Mice are not nice

[scootr]

I'm curious, do you have a link for that? I know that many, but not all auto makers shifted to soy based insulation when it became less expensive, but I never heard of an EPA rule for automotive wiring, so far. I know that around 2008 they released a life cycle analysis of the impact of PVC, and other chemicals in general wiring, not specifically cars, and I don't know of a rule that passed.

FWIW: Car Talk Helps Bust the Myth That Soy Is Why Rodents Are Eating Your Car’s Wires

All the best,

Peter

I read this many years ago when I was searching for information about parked car rodent damage. At the time we were in a drought so little food and lots of mice, rats, rabbits. Anyway the explanation made sense to me as this problem really only showed up in out newer cars and trucks

 

[Lnk]

I shared this on the Kubota Forum, but I thought it would be beneficial to repost the picture here. This is from my Kubota ZD1211 mower. The engine would not turn over and I couldn't figure out why, since it ran perfectly when parked for the season.

For a while now, I've been concerned about the possibility of mice infiltrating the air filter of my 1845. It seems like the perfect haven for them, one they'd likely not resist. I've been planning to 3D print a cap to cover the opening when the tractor is stored during the winter months. Additionally, I'd print a ring to place over the steering wheel as a visual reminder to remove the cap before use. Although it might be challenging for a mouse to gnaw through the air filter, it wouldn't surprise me. Especially if they realized how much damage this could do to the engine.

I've experienced a mouse infestation in the area beneath the oil radiator before, and the damage was significant; the urine alone was enough to corrode and rust through the high-pressure fuel injection lines. Nowadays, I opt to leave the cover off during the winter. It seems almost every piece of equipment I own has suffered from mouse-related damage at some point. Despite my efforts, I've yet to find an effective method to deter them.

Mix in equal parts, flour, sugar and sodium bicarbonate. (Baking soda). Leave where the mice can get to it. Works for rats as well. They can't digest the sodium bicarb. It kills them. Traps are fun, but ineffective. It works, may be cruel, but it works. Also, your chickens and cats won't have a problem with it.

 

[1Mech]

I have had one of those rotary traps here for going on decades. Mouse tally = 0, no matter where I place it. If I put a Black Cat trap down where I had the rotary, mice. I guess the mice are different out here...

@marrt Sorry to here about your problem. "Welcome to the club! We have jackets..."

If it were me, I would go for screening. I did that after some enterprising mice filled our CAT 3126 air filter and intake housing full of acorns. Luckily, I was doing a pre ignition check, happened to bump the air intake, and a couple of acorns fell to the ground. My thoughts were along the lines of "WTH?!?". Even so, I could not believe how well packed the acorns were, close to four gallons worth. Thankfully, they stopped at the filter. I have had other episodes where the chewed through the filter and kept going which is far worse.

I just got done with cleaning out the cabin air intake on my pickup; the mice had moved in to the cowling below the windshield and absolutely stuffed it with nesting material that got wet/damp when I drove the truck in some rain. It literally took days to disassemble the engine side cowling, vacuum up material, then switch to an extra long under refrigerator vacuum, then wash it down, rinse it, blow it, and then clean the fan in the cabin, along with the AC and heater cores. For some reason, on this truck, three feet of the air intake below the windshield is integral to the body in this truck, and the only access is behind/through the windshield wiper mechanism. To get to the other side requires removing most of the dash. Not readily repairable compared to some vehicles that I have owned.

Did I mention that we were in between having barn cats? (Old age/covid) We never had any of these issues when we had cats.

My real fear with mice is wiring. It is so easy for them to nest on an engine and take a liking to a wiring harness that costs thousands just for the part.

All the best,

Peter

I have repaired a few rodent/squirrel damaged wiring harnesses over the years for customers and once on my wife's car. I don't replace them, just splice in good wire and heat shrink tubing to repair and seal the damaged part(s)

 

[1Mech]

Mix in equal parts, flour, sugar and sodium bicarbonate. (Baking soda). Leave where the mice can get to it. Works for rats as well. They can't digest the sodium bicarb. It kills them. Traps are fun, but ineffective. It works, may be cruel, but it works. Also, your chickens and cats won't have a problem with it.

My wife read about that and is giving it a try, not sure of the results yet.

 

[garry1p]

I think there is a lot of damaged done by squirrels that get blamed on mice.

 

[oosik]

I have mice and chipmunks. I've tried most everything - up to and including a shotgun. Everything works for a while - then it quits working. Dryer sheets in the pickup passenger compartment - at least, they have a pleasant smell. Trapping - for every rodent trapped - there are two more - out in the bushes - waiting to "come on down". Trapping and poisons is not the answer to my situation.

The one thing that has worked now for over two years. Leave the hood open on your vehicles. Apparently - mice and chipmunks don't like the open spaces. Tractor, pickup, ATV & riding lawn mower.

I know these little @#$% are still around. I see them, every so often, racing across my lawns.

 

[tradosaurus]

A little off topic but I had a small owl come down the chimney once. Was quite an ordeal especially since we had glass doors on the fireplace so it could not get out into the room nor was able to fly back up the chimney.

After much research, I closed off all room entrances and waited until night. Then opened a door to the outside, and placed a light outside to attract it. I hoped it would find its way out ... but no go. It did come out of the fireplace (including some ash) but ran behind the big screen TV. We could see it back there, but it would not come out. And although it was small, its talons were impressive. Trying to catch it was NOT an option. Did not want to tangle with those.

