RV Living: Mice in the RV Motorhome
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- Опубліковано 11 вер 2024
- It's never a good thing when a mice comes into your RV. If you act quick, there's less clean up to do. So be careful to not lead them in by feeding birds around your RV, or leaving food out for too long.
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Hi pippi, your awesome! Try stuffing steal wool in the entry holes. The mice won't be able to get past it or chew there way in anymore. This will help solve your future mice issues.
Make sure to seal all the small openings in your RV where they enter, maybe around pipes. Great job! I'm very proud of you!
You are so good at solving problems, thanks for the mice tips. So nice to see you happy..
+xxxxoen Thanks :)
I have had 2 trailers ruined by mice(freaking Suricillo as my very italian Nana called them)at my remote property in the NY Catskills Mtns. Tried catch and release in early days but they keep coming back so screw them.After my wife got the damm Hantavirus it was War.Off with there little heads.I am now building a tiny house on one of the old trailer frames and I am covering the entire bottom and up the walls with 1/4 hardware wire.Lets see those bastards get in now! Why cant they live in a hollow tree like the chipmunks and squirrels.Nooo they like to pee and poop all over trailers.I even let them live in my shed where the make a complete mess and do they appreciate it. Nooo. This time its personal."I will not toll-orate infestation".PS love your Videos.Jim Z.
Ha! Good post.
No mercy for mice--they do too much damage & like you said disease. Use chunky peanut butter instead of creamy it takes them longer to nibble the little peanut bits. They will also come in for dog food if you leave dry dog food out. Try putting the Bounce dryer sheets out in areas you see their trail/runways. Glad the trap worked.
Thanks for sharing Pippi, That was so funny. I'm still laughing, Can't stop !! Well done.
It's funny you should mention rodent problems. Up until a few days ago, I had a rat in my garage. Since it was outside the house, my first reaction was to use the tried and true bromethalin that comes in the Tom Cat II rat traps. This stuff worked great on a problem I had about six months earlier. The problem is that if the rodent has a nest inside your place, it will die inside your place and start smelling since the poison doesn't work instantly and they have enough time to return to it's nest after taking the bait.
Since the problem was outside, however, I activated the bromethalin again. But this time the rat avoided it like the plague. (I'm still not sure why.) So, my next option was to buy one of those Victor electronic rat traps which electrocute the critter for a full two minutes before shutting off. It worked within hours of setting it up.
I should have been able to pick-up the trap without having to touch the rat, and dump it in the trash can--no muss, no fuss. But strangely, a second rat had found the electrocuted one before I did, and apparently dragged the body out of the trap (unfortunately the trap has to be manually reset before it will shock again), and began to partially eat it. NASTY!
OK, I thought. Two rats ain't a thang. I reset my trap and waited for the next morning. Sure enough, when I looked in the garage, I had caught my second and last rat. This time, however, there were no other rodents around to eat the corpse, so all I had to do was dump the rat in the trash. Yes, the electronic traps cost about $40 bucks, but they work like the Energizer Bunny; you can use them over and over.
+James K Wow, that's quite a story. Glad you got them out!
peppermint oil works good at keeping them from setting up shop..a little bit on a cotton ball placed in a dixie cup...place these in your storage areas and under sinks and beds etc. Mice hate peppermint. Luv ya Pippi...from a newbie RV'er..just got it today...gonna transform the rear bedroom into a photo darkroom for my photo essays on small town america. Maybe we will run into each other on the road sometime...keep up the videos!
+Rick Tuma Congrats! Sounds like a fun time! :D
😂😂 "I scared it. I went BAA! really loud." I nearly died laughing. so cute.
Ugg I hate mice. Had the joys of educating all my Filipino and Indian neighbours in an apartment complex on how join together to resolve our mouse infestation. It wasn't easy but it worked!
1) get the blocks of poison and set them down in areas where they travel (like under your kitchen cabinet) but before you place them mark the blocks with a felt maker. A series of ticks down the side will show you how much gets eaten from one day to the next. Once you notice that the block is not being snaked on, you can remove it.
2) get some steel wool (you'll find it by the sandpaper in the hardware store) and stuff up holes that lead from one area to the next. While a mouse can squeeze itself through impossibly small spaces (like the crack under the door) the more restricted their options, the less they move. I would have a look at where your plumbing runs in the bathroom and kitchen and if that may be how they're getting in. Mice can't and won't chew through steel wool.
3) don't be "mouse friendly." Keep flour, rice, pasta, sugars, etc. in hard sided containers with tight fitting lids. Vacuum under the sofa, cushions, tables, and clean out the cabinets. Leave no crumb uncollected.
4) maintain your entryways and windows to make sure that the screens are in place and that doors are closed with no cracks in the bottom for mice to squeeze through.
