Keeping mice out of your tractors engine bay over the winter and summer too.

[scootr]

Every barn should have a cat
We got a couple of Feral rescues. Somebody here challenged me saying the cats could not be feral. They are.
The humane society traps feral cats and their babies. They somehow neuter/spay and chip them. They tip one ear for ID.
You agree to have a sizeable enclosure - they bring 2 at a time. You feed and water them for 6-8 weeks in the cage then open the door. I did this twice. I got 1 cat to stay each time. Had to use a wildlife cam to see them the first year. It's been 4 yrs now, one cat is friendly she has a cat house on a top overhead shelf lets me put the food dish in front of her. I tried to touch her once and she exploded The other one lives under a shipping container in another building. She is just now letting me see her at a 20' with out running. Same lopped off ear. 2 out 4 stayed. 2 disappeared. 2 Free / spayed/ vaccinated/ chipped mouse killers.
I see them killing all sorts of stuff around the house on my outdoor cameras at night. They eat what they kill. I give each one a handful of dry food daily. Water, shelter, and a blanket.
50% success rate is about average. I would do it again.

 

[Thomas]

I give my Kubota good heavy dose WD40,yet to have any critters try to build or munchies.

 

[scootr]

I give my Kubota good heavy dose WD40,yet to have any critters try to build or munchies.

Little known fact = WD-40 was invented in San Diego in 1953 as a rust-prevention solvent for Atlas missile outer skins. A chemist at the Rocket Chemical Company created a compound that would prevent rust and corrosion on the Atlas.

 

[Gator6x4]

Little known fact = WD-40 was invented in San Diego in 1953 as a rust-prevention solvent for Atlas missile outer skins. A chemist at the Rocket Chemical Company created a compound that would prevent rust and corrosion on the Atlas.

The WD-40 Stand for "Water Displacement test mixture number 40"

I use the green Tom Cat mouse poison cubes in all outbuilding and basement. I also stick a wire through a couple and secure under the hood of tractors.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

.

 

[5030]

Cats and poison bait don't mix well. The mice eat the bait and the cats eat the mice and then they die as well. In my case that wouldn't be so bad so long as I didn't get caught.

Dogs like to eat cat poop, think because it's salty though I'm not about to sample any and believe me, neither of our pups give us 'kisses' either...lol

 

[bcp]

Leave the hood open. Put a bright light in it. Or both.

Bruce

 

[eyi]

My spouse sometimes complaints because I have removed to many trees and the likes around our buildings. At the end of the day she still prefers that than mice inside. Keep the environment around as clean as you can. If they don’t live around, they can’t get in !!!

A space where they can go like a shed (instead of your house or garage) where you hit them hard with poison or traps is also a good thing. You keep the population low…

 

[jyoutz]

Cats and poison bait don't mix well. The mice eat the bait and the cats eat the mice and then they die as well. In my case that wouldn't be so bad so long as I didn't get caught.

Dogs like to eat cat poop, think because it's salty though I'm not about to sample any and believe me, neither of our pups give us 'kisses' either...lol

It depends on the bait formation. A lot of mouse bait is warfarin, of which only a small amount will kill a mouse, but is harmless to larger animals. Warfarin is prescribed as a blood thinner in human medicine.

 

[jyoutz]

The WD-40 Stand for "Water Displacement test mixture number 40"

I use the green Tom Cat mouse poison cubes in all outbuilding and basement. I also stick a wire through a couple and secure under the hood of tractors.

I use the Tom Cat bait with warfarin in my bait stations, but I wouldn’t put it into the hood of a tractor or vehicle. These blocks do attract mice, so you are luring mice to those locations.

 

[hube2]

I can't stand strong smelling laundry perfumes so that wouldn't work for me. I have used these Fresh Cab rodent pouches on past tractors. The Boomer tractor would get mice behind the dash so I zip tied 2 pouches behind there and would swap them out every 2 years. I like the smell of those too.

EarthKind Fresh Cab Animal Repellent Granules For Rodents 2.5 oz - Ace Hardware

This is what I use as well, does a good job. I change the one behind my dash every couple months and then I scatter the older ones around the my sheds. I have not had any rodent problems since I started using these. Seem to keep everything away, even larger critters.

 

[cqaigy2]

I can't stand strong smelling laundry perfumes so that wouldn't work for me. I have used these Fresh Cab rodent pouches on past tractors. The Boomer tractor would get mice behind the dash so I zip tied 2 pouches behind there and would swap them out every 2 years. I like the smell of those too.

EarthKind Fresh Cab Animal Repellent Granules For Rodents 2.5 oz - Ace Hardware

Hmmm, not a fan of the smell of laundry perfumes either. I tried cheap stinky fabric softener and squirted it around, seems to work like the dryer sheets being as that's basically what dryer sheets are. I'm going to check out that repellent you posted.

 

[tstex]

Kroger or Bounce scented dryer sheets. The stinker the better.

If you really want to zap them, spray some viscous based mint oil on the dryer sheets...they hate mint and the oil in the mint will make the dryer sheet last longer...

 

[5030]

I'll try that.

 

[tstex]

Cannot do that here. My wife has cats, inside and outside and she feeds them well so none of them are mousers and I'd be living in thr shop if anything happened to any of them. I don't like cats as a rule anyway but they came with the marriage. issue with cats (for me) is all the paw prints on my tractor (and vehicle hoods) and the cat poop in bad places. Nothing worse than can poop on the bottom of your shoes.

First, I never get enough shop time so letting her know that one of the cats didn't make it would be more time on things I need to do.

I get the cats came w the marriage, I am sure many others do here too. however, paw prints everywhere, xxxx on your boots and the smell are pretty big pills to swallow, at least IMHO. More so w the cat xxxx on your boots and you track it wherever you go. To me [thinking out loud], if that continued, would ask for punctual assistance in cleaning up machinery and cat feces in work areas and similar. I pick-up after the dogs even in remote areas, so the goose and gander thing. Hope it gets worked out for you.

 

[5030]

After 34 years of matrimonial bliss, I couldn't imagine sleeping in the shop or a divorce over the cats I really dislike anyway. My wife is crystal clear about that and I comply, grudgingly.

 

[hube2]

We have cats as well and I have to put a towel over my seat because they like to sleep there and leave muddy footprints. I don't really care if they leave prints on the hood. The tractor shed makes a good place for them to get out of the wind and cold.

But I've never walked in cat crap, there is something wrong with your cat if they crap or pee where they sleep.

I don't know where they are going when they're outside, but wherever it is I've never had an issue.

If they're not sleeping there then I'd say the animal really doesn't like you and you should try to find a way to keep them out.

I'd say that the cats are the reason for my low rodent population, but I also put the repellent in a shed that they can't get into. Before that this shed always had rodents but the problem stopped when I started using the repellent.

 

[jyoutz]

Cats would be a great barn mouse solution, if they survive. Between the great horned owls and coyotes, I can’t keep barn cats longer than 6 months.

 

[scootr]

Cats would be a great barn mouse solution, if they survive. Between the great horned owls and coyotes, I can’t keep barn cats longer than 6 months.

Same here plus that big bobcat I seen on camera next to the house...and the wife's 5 dogs! I try to stack the deck in the cats favor. Sooner or later I forget to bait the traps or change the dryer sheets or place the mint drops or ? But the cat never forgets to hunt. If I had my way I'd a few or more. They kill mice and they don't bark or **** in the front yard.

 

[mcfarmall]

One or the other - NOT BOTH!

And preferably NOT the cat unless you are in love with the smell of cat pizz.