shop minty fresh. Available from pharmacies and candy making suppliers and not that expensive. Several absorbent pads sprinkled with the oil and placed in and around your stored vehicle keep rodents and other critters at bay. It is an oil so protect surfaces that may be stained or damaged from contact.

[Oldguy48]

Tried that in our garage last winter. Your results may vary, but it didn't keep the mice out of our garage. Neither did strategically placed bars of "Irish Spring" soap. Found a LOT of corn they stashed in our fold-up chairs during the winter, nest material in one of my tool bags, and several that met their fate at old-fashioned spring traps. And by the way, that special "Mouse Bait" to put on your spring traps didn't work here either. Peanut butter seemed to work OK though.

Just purchased one of those ultra-sonic devices that are supposed to chase the little bastards away, but I'm not convinced of its effectiveness yet.

So far, none of the cars have been damaged, but I'm still researching ideas for a better mousetrap/deterrent. I considered getting a garage cat, but I don't want a cat climbing around on the cars.

I'll be watching this thread closely, because I've declared war on these filthy, miserable critters.

Wayne

Edited October 27, 2014 by Oldguy48

[JerseyHarold]

I just put mothballs in the two cars in my back garage today.  I've heard they work, but time will tell.

[greg g]

Well there is always the repeating bucket trap that has been talked about here a couple times.

[Oldguy48]

I tried making one of those too. One with a soda can that would rotate when the mouse tried to walk on it, and fall into the water. I never caught anything with it. Maybe I didn't construct it right, but it looked like it would work. I even built one with the water filled bucket, the bait wired in to an extension cord to electrocute the little buggers with 120 volts, but they seemed to avoid that one as well. Maybe the mice around here are just too smart for me.

Wayne

[oldodge41]

I used a bucket trap with some success. Tried  peppermint oil, dryer sheets, ultrasonic electronics and the critters still come in. Finally got a garage cat and haven't had a problem in a couple years. I keep the cars covered and then throw a blanket on them as well to protect from the cat. I have had a few light scratches that have waxed out, but that is better than the holes I got in the Dart's headliner before "Sassy" moved in.

[_shel_ny]

...

Edited October 27, 2014 by shel_ny

[soth122003]

I use a couple of plastic cups and about 4-5 mothballs in each cup for my RV. I just place them at a few different places in the RV and I have had no problems from mice, squirrels, roaches, spiders, ants, evil demons or what have you. Been going on six years now with that RV and This method works very well. Also the moth balls last about a good long while.

 

Joe

[BobT-47P15]

Someone once told us that hedge apples placed around in your garage would keep out spiders.  

We did that a year or so ago.........couldn't really tell if they did much.....but we tend to get assorted

small spiders along.  

[wayfarer]

I use 'Tin Cats' with reasonable success if I want to catch them (I use mixed nuts as bait)... I use gopher bait (strychnine) when I want to kill them.

 

.

Edited October 27, 2014 by wayfarer

[janan5243]

I have tried the dryer sheets in my RV with mixed success. The PO of my car was a believer in mothballs & D-CON. Seems to have worked but my wife & I smelled like mothballs the first month or so when we first got car. Everyone here in capitol region of NY has been having mouse problem for last month or so. Been selling D-CON & traps like crazy in my store. I have a bunch of traps & poison around walls of garage & some poison in car. I'm going to try several of the suggestions listed here in car also. It's a crap shoot. I've had four in traps so far. Also having problem in kitchen. I have traps & RAMIK placed very carefully. we have two toy poodles & the littlest one will eat anything. She got very sick two weeks ago. Several days later my wife starts up stairs, calls me & I find a pelt of a mouse or small rat on step. Just the pelt & forearm of 1 front leg & 1 rear leg. Nothing else. Don't know if she ate it or dragged it in that way. YUK

Edited October 27, 2014 by janan5243

[Oldguy48]

An internet search claims that mice like chocolate.  So I got an idea...I bought some of those sticky pad traps, and placed a Hershey Kiss right in the center.  There's a little raised "tit" in the center of the sticky pad, so I just carved out a depression in the kiss, so that it will lay flat on the pad.  I placed them around the garage this afternoon, right along walls.  I'll check my "trap line" tomorrow to see if it worked, although I have not seen evidence of the critters visiting the garage yet.  Just trying to be pro-active, before they have a family reunion in the garage.

 

Wayne

[Don Coatney]

I hate to waste a perfectly good kiss on a mouse

[Merle Coggins]

I have good luck with poison bait blocks. I think the last ones I used were "Tom Cat" brand. I toss several around next to the walls. In fact I saw a dead one laying right next to a partially chewed one this weekend but I didn't have time to clean it up at that moment. I suppose I'll have to take care of that this week. I don't seem to have issues with them getting into my truck or motorcycle as long as I keep the bait blocks out and keep the population at bay.

 

Merle

[Reg Evans]

I hate to waste a perfectly good kiss on a mouse

But you will kiss a rat ? Huh.

[51cambridge]

Really I wouldnt use poisons. They may crawl in a tight place you cant get too and die. Then you have a stinker.

[William Davey]

This past week end I witnessed a bucket trap in action and it was very effective (10 mice in 24 hours).  A soda can covered liberally with peanut butter, suspended by a strong wire through the center of the ends so it spins easily.  About 8" of water in the bottom of the bucket and an easily accessible ramp (board) so the mouse can get to the peanut butter.  The secret to the set up is to keep the end of the board just far enough away so the mouse cannot reach the peanut butter without stepping down onto the soda can.  If the board is too close they'll lick all the peanut butter off the can without falling into the water.    

[DJ194950]

Where's the picture? 

[_shel_ny]

My peanut butter/can/bucket got a total of one mouse.

 

My snap trap got 2 a one time

[Dodgeb4ya]

My peanut butter/can/bucket got a total of one mouse.

 

My snap trap got 2 a one time

You are a pro-I see ya got your trap wired so the animals won't haul it and the catch away

[Oldguy48]

Well, I think my arsenal is ready for battle.  I just finished a bucket trap.  The soda can is slathered with pancake syrup.  With the glue traps and spring traps, I think I'm ready.  So Mickey, Minnie, stop in for a treat!!  And bring the rest of the clan along.  I'm hoping for a vermin armageddon in the garage.  And I saw another tip about mouse bait.  Tootsie rolls!  I may try that next.

 

Wayne

[Don Coatney]

Two mice fell into a bucket of cream. What is the rest of the story?

[50 coupe]

My peanut butter/can/bucket got a total of one mouse.

 

My snap trap got 2 a one time

Good thing you got that photo, otherwise no one would believe it!

[JerseyHarold]

Two mice fell into a bucket of cream. What is the rest of the story?

....one panicked and drowned and the other one paddled so hard that the cream turned to butter and he walked out.  From the movie 'Catch Me If You Can'.

[Don Coatney]

JerseyHarold, on 28 Oct 2014 - 8:22 PM, said:

....one panicked and drowned and the other one paddled so hard that the cream turned to butter and he walked out.  From the movie 'Catch Me If You Can'.

We have a winner