Good luck!
I never thought about getting mice, im going to have to check for gaps now i would hate to get a mice.
Thanks for sharing! :)
Great Stuff is a canned spray foam that is helpful to close cracks.
Funnnny! I needed a good laugh this morning! :) Me, I'd have traps all over the place!!
I guess stuffing steel wool in any holes/access points you have keeps them out? Worth a try.
Keep all food in sealed storage containers...if they can't get anything to eat they won't come in.
The little buggers are hard to get rid of once they discover a new food source. Good luck
Again...funnnny.....at least when it's not me...:)
I never had a mouse problem in the many locations that I've lived. I live in a country setting duplex. Over a 12 year period I've had 4 sets of neighbors. Never heard of any complaints from the previous set of neighbors. Third neighbor set left the unit next door in dismay. The landlord rented a dumpster to haul out all the trash left behind. Fourth set of neighbors moved. I hope they stay. I really like them. Anyway, to the point. After their first year here they asked if I had a problem mice? I told them not that I had noticed. They found droppings in several places and put out poison. I suggested that they trap and dispose because the mice would eat the poison, take it to their nest and die which might be in their, the neighbors, living space. If the mouse problem was a lot of mice they might began smelling dead mice. A couple weeks passed when I discovered mouse dropping on my countertop and a bag of flour in my pantry had been chewed into with mouse droppings around the bag. Panic set in. I tried the old-fashioned wood-springed-bar traps. I found many with the bar released but no mouse. A friend suggested I try to sticky paper. I bought it I place it where I found the droppings on the counter. I gave some to my neighbors. Several days passed and no mice were trapped in my place, but the neighbors caught one. The problem is the mouse sticks to the sticky stuff, can't go anywhere, and is alive when you find it. I found a better solution at my local Tractor Supply store. Electronic traps. Four AA batteries are required. A tunnel where the mouse will enter upon smelling the peanut butter that I've spread around two metal contacts. Turning on the power a green LED flashes a couple times to signal that the trap is activated. I set the trap. Within 6 hours I noticed a red blinking LED. The trap worked. This is reuseable. No touching of the dead mouse is required. I took the trap to my back porch, open the lid above the mouse tunnel and dumped out the dead mouse carcass over the railing to my compost pile. Check whether I need to add more peanut butter, nope, barely touched. Close the lid and rest the trap. Within 3 days I caught 15 mice. I noticed each day that I dumped the mouse carcass that the previous one was missing. The neighbors have a cat; the cat must be eating the dead mice. I purchased two more traps and loaned one to my neighbors. I caught 16 more, and the neighbors have caught about 20. Four months have passed since my last catch. Then I saw one in my bathroom a couple days ago. I discovered the mouse was entering my bedroom window through a crack around my window AC unit. Outside my window a shrub was growing near the opening. I tirmmed the bush down. I discovered that mice can jump about 4-5 times their body height. Haven't seen that mouse but I have 3 electric traps set. The traps are expensive. Around $50, but they are reuseable. Four AA battery will kill around 100 mice before needing replacement. I check the battery charge with a battery checker or VOM once per month to be sure there is ample current. BTW, I like your videos.
I love your personality, you are a sweetheart.
If you don't mind having your place smell like a candy cane- 100% natural peppermint oil repels mice. They hate it. I had a camper I left on a woodsy lot months at a time. - The peppermint oil kept them away. I took clean corn cob bedding for small animals and put the oil on it. I put the oiled cobb in old socks and placed them around areas they want to get in. I got this from farmers in our area. A lot of farmers will plant peppermint plants around their barns. Just an idea...
I will grab some corn cobs from the field, thanks for the reminder!!
Mice are no joke. Camping at Burns Lake in Big Cyprus, rains flooded the whole area. Mice got into a tent camper's Caddilac, and chewed up the wiring in his dashboard so bad the car would not start. Between the tow truck into Miami and the repair of the electrical system, it cost him $850. For me, that is no joke.
I always carry a few Victor traditional snap traps, the kind with the yellow plastic cheese. You set them along the wall, no bait needed, when you arrive, according to the instructions, and they await the mouse's arrival. I know a squeamish lady who tosses out the mouse, trap, and all. They are fairly cheap, so you can do that. To reuse them, scrub with a brush and bleach, and dry in the sunshine all day, and replace them in the RV.
Thanks for sharing :)
"I don't have a moral dilemma right now." LOL
Thanks for the advice. I'm planning on purchasing my first RV next year and want to learn how to prevent mice before I buy my trailer.
They usually come inside to make a nest. I use the old style wire trap, but I use the end off a Q-Tip. They love the fibers for making a nest. Works like a charm. Glue traps work very well too. And like one of the other commenters suggested, use oil of peppermint around the holes in your floors/walls etc. I have lived in my trailer for 14 years, on a farm, and have only had 3 mice. Within 3 days they were GONE.
