Mice

centex · Nov 3, 2002

I am fighting a losing battle with these critters. My tractor is parked outside and nothing I do stops the mice from building nests under the hood. I hung two socks full of mothballs under the hood and they only make me sick when I run the tractor. They don't seem to have any effect on these mice. I put Decon mice poison under the hood and they ate it but it did not kill them or if it did some others just moved right back in. I am glad to see that the mothballs work of some of you.

I had been clearing some land this summer and opened the hood to check the air cleaner and there was a mouse on top of the radiator. I grabbed him by the tail and threw him out and went after him with a sledge hammer. A couple of days latter I found a new nest and cleared it out. I ran the tractor hard for several hours and figured the mouse had jumped ship but I found it hiding under the seat. I don't think they have destroyed anything yet but I am sure it is just a matter of time until they do.

deepsnow · Nov 3, 2002

Maybe a neutron bomb. I have given up parking the TC25D outside. The car is now parked in the car port. The truck & tractor get the garage. Mice in the garage. Solution: ammonia in various containers scattered around the garage. No mice problems. Also keeps the black bear & red squirrels out of the garage. Not inexpensive over a year but seems effective. You need to refresh your container PRN. On "hot" days the fumes can be a little unpleasant.

MossRoad · Nov 3, 2002

I'd put the tractor on a hard pad with "RAT WALLS" about 6 inches high all the way around. Then set many traps along the inside of the rat walls. Mice like to scurry along the walls and the traps would be in their path. Hope this helps.

Gary_in_Indiana · Nov 3, 2002

I asked the gal who manages the local Tractor Supply what I could to about my critter problem at my barn and, after she teased me about sitting out there 24/7 with a shotgun, got a couple good suggestions from her. She said any carbonated beverage left in a couple pans would work so long as they consume it before it goes flat. Apparently grape is a favorite of the critters in her barn. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Another suggestion she had was anti-freeze but only if you have no other animals who can get to it. I've tried neither of these solutions, but she seemed sold on them.

centex · Nov 4, 2002

ammonia in various containers scattered around 

I always tried to hold my breath when I had to go in the repro shop so I don't think I could stand the stuff in my garage. Actually, I do not have any improvements on my land so I do not have any choice but to park the tractor outside. I bought a metal carport but I have not been able to decide where to put it. I was hoping to wait until after the tax appraiser comes out so it would not count on next years taxes. We don't have any bears around here but there is about everything else that you might imagine including exotic game. I live next to a couple of exotic game ranches and an exotic game auction house and every now and again some of the exotics get out.

centex · Nov 4, 2002

"RAT WALLS" about 6 inches high all the way around 

Maybe that is good reason for me to start working on putting my carport up. It never occurred to me that it might help with my mice problem.

centex · Nov 4, 2002

any carbonated beverage left in a couple pans 

This sounds expensive and high maintenance but the anti-freeze idea might work. I may try putting some containers under the hood and hope I remember to remove them before starting the tractor and making a mess. It should not be a problem but I usually remember that I forgot to check under the hood until I am going down the road. I always intend to do these checks but since I quit flying I am not too good on preflights anymore.

Soundguy · Nov 4, 2002

When we had our rat/mice problem, it took about 2 months of constant pat poison bars, and traps to finally cull the population down.

I've also heard ( but not tried ) peanut butter mixed with cement powder.. but i have so many farm critters I'm slightly afraid of the poisons.

So far mothballs / cat has kept the tractor clean for now.

Soundguy

centex · Nov 4, 2002

I think it may take me longer than 2 months. I have not seen too many snakes this year. I know some of the neighbors kill every one they see. On the other hand everytime I lay anything down over night I find one or two mice under it the next day. I poured a small concrete pad and left empty sacks, cardboard boxes, lumber and plastic sheet laying around for a couple of days untill I finished the project and there were mice under almost every one of these things when I picked them up. They had a nest in my deer stand too. They have really chewed up the chairs that I keep in it. I put tarps over some of my implements and a generator and there is always a mouse there when I pull the tarps off.

I see bobcats and lynx's from time to time but I think there are too few of them to do any good and besides the mice are too small whent there are lots of rabbits around that would make a better meal for a cat that size. House cats are prey also so they are pretty short lived out there. My cat in town is a really good mouser but my wife would be impossible to live with if I took it out to the land and bobcat killed it.

Maybe I need to buy some more snakes. If only I could train them not go on the neighbors property and to stay hidden when my wife is around...

Inspector507 · Nov 4, 2002

A recipe my Mom used to use.....
equal parts Plaster of Paris and cornmeal. Once they eat it, they just kinda harden up from the inside /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif