Mice in van !

[Ian341]

Hi all would really appreciate all your help with this,

just been down to storage opened van door to discover mice droppings on the seats and worktops, they are even in the bathroom, checked under fixed bed and they continue under there. None of the upholstery has been nibbled at so hopefully caught it early ! Where could these have got in and how can it be prevented????? Have brought upholstery home and fixed bed mattress. Am bringing van home on weekend to thoroughly clean it, what can I do to stop this from happening again ?

Many Thanks

Ian

 

[Angus1]

Probably via the ventilation `holes` Ian, as nowadays they tend to be just that.

Our old ABI had mesh on the outside and cowls on the inside to discourage rodents and assorted creepy-crawleys getting in through the floor-level vents.

A shhet of fine wire mesh (decorative bit in B&Q if all else fails) stapled underneath over the holes is a start, but get the livestock out first!

 

[Ian341]

Hi Angus thanks for that will check under van for vent holes when it comes home on weekend ! Had a good look today and cant find the creatures anywhere! Maybe they came in found no food and left again ?????? Want to prevent this from happening again ! Never had this problem in our 1994 Avondale so could be that the vents arent covered.

Many Thanks

IAn

 

[ThePlotter]

to be on the safe side get a couple of mousetraps in there loaded with chocolate if they are around it never fails.

 

[Ian341]

Hi there, yes was thinking of getting some mouse traps to put under bed for winter so at least if they do get in they wont do much harm. But would prefer to stop it happening at all.

Many Thanks

IAn

 

[cooky1]

I had mice in my van a few years ago and they caused over

 

[Damian]

Mothballs deter mice from going in the van or front locker, they hate the smell, and it beats having to get rid of dead mice in a mousetrap.

As has been said, fine wire mesh with holes no bigger than a pencil are the only way to stop them on a permanent basis, staple across all the vent holes, including the ones in the gas locker.

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

i had mice in our 2005 avondale. we put 6 mouse traps down with marsbar on and didnt catch one. this was because we must have left them on the a46/a16 on our way to sutton on sea in october.

i would use poison because then you have to find them.

im moving storage sites soon to a controlled vermin one. theres a 05 merc motorhome on your storage and rats have got under his bonnet ate through the electrics and then ate thru part of the dash and have now entered the

 

[MikeJE]

Mothballs, mothballs and mothballs. Used by farmers to prevent mice eating wiring on stored equipment. Have even heard that 'vans stored beside mothball protected 'vans are mouse free. Seems the slightest whiff deters them. All you need to do now is find a shop that sells them - or even knows what they are !

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

I'm not trying to scare anyone but if you do find some consider the following ....

Researchers warn of mothball cancer risk

Press Association

Monday May 15, 2006

The Guardian

Chemicals in mothballs and air fresheners may increase the risk of cancer, scientists have discovered.

Naphthalene and para-dichlorobenzene are recognised pollutants that can cause cancer in rodents. Experts believe they are also likely to be harmful to humans. Ding Xue, from the University of Colorado, in Boulder, experimented on tiny laboratory worms, a new technique which has opened a door to cheap screening.

Writing in the journal Nature Chemical Biology, the researchers said chemicals used in the home or workplace were usually tested on rats or mice, but it was costly and slow.

 

[MikeJE]

Take the mothballs out of the 'van when you are in it - apart from any cancer considerations the smell is unpleasant.

I am not overly worried about the effect they might have on the mice in that regard.

Take precautions with the mothballs, ie, keep them away from children and animals.

 

[Ian341]

Hi All

Thanks for all the advise it is really appreciated, am going to thoroughly check underneath van tomorrow for any places where the mouse got in. Sounds like its not just me experiencing this problem!

Many Thanks

IAn

 

[botty]

hi we had mice in our other van bought a fine mesh waste paper basket from home bargains store and just cut to size where the vnts where did not go in van but they had been in front locker so he as coverd all the gaps using no nails to stick it down

we had a new van in oct 07 and as done the same with that one

 

[MikeJE]

Slightly off at a tangent - once spotted rabbit ! droppings on the seating of our 'van. Slight panic ensued - wondering how THEY got in. where and when - 'till I realised the droppings had been brought in on youngsters feet. There followed in-house training in door mat use.

 

[Brum1]

Moth balls have been suggested many times on this forum. I just chuck a few in various lockers and drawers.

I will then always have a moth ball to hand to throw at a little bu**er if I see one.

 

[AnnM1]

You could cut up a pair of old tights and put some mothballs inside each piece. Using a drawstring to fasten, hang them from the TOP of the steadies on the outside. Rodents don't like the smell (nor do cats!) so this might help to keep them out. They do stink something awful if you put them inside the van itelf.

Ann

 

[trucker]

FAO jo-anne

I thought mice liked cheese not mars bars, prahaps thats why you didnt catch any lol

Kevin H

 

[thehoods]

You think you've got problems with mice in your caravans! Our son came running into our bedroom at 4 this morning screaming he had seen a mouse in his bedroom. When we went in there to investigate and a mouse had been gnoring on a bar of tobelerone that had fallen out of his (my son's) selecton box he got for Christmas. So it was off to B & Q this morning to get some traps, baited them with tobelerone, after a couple of hours caught one of the little gits! bit of a mess though, blood everywhere!