We wound up throwing a blanket over it and twisted it up in the blanket. The talons were sticking out and flexing-- and could have been quite hazardous if anyone got hear them. Fortunately no one did.

We took it outside, gently opened the towel, and it flew into the nearby oak tree.

After that I would have put a screen over the top of the chimney

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

.

 

[MossRoad]

My wife read about that and is giving it a try, not sure of the results yet.

The results may be the mouse dies in your car or in a wall and it'll stink for a couple weeks.

I do like that it won't an animal that eats the dead mouse, though.

We get a couple mice in our basement very spring and fall.

The go into the storage rooms in the basement where the cats aren't allowed (go figure).

So, I've found this trap to be very effective. A little peanut butter and SNAP that's that.

 

[scootr]

Oosik, we left the hoods up on our cars/trucks for years. It helped some but did not discourage the buggers completely. You can screw up their scent functions with strong smells like dryer sheets and eucalyptus oil. I bought a 16 oz bottle of Eucalyptus oil and drilled a small hole in the cap... then drizzle it over the engine bay

 

[Jchonline]

In the spring it's all out war for me. I have multiple traps, baits...have found the best thing is to kill as many as possible....I keep everything in sealed spaces as much as I can. Exhaust pipes if not vertical and high are covered with wire mesh. They are relentless. I also have packrats. Its nuclear war on those bastards.

 

[5030]

Somewhere around 2005 EPA ruled vehicles had to be made with more biodegradable. Wire harness jacket was changed from a petroleum base to vegetable base composite. And seat stuffing and headliners went to mostly organic material to expedite natural breakdown after their useful life. It was a win for the mice.

Must be why they chewed a hole in my wife's zero turn mower. Right in the middle too.

 

[oosik]

scooter - you are so right. NOTHING works 100% of the time. I've tried peppermint oil. I think it worked for a while.

Eight years ago - for reasons still UKN - I had a band of wood rats visit. Found a monster nest under the hood of the Jeep. They had never seen humans before OR they were just stupid, stupid, stupid.

I killed them all ( seven ) with my 22 pistol. Walk right up to one - bend down and shoot from a distance of about three feet. I've never seen a wild animal so unafraid of a person. Forty three years out here and they came and were "all gone" in less than a week.

I got rid of the raccoons when I quit burning my garbage. And when the last of my apple trees quit producing. The coons really favored the apples.

 

[5030]

Guess I'm lucky with my one M9 as it has a vertical exhaust stack on it and the other has the optional low exhaust but it's till a long way from the end of the pipe to the muffler. They would have to be good climbers to get up there. Between the bucket traps and the decon and the cats, I think they are under control...for now.

Gonna try the sugar, water and baking soda thing as well. Every line of defense equates to less repairs.

 

[5030]

scooter - you are so right. NOTHING works 100% of the time. I've tried peppermint oil. I think it worked for a while.

Eight years ago - for reasons still UKN - I had a band of wood rats visit. Found a monster nest under the hood of the Jeep. They had never seen humans before OR they were just stupid, stupid, stupid.

I killed them all ( seven ) with my 22 pistol. Walk right up to one - bend down and shoot from a distance of about three feet. I've never seen a wild animal so unafraid of a person. Forty three years out here and they came and were "all gone" in less than a week.

I got rid of the raccoons when I quit burning my garbage. And when the last of my apple trees quit producing. The coons really favored the apples.

I shoot coons on sight. My 22-250 works quite well actually and I toss the carcasses out back by the creek and soon they vanish, I believe the yotes have them for lunch.

 

[woodlandfarms]

We use bucket traps. The kind where the lid tips and they fall in. Instead of water it’s filled with oil. Works quite well.

 

[5030]

What I find somewhat interesting is people make 'pets' out of them. They are nasty little buggers that whiz everywhere and reproduce like gang busters too.

 

[5030]

We use bucket traps. The kind where the lid tips and they fall in. Instead of water it’s filled with oil. Works quite well.

I keep mine filled (about 4") with conventional antifreeze so if they don't expire from the plunge, the antifreeze gets them. I don't want them 'lingering' in the bottom of the bucket because I'm 'humane'

I have the same bucket traps you have and I 'entice' them to the traps with peanut butter spread on the backside of the cover. They can 'almost' get to it but the pivoting top gets them first.

It's the 'walk the plank' philosophy but the plank ends before the peanut butter treat can be gotten to.

I've seen home made ones that use a string across the top of the bucket with a wad of peanut butter in the middle but I like the commercial ones with a lid and a ramp so they can climb right up to the elusive treat.

You'd think the little basturds would wise up but I guess the siren call of the peanut butter overcomes their sense of living...

 

[Coffee drinker]

I knew a young guy who was cleaning his tractor cab that had been invaded by mice and he ended up catching hantavirus from the feces. He passed a few days later. So definitely mice are not nice and if you clean up after them wear a mask.

 

[oosik]

For a while I had six or eight cats. They were - far and away - the best at controlling mice and munks. Slowly but surely - their numbers dwindled. Hawks by day - owls by night. They simply would not stay in the cat house I made for them. Out beyond the influence of my big 'ol yard light - the owls would gather in the big pines and just wait.

You could see the owls - roosting in the pines. Shape of a large loaf of bread - Barn owl. Looked like Bat Man - Great horned owl.