Oh no! Mice seem to be taking over our van.

Jude

Guest
No idea where they are getting in but have caught 3 in two days using traps. Any ideas for keeping them out much appreciated.
 
Jude get an electronic mouse gadget if you dont use electric hook-up at home there are battery versions available
Alf
 
seems as if the old mouse problem is rearing its ugly head again with winter setting in .only way to keep them at bay hopefully!!!! is chech that every air vent in the back has the closeable metal vents (not plastic mesh type) fitted and are closed, try a fine mesh over the fresh air inlet to the cab heater intake ,they can get in that way. even set the heater control levers to the hot setting this closes the fresh air flaps isolating the fresh air pipes set traps and check them regulary.. if you have any open drain pipes from the waste water systen seal those AND HOPE there will be more ways to hopefully keep the dear little soft and furry critters at bay allong soon I AM SHURE
 
Hey Jude... Don't be afraid! [sorry I could not resist it] :D

I'd think its important to ensure the van is clean of food crumbs from the last trip. They can cause a real danger as they chew through anything including electric cables. A good old fashioned snap trap will take care of them.
 
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Mice

Hi jude. get one of these and also check under floor vents that is usually where they get in hope you find them we had mice under the bonnet chewing the top off the washer bottle- aerial lead and making a nest in the heater intake. happy camping
 

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syldale said:
Hi jude. get one of these and also check under floor vents that is usually where they get in hope you find them we had mice under the bonnet chewing the top off the washer bottle- aerial lead and making a nest in the heater intake. happy camping
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good idea of yours ..... it seems like this time ,its ok to pussyfoot around with the problem oooooohhhh
 
Mice can't get through round holes smaller than about 5/8" diameter, but they can get through a slot about an inch wide and as small as 1/4" high.

If they are around, you will need to check regularly for signs of nest building in the engine bay, especially around wiring looms.

Traps and electronics aren't always the answer and it may well be worth the risk of ending up with a dead mouse inside and put lots of mouse baits inside and outside and replenish them as required.
 
Thank you thank you everyone

Brilliant help, you are all wonderful.

Used to have one of those black furry things with ears but the road got him I am afraid. Have spring traps, will try the moth balls and perhaps the repellant thing, there is not one bit of food anywhere except in the traps. Have poison in a box underneath and working up to putting it inside. Will go on a nest and hole search tomorrow.

So far it's Jude 3 Mice 0, so perhaps I am winning
 
Jude said:
Brilliant help, you are all wonderful.

Used to have one of those black furry things with ears but the road got him I am afraid. Have spring traps, will try the moth balls and perhaps the repellant thing, there is not one bit of food anywhere except in the traps. Have poison in a box underneath and working up to putting it inside. Will go on a nest and hole search tomorrow.

So far it's Jude 3 Mice 0, so perhaps I am winning
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Jude please do not leave poison outside just think about what else may get at it even children----put it in the van if you must but understand that when they crawl off to die at the back of units etc the smell will help you find them.

Alf
 
Alf 1 said:
Jude please do not leave poison outside just think about what else may get at it even children----put it in the van if you must but understand that when they crawl off to die at the back of units etc the smell will help you find them.

Alf
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thats if you can get at them behind the units ,poison is a bad idea they could die anyware .there are some places you may have to strip out units in the van to find a decompsing meeece
 
I find the best method id to remove all food, and routinely trap you can go months and not get one but if one pops in for a look around you should get them.
I leave traps baited with peanut butter in my shed, and can go months and catch nothing but they do come in for a look around and then I do catch them.
I wouldnt poisen them, but get some drain pipe and place this under the van with a trap in either end, they love running along these tunnels and get trapped, works well for me
 
mice in the van

Found we had been invaded over Christmas. holes in floor where cables come through likely entrance point. They burrowed into our memory foam mattress so i am sure they had a comfortable christmas. An old fashioned trap and some choclate sent them to Mouse Heaven
I'll check under the bonnet as I haven't looked there yet

Cheers and a Happy New year
 
Mice

Three Pastors were having lunch together at a diner. The first Pastor said, "Ya know, since summer started I've been having trouble with mice in my church. I've tried everything--noise, spray, cats--nothing seems to scare them away.

The second Pastor then said "Yea, me too. I've got hundreds living in the basement of the church. I've set traps and even called an expert to get rid of them, yet they still won't go away."

With a grin on his face, the third Pastor said, "I had the same problem so I baptized all of mine, and made them members of the church.... Haven't seen one of 'em back since!!!"
 
They are not getting inside for food, they are doing it to get out of the terrible weather. Once there they will chew up stuff to make a nest and chew wiring just to keep their teeth short. Certainly you can trap them and that may work, but to avoid using poison just because they might die inside is taking a big risk. A mouse will decompose to nothing in a week or two but damage to wiring will be there forever. I've seen posts complaining that wiring repairs cost several thousand dollars. Put poison in the engine bay, on top of the spare, inside the van, inside all storage compartments and especially on the ground inside each wheel. Put poison inside any structures nearby. If you are concerned about pets or kids getting at it then put it inside a couple of feet of drainpipe and weigh it down with bricks.

Moth balls certainly stink, are poisonous and the vapour can cause corrosion.
 
Mice infestation is difficult to clear, a mixture of bait boxes and traps must be used to clear them then an ultrasonic device used to keep them at bay.
Battery Ultra Sonic Rat Mouse Rodent Repeller Deterrent on eBay (end time 22-Jan-11 16:22:29 GMT)
the ultrasound will not remove mice that are already in the van, I tried that but it does seem to keep them clear. don't forget to put traps in the engine bay. More motorhome fires are caused by mouse damage to wiring than by people smoking.
 
I had a mouse problem which, 'touch wood', seems to have gone. I use a multifunction electronic rodent deterrent in the 'van, but the way to make it effective is to have the electric hookup completely surrounding the vehicle. I use electronic mouse killers baited with chocolate spread inside, lockable poison bait boxes around the outside, and finally liberal sprinklings of strong chilli powder around the inside of the van where mice would be likely to run. A decomposing mouse does not cause a smell problem, especially in the winter. If all that fails, then the only way is to dig a moat round your camper. The problem with moth balls, which have limited success, is that you end up stinking of napthalene while you are camping. I have hung a bird feeder filled with moth balls under the engine compartment.
 
mandrake said:
seems as if the old mouse problem is rearing its ugly head again with winter setting in .only way to keep them at bay hopefully!!!! is chech that every air vent in the back has the closeable metal vents (not plastic mesh type) fitted and are closed, try a fine mesh over the fresh air inlet to the cab heater intake ,they can get in that way. even set the heater control levers to the hot setting this closes the fresh air flaps isolating the fresh air pipes set traps and check them regulary.. if you have any open drain pipes from the waste water systen seal those AND HOPE there will be more ways to hopefully keep the dear little soft and furry critters at bay allong soon I AM SHURE
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i cant see how they could gain acces via the air intake of a heater as the air drawn in is not drawn into the living area and is seperated by the metal jacket of the heat exchanger otherwise you would have gas fumes entering the van
keep the cab heater on recirc to prevent acces although most have grills on the frshair inlets
 
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