Free tip - put the peanut butter on the trap, and then slightly burn the peanut butter with a match, or lighter, creating a crust like outer surface. The mouse can't lick it clean, they have to bite at it, and then..... they are done. The burnt peanut butter can stay on and catch more mice, as you never have just one mouse. Just reset and check daily.
My uncle had a cat that brought mice into the house and let them go, because it liked to watch the dog chase them.
+carabela125 Haha, yeah can't trust cats... ;)
+Pippi Peterson Meow Meow :-)
carabela125
My cat does the same thing, I buy small pipe insulation, cut them in half and stuff them under the slides.
THAT'S HILARIOUS.
Pippi.
On your mouse dilemma here is a much easier way to get rid if the mice so they wont come back. No matter if you leave something out or uncovered.
If you can handle Pine Oil you should be able to handle the Peppermint Oil. Some people think it is expensive but it really works. You need to spread it all around your RV, AND I MEAN ALL AROUND, inside your cabinets in your basement or other storage areas. your bathroom bedroom. in areas you don't want the oil on you can use cotton balls or tissue. They love HEATERS, WATER HEATERS.
Yes the smell is very strong but you will get use to it. Plus it will help in getting a really good night rest.
I was staying on a friends back lot in So Cal and got infested with them. I left for two weeks to visit some friends in Mexico and when I returned I found droppings on my counter top. I PANICKED then did some research on mouse traps but didn't like any of them so I oped for the PEPPERMINT OIL.
Went to the nearest Health food store and was shocked by the pricing but I bit the bullet and bought a one once bottle for $20.00. It didn't take long to empty the bottle. And it DIDN'T TAKE LONG FOR THEM CRITTERS TO VACATE!!! So I researched the OIL on the internet and found some very good results. So I looked for a supplier and found this site. Bulk Apthoecary I got the 16oz supreme for $30.00 and have never had a problem again and just make sure I treat the RV every month or so. Them critters will never return. They can not stand the smell of it it hurts their nose.
Absolutely right about the Peppermint oil, it really works!! Also Irish Spring Soap Bars, buy the 8 box and put them in places like the sliders, around in the furnace area not where the blower wheel is but next to it, under bottom cabinets and drawers. Using Peppermint oil eliminates any mouse or packrat they WILL NOT COME IN. You're right about putting it everywhere, storage underneath your coach and even around the area where you park, you will be astonished how easy it works.
Unfortunately, I have a cat and can't use the peppermint oil. I went and bought some and put it everywhere. My cat started acting lethargic and throwing up. Had to scratch that idea. I have mice above me in my ac ducts. Trying to find a solution by watching all these videos. Thinking to plug vent holes with huge mason jars and using air compressor to blow them out vent to vent. I cant use my AC because of the urine smell. They are up there I hear them. I am asking everyone I know for help but may have to take this on myself. No one is committing to this fiasco but I am so done with these mice. I have to find the holes and the way they are getting in so I can plug them after I blow them out of ducts. God help me.
pepermint oil, use it, in part with water, spray it around door, windows etc.
You look outstanding! Thanks for the adventure!
I had the worst issue with mice until I got my cat. She's lazy and probably never chased a mouse in her life..however, mice stay away from the smell of cats. They just know. It works, I'm telling you.
daydreamingagain I've seen my cat watch mice eat out her bowl and neither one cared.. lol
Damn Cats
We have 4 cat's and now apparently mice.
So don't believe it.
My cats were in rv for three weeks, they paced all night long on camera but the mouse never came out to be caught until the mice left...Victor quick kill vault finally got him with grated Parmesan cheese powder.
Oh my gosh, you're so funny! You know that you're really upset when YOU use the word "fricken"...lol, sorry, every time you used it, I laughed. So sorry, glad you acted like a BOSS!
+Diane Craig Hooyeah! ;) Thanks Diane!
Pipi, those traps you have are awesome and we use them too in the fall/winter when mice start looking for warm dry places to hide in my house. However, they have a weak spot that can leave you wondering. The little door that you pull open to apply the bait to, can easily be pulled open by a mouse and they will again steel your peanut butter without setting off the trap.
After applying your peanut butter to the inside, wipe off the area you touched with Windex to remove your peanut butter fingerprints. Then use some Gorilla tape to seal that area up. Also be sure to push that side of the trap up against the wall so it makes it even harder for the critters to sneak through the back door.
Steinbeck's new thriller: "Of Mice And Motorhome"
Suggestions,
takes 20 days for them to have babies, look for holes the size of a dime you can stuff with steel wool (mice like brillo and sos pads). Yes, they can squeeze though a hole that size (I live in the country), if you want to lose mice or voles geez, do I have stories to tell. I also did battle with an infestation in an unoccupied logging camp 14 years they lived in it, gone in 6 months, cleaned all remnants in 2 weeks.
