Mice in caravans !

[Mike_374409781]

A friend of mine has problems with mice. He stores his 'van during the winter but when he visits it at Easter, mice have been living in it. They cause quite a lot of damage, so what is the solution ? If he puts traps down before he puts it "to bed" each autumn, the mice that are caught will stink the place out by the following Easter. If he puts Warfarin down, then the same result, as these mice are nesting in his /van.

Apart from locking a big Tom Cat in the 'van each year, whats to be done ?

 

[jacky3]

try this

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=228050#features

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Mike

Mice can get through some remarkably small holes (size of a pencil) so the obvious first thing to do is to check that all the ventilation holes have their mesh fully in place, and for any other holes such as poorly fitting main door and windows, fridge vents/covers.

It may also be worth having the gas heater fully inspected for correct fitting, if the floor plate is not properly seated there may be a mouse sized gap - I must stress that is is not dangerous from the heaters point of view.

I agree that setting traps or poison has a rather unpleasant side effect, so finding some way of discouraging the rodents would be preferred.

Changing storage location may be one rather drastic solution.

I do not know if your friend has access to a mains supply, but if he did then you can get plug in electronic devices that claim to make the environment unpleasant to rodents and thus they prefer to go else where. Whilst I cannot claim scientific evidence for their efficacy, following a=an infestation of mice in my attic, I installed a couple and since doing so I have not had any further evidence of mice.

There may be a company that does a 12V version, and by using a solar panel, the battery may be topped up enough to keep it running.

I am also told that moth balls may act as a deterrent.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Mike

Mice can get through some remarkably small holes (size of a pencil) so the obvious first thing to do is to check that all the ventilation holes have their mesh fully in place, and for any other holes such as poorly fitting main door and windows, fridge vents/covers.

It may also be worth having the gas heater fully inspected for correct fitting, if the floor plate is not properly seated there may be a mouse sized gap - I must stress that is is not dangerous from the heaters point of view.

I agree that setting traps or poison has a rather unpleasant side effect, so finding some way of discouraging the rodents would be preferred.

Changing storage location may be one rather drastic solution.

I do not know if your friend has access to a mains supply, but if he did then you can get plug in electronic devices that claim to make the environment unpleasant to rodents and thus they prefer to go else where. Whilst I cannot claim scientific evidence for their efficacy, following a=an infestation of mice in my attic, I installed a couple and since doing so I have not had any further evidence of mice.

There may be a company that does a 12V version, and by using a solar panel, the battery may be topped up enough to keep it running.

I am also told that moth balls may act as a deterrent.

It looks like Klarky has found one that is self contained and will last about 8 months on its own internal batteries.

 

[Delndi]

Hello Mike

Mice can get through some remarkably small holes (size of a pencil) so the obvious first thing to do is to check that all the ventilation holes have their mesh fully in place, and for any other holes such as poorly fitting main door and windows, fridge vents/covers.

It may also be worth having the gas heater fully inspected for correct fitting, if the floor plate is not properly seated there may be a mouse sized gap - I must stress that is is not dangerous from the heaters point of view.

I agree that setting traps or poison has a rather unpleasant side effect, so finding some way of discouraging the rodents would be preferred.

Changing storage location may be one rather drastic solution.

I do not know if your friend has access to a mains supply, but if he did then you can get plug in electronic devices that claim to make the environment unpleasant to rodents and thus they prefer to go else where. Whilst I cannot claim scientific evidence for their efficacy, following a=an infestation of mice in my attic, I installed a couple and since doing so I have not had any further evidence of mice.

There may be a company that does a 12V version, and by using a solar panel, the battery may be topped up enough to keep it running.

I am also told that moth balls may act as a deterrent.

I seem to remember reading about this problem and I thought it was on here but I can't find the posting at all. The final conclusions were that moth balls are a good deterrent but have been made "illegal" by our European lords and masters but Tumble dryer sheets apparently make an acceptable alternative. I was also advised to fill up any vents with wire wool before long term storage, obviously removing it before using the van

 

[Delndi]

Just found the posting - it's in Equipment and accessories titled "Mouse in the house" about page 3

 

[Mike_374409781]

Thanks to everybody for your help in this matter. Moth balls seem worth trying, and I am also informed that Bounce tumble dryer sheets work as well !