repelling mice during boat storage

[rnsi]

Re: repelling mice during boat storage

<br />Do you plug each hole as you go, or wait until spring, mix up a biiiiiig batch of MarineTex, and do 'em all at once?<br />

Stuff the barrel with MarineTex - The holes self-seal.<br /><br />I didn't see anyone respond to the questions about the ultrasonic repellers. I've heard they work, if you spend the money and get RODAR brand ($80?). The cheap knock-offs are junk, so I heard. Anyone actually use them?

 

[jtexas]

Re: repelling mice during boat storage

rnsi, you had asked if the green cube rat poison works on squirrels - I don't think it does. I put a few (cubes not squirrels) around the house when I see signs of rodentular activity, and replace 'em when they get picked up. In a few days the mice pellets stop appearing and the cubes stop disappearing, but the squirrels are always around.<br /><br />Short of big dogs & shotguns, I don't know how to keep squirrels away. Maybe cats? My boat sits under a big pecan tree in a storage yard that is also home to a sizeable pack (pride?) of cats. Never seen any sign of squirrels mice rats or any other pests. Come to think of it, the boat cover should be covered with bird droppings, but it's not. I never liked cats before but now I'm thinking they deserve a nice Christmas present. any ideas?<br /><br />That ultra sound might be just the trick. Is it an aluminimum boat? Maybe an electrical current...

 

[rnsi]

Re: repelling mice during boat storage

jtexas-<br /><br />Funny you should mention the electric current. I've been thinking of this today myself. It's a glass bass boat. I know how they're getting in - they're going in by the throttle control. It's pretty open there, and it runs to the rear hatch. They nest on top of and behind the gas tank, and travel up the bilge to the foward compartments.<br /><br />I was thinking of something like a mini electric fence in front of the openings. Maybe it would be enough to discourage them. But how to wire it - and be safe with electric outdoors with the snow and all.

 

[Evinrude Boater]

Re: repelling mice during boat storage

WOW!! What a bunch of ideas. YES, you do want to kill the little rodents. They carry diseases that you and I don't want. If you want to just keep them away I've been told that peppermint leaves tied up in you wife's knee-highs do the trick of keeping mice away. Place them throughout the area, especially nice little areas where they would nest (seats). That'll smell better than spilled antifreeze or mouse carcass.

 

[jtexas]

Re: repelling mice during boat storage

classicboater, what kind of mice are getting up past your wife's...oh, I see, sorry, never mind.<br /><br />

 

[wajajaja]

Re: repelling mice during boat storage

course steel wool in any access point,rat poison, and i use a sunbeam electronic repeller, if its vinyl i try to bring it indoors to prevent freeze and cracking. I think birds do alot of damage to seats, they love the trackor seats that a rat would have to be a french canadian to get to ("circus de sequal")

 

[Evinrude Boater]

Re: repelling mice during boat storage

Have your wife take the knee-highs off before putting peppermint leaves in them. She probably won't want to sit in the boat all winter.

 

[rnsi]

Re: repelling mice during boat storage

But then again, she could shoo the rodents away!

 

[jtexas]

Re: repelling mice during boat storage

rnsi, I'm having a hard time visualizing the squirrel entrance you described "by the throttle control." Those electric fences work in all kinds of weather - if you plug into household current be sure you have GFI. Maybe substitute chickenwire for a single strand. <br /><br />Wait, just had a great idea - get one of those invisible fences, then all you have to do is put a shock collar on all the squirrels. problem solved!

 

[spratt]

Re: repelling mice during boat storage

OK, folks...here it is--the tried and tested BEST mouse/rat trap known to man...<br /><br />Rats LOVE peanut butter, so use it against them!!<br /><br />- Take a 5-gallon bucket and fill it halfway full with just plain ol' tap water. <br />- Take a coat hanger or other stiff wire and straighten it out so that it is long enough to span the opening of the bucket and drill two holes so that you can feed the ends of the wire into the holes and anchor the wire there.<br />- Before attaching the wire, drill a hole in both ends of a soda pop can and put the wire through the can end to end and then attach that unit to the bucket in the pre-drilled holes.<br />- Smear the can with peanut butter<br />- Place a little board or object that will allow the rats to climb up onto the bucket and wire<br />- Believe me, they will attend the party, walk out onto the wire and attempt to get onto the can to partake of the PB...naturally, they will spin off right into the water<br />- You guessed it...rats will drown and you can then dispose of them in whatever manner you wish<br /><br />Remember, this is the TRIED AND PROVEN rat trap!!! MANY MANY MANY times over

 

[rnsi]

Re: repelling mice during boat storage

Looks a lot like lakelivin's post up above.

 

[spratt]

Re: repelling mice during boat storage

Originally posted by rnsi:<br /> Looks a lot like lakelivin's post up above.

Yep...sorry lakelivin...I didn't read your before poppin' off here...best open my eyes, huh I have sen this trap in action many times and can vouch for it's effectiveness!!! I think I like the wire idea more than the dowel tho, cause the rat will slip off teh wire easier while trying to get the PB than if he is standing on a dowel...BUT, either has to be effective, I would say!!!<br /><br />Thanks, rnsi, for helpin' keep my eyes open!! If I had read closer I would have seen that previous post...and not wasted space!!

 

[rnsi]

Re: repelling mice during boat storage

spratt-<br /><br />Would this be effictive for squirrels? They can swim. And they weigh more, so they could probably knock the bucket over.

 

[spratt]

Re: repelling mice during boat storage

Never seen it used for squirrels, rnsi...I grew up in Georgia, and all we did there was get the .22 or .410 out and fix 'em for the dinenr table

 

[rnsi]

Re: repelling mice during boat storage

The OTHER red meat...

 

[spratt]

Re: repelling mice during boat storage

Yep...rite up thar with bunnies Ain't ever et no possum tho...OR coon...

 

[lakelivin]

Re: repelling mice during boat storage

spratt, no problem, as a matter of fact at least you've used the setup & can personally vouch for it. I saw the setup in a Field & Stream magazine; it did say it was one of the most effective traps they had ever seen (i think they called it an 'adirondack mousetrap').<br /><br />For squirrels, I'm wondering if you'd need something alot bigger than a 5 gallon bucket and similar but longer than an aluminum can (would need them to try to walk out on the 'can' to make it spin). Even if it worked it would be alot less humane if they can swim. I'd also think you'd need to be very careful with a larger setup (say 55 gallon drum) if there were any possibility of small kids being around it. Could be disastrous if a young kid climbed up to see whats in the drum & then fell in headfirst.

 

[jtexas]

Re: repelling mice during boat storage

maybe, instead of a bucket, you could funnel 'em into a chute that ends in the dog run. I know mine really likes to play with all kinds of furry creatures!

 

[Bondo]

Re: repelling mice during boat storage

Hhhhmmmmmmmmmmm.......................... <br /><br />Let's Seee... I've got 12 Gallons of Just drained from a Mack Anti-Freeze,+ Several 55 gallon Drums..............<br /><br />Is that enough to keep 10 acres Free of Vermon.........................

 

[rnsi]

Re: repelling mice during boat storage

Problem is, now you have to dispose of them. Where do you put 10 acres worth of squurrels and mice?