Mice tend to follow along walls and cabinets. If you're uncertain whether you have them ALL, put talcum or other powder along walls and beneath cabinets. That will give you a clue if you have new activity in your MH.
If you need to switch to poisons find some, "Just One Bite" it works wonders and they leave in search of water. If they eat it they need water they internally dry out, if they expire within a wall they won't stink. Keep it the heck away from pets.
+John Caron Intersting tip on the talcum powder. Thanks for sharing!
Pippi Peterson, I could listen to you talk forever and never get tired of hearing your stories! Hey if you are ever in the Pensacola FL area, contact me and my two babies, you can park that big ole honker RV out in my field and we can bbq or something. Thumbs up video, God bless you!~John
+WORRO01 Thanks for the consideration John :)
Pippi,
You are cracking me up!!! LOL , My Dad is deathly afraid of mice I think from his war days in Korea . But you make me laugh!!
The Great Stuff Pest Expanding Foam for filling holes has done me well. Bout 7 or 8 bucks at the hardware store.
Helpful and entertaining vid!
I concur. I noticed a big drop in problems with mice after I started hunting down all the little cracks and holes and filling them in with the expandable foam. And if you use too much and it poofs out, it is very easy to trim back.
+Jeff Pittman We found a huge hole in the fire wall that the wires passed through. Pretty sure that is where our rat got in. Filled it with steel wool and got rid of the huge plastic dashboard piece that cut off our access to the area and provided hidden pest housing. DH is making a sleek mahogany replacement dash.
Yup....I have peppermint cotton balls & dryer sheets tucked here and there in our RV while it's put away between trips. Also baking soda is good for washing clothes and washing down surfaces. Home for me is the Pacific Northwest too....we lived in Welches at the base of Mt. Hood & now in Battleground Wa. area next to the North fork of the Lewis River. So out here we get a lot of mice. Keep up the good work.....I enjoy watching you.
You can also use a cap full of "brown Lysol", it has disinfectant and it will not hurt your fabrics, my Grandma used to use it all the time on her towels if they "soured" in the summer (that is what she called it, that may not be the right word).It also smells good like Pine Sol.
I could watch you all day. You even make a discussion about mouse droppings interesting. LOL.
Another great video. I had a mouse and had the same turmoil of kill or not to kill. The first snap trap I woke up to find a piece of a straw laying where the peanut butter use to be, the darn thing was very creative, I didn't even have straws in here so who knows where it got that. The next night I put a snap trap on one path and a catch and release trap on another, it chose death. I too had to prepare myself for picking it up, and wouldn't you know the darn bar moved as I picked it up with a gloved hand inside a plastic bag, I screamed so loud. They love dog food, I found dog food stock piled under my drawers in my bedroom area, you might want to check those areas. I have now plugged up every hole I could find, took out drawers, opened up under the shower, every area that could host a mouse including all bins and plugged it with steel wool and expandable foam, unless there was wiring, then you don't want to use steel wool, that was duct tape and foam. There is also a spray you can spray under your RV that has peppermint oil. I also diffuse peppermint oil and balsam fir oil as those are both mouse deterrents. Never keep anything under your RV as it can help them find access to your RV. I've added rabbit fence screen, under all my vents so that way I can still get air but no mouse can get through. The only issue I have with a class A is the cab portion. I haven't figured out what to do with that. I plan to put cab fresh packets under my hood with a note on my steering wheel to remind me to remove them before driving. I've thought about adding some rabbit fence under the dash area to at least prevent them from getting any further into the camper, but haven't worked that out yet. I have no guilt in killing them any more, still would prefer to have someone else pick up the trap though.
+Dina Geiszler Crazy buggers, it's a job to prevent them! Thanks for sharing your story :D
I thought owls were dancing on the roof at night, but alas, it was mice digging through the Styrofoam insulation in the roof. I wound up catching 11! My dog acted like he heard a mouse last night, and I set a live trap, but nothing. My dog really, really wanted to catch a mouse!
Get a indoor cat better to have a cat then mice, or worst yet rats. And far as laundry goes put a cup of white distilled vinegar with your wash that works great as an disinfectant. And you get a bonus vinegar also keeps your jeans and stuff looking newer
Fill your holes! lol. Get some "Great Stuff" from Home Depot and patch up all those Miscellaneous holes and you can keep them out.
+Nomadic Fanatic I think this one got in through the fridge vent cause I found its evidence on that side of the RV first. Can't patch that one up. But I did get a little more detailed on the other ones. I've been using steel wool but in combo with the Great Stuff would be extra defense. Thanks!
