Mice

[Chris-R]

I have a metal garage. After selling the ATVs, I might finally have room for the boat. Today, I started cleaning the garage and found loads of mice. I'm wondering what I can do to keep the mice from turning the boat into a new mouse condo. i was thinking about getting moth balls. Are there any other things that keep the mice away?

 

[Brewman61]

Re: Mice

I've had good luck with the D-Con poision trays. You just open a few of the trays and leave them around the perimiter. They eat the pellets, and go off and die. Keeps them out of the garage and basement, anyway.

 

[cr2k]

Re: Mice

Install cats!

Problem with DeCon is other animals eating it or eating the mice before they die. Had a dog get in to some. Verrrry expensive to treat. It takes mega doses of Vitamin K which is costly and has a verrry short shelf life so it is also hard to find a Vet that even carries it.

 

[arks]

Re: Mice

+1 D-Con. Place it where mice will find it but outta reach by pets like inside a piece of pipe.

 

[dan t.]

Re: Mice

The best and original mouse repellant,a CAT

 

[5150abf]

Re: Mice

Ya, put some of those tasty boxes of Decon on the boat, that willt ake care of them.

Saw a mouse on mine a couple months ago adn got that and the mouse went bye bye.

 

[DianneB]

Re: Mice

I live in farm country where hordes of mice are looking for a place to winter every fall. Since I don't want to poison the mice (because of the risk to beneficial critters that also eat mice) I have been using these traps for decades. They are easy to set, don't bite your fingers, and with peanut butter bait, they are VERY effective!

http://www.amazon.com/Intruder-Better-Mousetrap-6-Pack/dp/B0007NY5CO

The other non-poison is to leave trays of oatmeal (uncooked) around and make sure the mice have access to water. I have heard this is effective but can't swear to it.

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: Mice

My problem with poison is two fold. Either they eat it, go off in a corner of the building, die, and stink up the joint; or as mentioned above other critters eating the poisoned (alive or dead) mice.

Mothballs are the only thing I've found to keep them out of the boat. Wish there was something that smelled better. I'll be following this to see if anyone else has better ideas.

One thought - has anyone tried one of the electronic repellants? Supposed to emit a certain sound they find annoying. I'd like to try one, but want to hear from others first.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: Mice

The best and original mouse repellant,a CAT

I'll second that. We adopted a stray cat someone had dumped off, zero rodent problems since.

 

[scott5555]

Re: Mice

Get a Rat Zapper! You can order online for about $ 100. I got rid of a whole family of large mice in my attic that were driving me crazy. Takes a couple of D batteries. Put some peanut butter in the back, mice/rate goes in and walks over a metal plate that kills them instantly. Just dump it out and put it back. I killed all 5 in about 2 days. I tried every bait you can buy and maybe got a few of them but they can die in the walls and stinks for a month!

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: Mice

I've heard Bounce fabric softener sheets deter mice and rodents. The person who made my boat cover swears by them. Just place a few in each compartment, and around any entrance points. They also smell better than moth balls. Since I've never tried them, I plan on putting moth balls around the trailer tires, and jack, just in case.

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: Mice

Pickle bucket with 5-8 inches of water. [and anti freeze if its gonna get below freezing] Smear some peanut butter inside the bucket. Lay a few pieces of wood on the edge of the bucket to the ground or other strategic location so they have access. They climb up, try to get the peanut butter ,fall in and drown...

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Mice

Got mice? Get cat!

Helps out the Humane society problem, helps an aminal in need, provides a small potential of friendship (it is a cat, after all), and is the truely only 'green way" of eliminating rodents.

 

[We're Here]

Re: Mice

Sprinkle some of kitty's litter from her box around the outside walls. You won't notice or smell it, but the vermin sure will.

 

[mphy98]

Re: Mice

I just cleaned out a 150' by 300' Pole barn that was full of junk, including 30 boxes of mouse infested clothing.(from the previous owners) After everything went into a dumpster I put the 2 1/2" chunks of D-con down every 15 feet along the inside walls. I have seen the chunks chewed on, and I have only found one mouse dead. I have way to many toys in there to trust them to anything else. A mouse in my barn is a dead mouse. We have the motor home, 4 wheelers, vette, mustang gt convert, boat, pool stuff, and tools in there. Mice can cause a lot of damage in a short time. I will not cry for them. There are lots of other places for them to live out here in the country.

 

[nuboat2me]

Re: Mice

A farmer friend suggested Cinnamon sticks. Going to try that with the motor home and boat. We picked up 3 packs at the $ store... We already use the dryer sheets in the MH... Those seem to work as well...

Spring will tell!!!

Good luck!!

OR

Heeeerree kitty kitty kitty.....

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: Mice

Ive heard [from the insurance company lady that insures all my toys] Peppermint oil on cotton balls. Havnt tried it yet, but gonna. Would smell a whole lot better then urine and mothballs....which I have used..

 

[klab010]

Re: Mice

Well I am glad to hear the backup of mothballs working. I bought my first boat through the summer and had it winterized and it is being stored indoors in some converted barns. I loaded up old water bottle containers with mothballs and placed 3 of the bottles throughout the boat (24 foot). 1 near the cockpit wiring and 2 in the cabin. My guess the interior will smell like some old man's attic in the spring. But I just want to be sure the wiring does not get chewed up. Should I rest easy you think? Next year i will definitley try the bounce sheets.:redface:

 

[109jb]

Re: Mice

Fabric softener sheets have worked for me. I live in farm country and the mice are everywhere. I don't poison them because I have pets.

 

[scipper77]

Re: Mice

glue traps. seems like a cruel method until the mice start destroying your boat. I can't stand the smell of rat feces!! I have a cat and she is a good mouser but not good enough. I still had a mouse chew through my pools solar cover in the shed.

I'd try a multi tiered approach, poison, moth balls, glue traps, cat, whatever it takes.