Mice in front locker EEK!

[LADA]

Hi All - Went to storage yard today for the first time since October and was really pleased that everything was I left it and no damp etc BUT when I opened the front locker there were what looked like mouse droppings on the rolled up groundsheet.
I didn't pull everything out to check further as we were heading out for the afternoon but wondered what's the best course of action -
mouse traps or poison or a big mallet!

 

[topshelf]

Hi, I was in the same boat last year, I tried both poison and traps, after one full tub of poison I only saw one mouse die of it, as for the traps, worth every penny, you know youve got the blitters so no more dammage can be done, I used Little nipper traps I think you can get them from boyes if you have a local store, put a small ammount of mars bar on, the sticky caramel keeps it on the pin so they dont get a cheap meal of you, once you tink you got them put the poisen down and monitor to see if it disappears.
Best of luck
I also bought one of the sonic devices battery opperated, verdict is still out on these.

 

[Damian]

Mothballs wil deter mice from making your van a home, and they dont kill them.

 

[SirRogerFFS]

Nice thought Damian everything has a right to live,...........except earwigs.

 

[Willi-Wonti]

We found that some of the black bin bags in the garage had been attacked by something. My wife thought that it may be mice but the holes were too big for mice.
I bought a rat trap from B&Q and set it with cheese. A few days latter my wife let out a loud scream. You guessed it a big fat juicy rat in the trap.
The trap is still set but no more takers

 

[Cruzer]

If they are only in the front locker, surely just emptying everything out and removing anything they may feed on will be sufficient. You could put some finer mesh over the vents, assuming that's where they're getting in, better than blocking the vents entirely.

 

[LADA]

Thanks for the advice and comments - will go for the mousetraps tomorrow and share a Mars Bar with the critters.
After all a Mars a day helps you work, rest and slay.

Will also check out where they're getting in and put fine mesh over the vents etc.
Normally I'd prefer to let a wee beastie be set free but mice are a different story. Yes they look cute but can't stand the thought of them walking all over my stuff or sh*t*ng in cupboards where plates or food may be stored.
First job before our first outing in March is to clean and sterilise everything!

 

[RogerB]

Why not keep a cat in there?.Droppings a bit more unpleasant though!

 

[MikeyW]

We had the same problem. Put some mothballs in there and problem went away. Saves worrying about having to clear up dead bodies.

 

[TopCat1]

Hi Lada,
I read once that if you place tumble dryer sheets in your van it will keep mice away. I think it must be true as I have done this for the past 3 years as I store my van on a farm. Van cover straps have been nibbled but nothing in the van or locker. There is an added advantage - they make your van smell fresh as well!

 

[HenryB1]

Try the plastic mouse traps. Bait goes in a small cup on floor of pressure pad so crafty mice can't pinch it without setting off trap. Once you have caught all of those around you will have a loaded trap that can be left for a few weeks proving that van is now clear. We use Rentokill traps easy and cheap to by on line but I am sure there are other makes available. I previously used the old style wooden traps but they always seem to have activated with no sign of the crafty mouse.

HenryB

 

[Parksy]

We had the same problem. Put some mothballs in there and problem went away. Saves worrying about having to clear up dead bodies.

Hi Lada,
I read once that if you place tumble dryer sheets in your van it will keep mice away. I think it must be true as I have done this for the past 3 years as I store my van on a farm. Van cover straps have been nibbled but nothing in the van or locker. There is an added advantage - they make your van smell fresh as well!

The reason that mothballs and scented tumble dryer sheets keep mice at bay is because mice leave urine trails which are followed by other mice. These urine trails contain pheromones which are regarded as signals by other mice and the scent of the mothballs or tumble dryer sheets masks the pheromone trail.
A good wipe round the gas locker, Jockey wheel, steady legs and caravan wheels with a cloth soaked in strong smelling disinfectant will also help to reduce the chances of further mouse infestation. It's a good idea to put the mothballs into old socks so that they will be easier to find when you need to remove them.

 

[Dustydog]

Just a word of warning. If you find a dead mouse or rat never pick it up by the tail. The tail drags in their urine which can contain Weil's disease. Best use gloves or tongs etc and only pick up by the neck.
It goes without saying thoroughly wash your hands afterwards.

 

[Southy1]

Hi Everyone.
As a bit of an expert on mice, (although I have never had them in my van) can I suggest using a humane trap, or at the worst, a trap. With the poison, if they go away to die, which is the whole purpose, the likelihood is, they will go where you can't find them. They smell when they are dead, especially if they are around a hot pipe and you will take a whole holiday locating the smell and eradicating it. If you use a humane trap, you let them go in the field...happy days for all. If it is dead in the trap you know where it is. If you use the humane traps, you will need to go and check every day otherwise the poor little critter will stave to death.....not very humane.
Live and let live!!
Have fun.

 

[paws]

Well said Southy..
I couldn't agree with you more.