+Pippi Peterson 2 things- 1, all rodents hate the smell of peppermint oil. Prevention is better than action. 2, electronic traps are the best. They electrocute them. You don't have to look. Just empty. Get the bigger one- for rats.
+Nomadic Fanatic +Pippi Peterson How awesome would it be for a Nomadic Fanatic and Pippi Peterson meet and greet to share your RV stories. My Wish List!
a MECHANICS rolling cart makes this easier to roll around under the carriage of the RV.
I read about the frig vent but was clueless. Sure enough, when I was using eternabond on my old buggy....I found a huge hole in the wire...that I replaced with hardware cloth...I read somewhere that glue on the sides would hold it down, I used duct tape on the sides and tried to stainless steel cable tie the middle to help it stay in place.
Still got two fat mice on camera a week after I accomplished this, so the quest continues....
White vinegar works great as a disinfectant and does nothing to the color.
Yep vinegar does a great job and evaporates away with no residue or harm to the environment.
I've heard you can use steel wool to plug holes. The mice will be deterred from trying to nibble their way through it!
you vs the mice. you win. hint fill the hole with green can of great stuff foam is a pesticide and fills in the gaps. good luck against future mice.
You need a cute kitten to make your life complete!
"It is on!" Haha:) It does seem to be mouse season, I hear them in my attic at night lately. Tootsie rolls make great bait, it sticks to the trap really well. Good luck!
I am completely sympathetic with your feelings towards mice. They are disease carriers and its completely disgusting when they get in your kitchen. My husband has to get rid of the traps after mice caught. We live in an older farm house and its really hard to keep them out. Husband allergic to cats or I would have one. Love your epoxy CD table!
Just a few comments. 1) the type of trap you used is the best because I've tried many different ones and I think the reason it works better is the mouse doesn't learn from other mice getting caught because it can't see what happened. 2) just use the pinesol in the wash and to clean up the camper. I once took a microbiology course where we determined the kill zone area for different disinfectants. Pinesol by far was more effective than most and handily beat out bleach. Using it in the wash you'll have no concerns with ruining or facing laundry.
+Kris K Cool to know. Sounds like a fun class, too!
That's a very humorous video. Your genuine distaste for getting rid of your team rodent was very evident, but very funny. Good video.
Thanks Dave :)
Hi girl y.Not sure what to say.May God be with you on all your journeys.Always learning new things.Loving God all the way.
Im a full time RV and I spent several days sealing up holes inside around plumbing with "Steel Wool" And caulking then I bought this stuff called "Fresh Cab" its pure organic it repeals mice from areas it smells awesome and it does work!! better than messing with nasty mice traps and having to clean up from mice, Ive been using it for about a month now and I haven't seen any mice or their droppings, its AWESOME...
+Jimmy Smith I got that before, it only lasts a few months until the smell goes away :(
Peppermint oil. Yes. I had an infestation of pack rats in my engine compartment under the hood. They brought immense amounts of cholla into the motor. The only thing that worked was peppermint oil! Thank god for such a simple solution!
I mix cheese or peanut butter with bread dough. The mice can't lick it off. It works well, and I've never had a problem with my bait.
Instant coffee. Mice go absolutely nuts for coffee.
Omg it's hilarious when you say 'bugger', I thought it was just a Scottish thing. Could watch you for hours, damn that's tomorrow planned ;-)
Had the same problem, I hot glued a peanut onto a trap and have caught several mice with that same nut LOL it works great :)
Pippi,
Here's my funny story involving bleach and laundry, I did my first load of laundry by myself after my divorce. I had watched many times as the X piled clothing on the floor into groups of Jeans and Colors and Shirts, and Whites and sheets meanwhile the washer was filling with water and as she did I put the bleach into the Machine, then I went upstairs to the restroom upon returning I picked up my Jeans all 5 brand new pairs off the floor and threw them in the washer. Now originally I intended to do my whites first which is why I had the bleach in the machine. Unfortunately I forgot that tid bit of information once the washer stopped and I got my Jeans out to place in the dryer I remembered what I did and all my Jeans now had white blotches all over them !!! I was so upset over it, but not to be wasted I just wore them for working and not to go out any where after that. LOL i LEARNED BY MISTAKE how to do my laundry after that!!
Rats I don't like, but I kinda like mice. Now, I would not want one in my home..but, I would rather have a mouse then roaches or some other bug (I HATE bugs/snakes/spiders).
WHen I was growing up, we lived in an old house and we constantly had mice. I would hear them scurry about in my ceiling and occasionally I would see one. But they left me alone and when I saw them I actually thought they were kinda cute.
I found if you left them alone that they would leave you alone.
But I don't blame you for wanting them gone...I am just saying that I lived indirectly with a few for years and I actually got used to it.
Mouse problem(s)? Get a cat. No more mouse problem(s) :-)
Just think of it as a new pet 😄, lol. Just kidding, after you get rid of it, you should go under your RV and seal up any opening you see with foam spray.
How can anyone be so sweet!
Glue Traps Work the Best ! i had one in my house. caught it 1st day.
I have been living in a camper for quite some time now and have learned the hard way that if you don't get rid of the mice sooner or later you may also have a snake problem!
I love your emotional process of denial to acceptance that you Do have a mouse...and then picking up the trap and feeling it "weight " is horrible...LOL totally me :)
+elizabeth “livefree” barrett Yep, that's the worst part :|
Another really good laundry additive to kill any grossness (incl your mouse visitors) is completely natural and can be used for so many things is made by E3 and currently only available online. I recommend you check it out - we were turned on to it b/c we have a front loader that can leave clothes smelly...
This issue reminds me of a RV movie released in 1979, that also had to deal with a rodent problem, starring Sigourney Weaver. Here's some dialogue from a relevant scene:
"Ash: You still don't understand what you're dealing with, do you? Perfect organism. It's structural perfection is matched only by its hostility.
Lambert: You admire it.
Ash: I admire its purity. A survivor... unclouded by conscience, remorse, or delusions of morality.
Parker: Look, I am... I've heard enough of this, and I'm asking you to pull the plug.
Ash: Last word.
Pippi Peterson (aka Ripley): What?
Ash: I can't lie to you about your chances, but... you have my sympathies."
In RV space, no one can hear you scream!
I've got a problem with mice too!there's a one keeps walking past my feet and looking at me!cheeky blighter!try mouse and rat repeller that plugs into the mains supply,I use stv718 ones and they really work well
There is a product that RV dealers sell, I think its called "Mouse Free" and it is a peppermint oil based liquid that you can spray on the RV's undercarriage or the dealer can do it for you. It works well but must be re-sprayed occasionally.
Peanut butter is good but if you put some flour on the peanut butter, it'll make it more difficult to the mouse and he'll bite into the peanut butter harder, tripping the trap. Also placing steel wool in the holes prevents them from getting in that way. Hope this helps ya.
just found your channel...you are awesome ! put steel wool in any holes or gaps to keep mice out...I like the humane traps, I've also herded them into a trash can and released them outside...it's said if you take them 20 feet away they won't come back, they get in my feed room and will sometimes fall into a deep bucket with a little feed in the bottom and I just relocate Mickey or Minnie to the woods
AWE, THAT'S SO CUTE. YOU SAW A MOUSE, SO YOU THINK YOU HAVE 'A' MOUSE.
I would suggest going to any hardware store and pick up a can of "Great Stuff". It's a spray foam insulation (rodent proof - they can't chew through it) to fill in any gaps or holes so that mice can't get in.
My favorite part is at 7:05 where you describe how little you like catching a mouse. :) Adorable! btw, I bought a 2003 Dutchman 31 foot trailer and plan to live in it Pippi-style! (starting in the Spring) Renting out my condo and moving to a smaller, simpler lifestyle.
+Scott Collins Yay, congrats on your move! :D Best of luck
Pippi, love your vids. Lysol will disenfect, won't ruin clothes, and a product I buy at Sam's is Sta-fresh or something like that, it smells good, and disenfects also. It is great for laundry, especially if you have work clothes. I've seen ads for Cab Fresh to keep them out also, I think it is sawdust or shavings infused with essential oils. I bet you could make your own. Lots of luck.
Great laundry tips. I have a bed spread (not sure when it got cat pee on it, but the older cat pointed the smell spot out to me ), so will try the cap of chlorine or pine sol in the wash to see if it get rid of the smell. I"ve used sprays for pet smells before. Sometimes they work, other times not.
yes pippi you can know one thing! where u see one there are many more Freaky!
jam steel wool in the holes you think it is coming through.......they will lick the peanut butter clean.......I have found things like cheese that you can jam on the trigger work well......you might have to manually slay the little bugger next time you see them
: ) I have one too! I have to keep moving the traps around! very smart!
OMG that was your best vid ever! I rarely comment, and almost never upvote, but you get both. Haha! I went in my (house) kitchen one day and had the same experience. Yikes! Mice! Hanta in the kitchen without you. They had to go, immediamente. Two days later (with a havahart trap) and it was Bill 2, Mice 0. Keep up the great bids, and definitely dump the mice.
+Bill Carroll Thanks for sharing and commenting Bill! :D
i have had some, but they never stay after they eat the "food" i feed them! :)
not just mice, squirrels from all my trees try to move in too!
Awe, you're so adorable!
Before you set the trap, tie a piece of string to the place where the bait goes. then put just a little peanut butter. The mouse will chew the string then BAM.
Peanut butter definitely works best, strong scent and can't be ripped off in one bite. The snap traps really have to be set to a hair trigger, sometimes they get stuck. I grew up hunting animals for food and a quick kill trap of whatever kind is best imho. Those sticky traps are the worst, things have to chew their feet off or starve, not cool.
Love your vids Pippi. I plan on retiring in an rv (with a motorcycle trailer : ) and you have some helpful stuff on your channel.
Poor little Mickey Mouse :-). The chances your mouse having that virus is very very slim. Now the mouse is gone you will be able to sleep. Your folks worry about you living in an RV? Look forward to your next adventure. Have a good weekend.
Mice will crawl into your head and have babies!......:) Sorry had to say that you seemed so freaked out. LOL Get a package of wire snap traps. Chunky peanut butter and catch every one of those little buggers. If they steal the peanut butter make a nylon bag of it and tie it on the bait tray. That way they will get their teeth caught in the mess and snap the trap. Every RVer will have mice eventually. Stuff steel wool in every opening and seal everything up, but there's so many places they can get in. Your electrical cord is a primary route in, so seal that up. Climb under your RV with a can of expandable foam and seal, seal.
If you let them set up a home, and they will, you will have a constant problem. Been there done that the past 2 years!......I'm battling the mice where ever I go. Don't overlook the firewall on your RV, they can get in through your heater or air ducts. It's a constant battle once they find the way in. Good luck you will need it......:)
Yes those mousies are really bright. Nature finds a way and we all want to survive. Best idea is prevention. Do not leave ANY food out. Use steel tins, etc. for smellables. Keep everything sealed in stuff that can't be chewed through. Mice can fit through a hole as small as a dime and it doesn't need to be round. I've found spray foam is great for sealing small openings around pipes, electrical, etc and it will keep the insects out, too. If these precautions are not taken then the mice and insects will appear. Finally, clean, clean, clean. Bleach works. I've been told that mice hate dryer sheets, and some people even swear by irish spring soap. We're experimenting with both this year. May not prove anything as we haven't had a pest problem. BTW, the difference between "pests" and "pets" is 1) an "s" and 2) the pests are not invited. Hmmmm. Just like some of us! I've discouraged other critters including skunks by using ammonia set in open containers. Never had one in the sticks & bricks, but the kids would leave the garage door open and something would invariable try to move in.
+Norman Retzke Great tips, thanks!
Thank GOD I’m not alone!! I’m terrified of mice and I can’t seem to keep them out of my travel trailer! I have sealed every single possible entry point with rodent proof expanding foam and yet I keep getting one or two every once in a while. I also snap trap them! And I’ve never had more than one or two at a time because I’m viciously fighting against any that get in but I’m dying to find out where on earth they’re coming in! I have searched EVERY nook and cranny and I mean EVERY SINGLE ONE and filled every possible hole. Today I caught one after a month or two and I had just got home and I heard the most awful banging sound and thought my dog was going crazy in her crate and then realized it was a mouse caught in a snap trap. It had broken it’s neck but it was still flopping around (ewwww!). Gives me the creeps too! I also have vacuumed up every single dropping in this crazy person like frenzy (and let me tell you it wasn’t easy because I had to use the vacuum hose to reach waaaaay under my kitchen sink). I’m hoping that coupled with spraying the Tom cat rodent repellent will make it less “cozy” for them. I was already sealing all my food and throwing away trash regularly etc etc so idk what else to do. I have a borderline phobia so I’m sure I’m going overboard.
Rodents have no bladder, so they are constantly releasing urine as they run around...EWWW! KILL THEM!! Those sticky traps work good. Put a drop of peanut butter in the middle of the sticky board so that the mouse has to step on it. I once caught 3 mice on the same trap. ??? Mouse number 3 didn't notice 2 dead buddies on it??? I HATE mice!!
+Tea Rosy She would probably have to get someone to remove it. I doubt if she would do it, judging from her comments regarding removing the catch and release trap.
Probably right on that!
+Moons DarkAngel I agree 100%! Mice are vermin and I have no compunction about killing them. Screw that catch and release crap... mice are never going to be anywhere near extinct... so if you get them ... KILL THEM! The sooner the better!
Moons DarkAngel where did you get that info???
Sticky traps are terribly cruel. Mice will chew off their limbs often to get free of them. I have caught several mice in my time (the ones my cat has brought in alive!!). I use homemade catch and release. However, if you HAVE to kill them, use a spring type mouse trap that kills them instantly, not poison or sticky traps.
D-Con yellow wedge baits will last for years. Placed under the stove or sink or in closets. Not sure of the process but it drys the body out so there is no mess no odor.. just pick up the body with a pair of pliers and dump in the trash. Between a country home and placed in a couple of antique cars its been the best anti-mouse insurance I have ever found. Basically you can place them almost anywhere and just leave them. I would check usually in the fall to see if they had been consumed or not.
Ashton H -- I "just" learned that... 2-3 weeks ago... wanted some for a property that developed a mouse issue in Sept and when I did find them the price was 20x what it should. Great product no longer available. Let's hope we can get some review of the regs that stole this product from us.
Mice are on to the peanut butter. They told the others so it doesn't work like it used to. Granola works better. I used a sticky trap in a narrow area where the sticky trap blocks the way then hang the granola over it with a string.
Another great way to disinfect laundry is just to put it on the hottest wash possible hang it outside in the sun! If it's cloudy then hang it for a couple of days. I currently hand wash and this is the method I use. It's also the method used to disinfect water in developing countries.
I lost it at "HAAAAAA!!!" Ahhahaha you're adorable.
+PaperPlanesParadise Glad you enjoyed it
Mice are tricky. I have used the sticky traps with success as well. They can have babies every 21 days. Good luck-Sue from Michigan
Pippi, get some peppermint oil. (not extract) and put a few drops on cotton balls and stick them in different places in your motorhome. place them in little plastic cups so they don't stain. mice are allergic to peppermint oil. they got into my motorcycle and ever since then they haven't bothered it.
The first mice who enter not only leave droppings, but pee too, something you can't see, but leaves a scent that others may follow. One thing is a fact, "they will not have any reservations about how YOU feel about them", so getting touchy feely about them is a losing battle. Catch and release only works, if you're on the move or if you release them a few miles distant, for they will be back (their GPS works really well).
I got so mad at them and their distant relatives - pack-rats - that serious action had to be taken: Glue traps. Glue traps don't kill them, but usually immobilize them - for a while. The testy part is when you hear them struggle and you have to "face them'' i.e. pick up the trap and knock them dead with a piece of wood or an iron bar. Make sure one hit is enough.
I have a school bus I used to travel in on my lot in NM, and because it has only seen occasional use, packrats and mice have moved in. To solve the invasion, the only choice was to block the part behind the driver seat completely off. However, after a few seasons the entire front part became layered in rat poop to a point where it was almost impossible to open the side door. The driver area became a total loss, because nests could be found in all the wiring etc.
Caution needs to be exercised when dealing with large amounts of rodent poop. DON'T EVER shovel it out or otherwise disturb it, as it can contain the deadly ''hantavirus''. This virus does not kill the host, but it can have a deadly effect on humans. Check Wikipedia. In my case I decided to completely spray-foam over the entire 'collection' and then some, to lock-in any harmful stuff. Then I blocked off any possible entry way like openings for gas pedal, brake, clutch and more. Seemed to have done the trick. Eventually the entire driver areas will be one big block of foam, right up to the windows ; )
No mercy for these lovely little things, especially in a southern desert area. Like someone said: Get a cat, if you can. They can smell a cat and tend to avoid getting close. On one two week journey I could hear mice running around every night, but never found them. Flying up North that summer, I had to store the vehicle at an RV storage near Salt Lake for a few months. When I returned I found a mummified mouse in a tool compartment.
Contrary to the campgrounds "we'' had been visiting along the way, where food could be found every night, the RV storage area consisted only of gravel, not even grass, so it starved to death ; ( I was a little sad, but rather travel without them. Good luck.
Your work isn't done! You need to find out how he got in and seal it up. They can squeeze through the tiniest opening. A good way to seal those openings is silicone caulk. Mice have been known to follow water lines and power lines supplying motor homes so consider those, too as well as openings around your refrigerator, hot water heater and furnace. Good luck!
Pippi, I brought my coach to the local RV dealer and had it treated with a product called "Mouse Free" that is sprayed on the underside of the coach. It's supposed to keep mice from ever getting in, and it lasts for one year. I try to keep the interior covered to with a number pouches called Fresh Cab Rodent Repellant placed in key area's.
Moth balls in small containers in your storage bays will keep the mice away, they don't like the smell. Also, use steel wool to close the gaps around pipes, etc. The mice won't go near it.
Oh my word. you are cracking me up !scaring the mouse ha ha lol
I had the same experience when a mouse was in my toaster.
+michael therrien In the toaster!?! Oh gosh!
Pippi Peterson I eventually found him taking a swim in the dogs water bowl. Got a towel and held it down in the bowl. He was a brazen little bugger.
Any holes you find around pipes or other holes you find stuff steel wool into the holes and in places where the dog is no able to get to put car antifreeze in a jar lid if they get in they will drink it and it will die.I use prestone antifreeze in the winter month when the trail or is not in use.It works great