Squirrels and Mice

[RobA]

I posted a similar question here about a week ago. Mice were constantly making nests under the hood of my Kubota. The advice I got was to use mothballs and to leave the hood up. The day before I posted the question I had left the door to the fuel tank open. That little bit of openess (or lack of a closed space) discouraged nest buidling. So now I leave the hood up and mothballs near by. My tractor is in a barn though - not under a tarp. An open hood with a tarp over it may still give the pests a sense of security.

 

[john_bud]

I use the bucket method. Have a tight nylon string going across the width of the bucket at about the level of the handle. (2-3" down from rim).


On the string is a water bottle. Mice are not brand snobs. Drill a small hole thru the cap and bottom, centered nice. Coat the outside of the bottle with peanut butter. Put a ramp up to the edge of the bucket, so the mice have to jump out to the center of the bucket. They hit the bottle, it spins and they go swimmies. Put about 3-4" of anti-freeze mix in the bucket. Used is ok and the environmentally safe stuff for RV's is ok too. It keeps the dead ones from stinking....

I have gotten as many as 12 in a week. I use it at my hunting camp too.

jb

 

[tracypeek]

Never would believe this until we tried it ... Used dryer sheets spread around the area you wish to be mouse free.

 

[Botabill]

Put about 3-4" of anti-freeze mix in the bucket. jb

I'm sure most folks will be careful with antifreeze. Dogs like the taste and it kills them if they drink it.

 

[whodat90]

The phone company here sprays mace in the junction box every time they open it up. Seems to keep them out for about 2 months at a time.

 

[WayneB]

If you have to store it outside I would suggest you go and get one of those "Shelters in a Box" They have a 12' x 20' at TSC for right at $300 and then you could put the car in leave the hood up and do all the other little things to keep the mice away. Plus you would be able to check it every one in awhile.

I am not sure how much money you spent correcting the problems this time around, but I would think it would be close if not more than the 300 bucks? Makes a good storage place for some of the summer items that aren't needed during the winter months.

Tractor Supply Company - ShelterLogic PREMIUM QUALITY OUTDOOR SHELTERS

 

[horse7]

Never would believe this until we tried it ... Used dryer sheets spread around the area you wish to be mouse free.

I tried this in my mailbox when the rodents were being very persistent about nesting in there (terrorizing the mail person). By the time I tried the sheets though I think the rodents were just about ready to give up-- they did a bit of tearing of the sheet but did not build a nest (I used a cordless B&D blower to blow them out a few times before the dryer sheet, the blower really rattles them-- sneak up on the box, pop the door, and zzzzZZZZZZZZZZ out they fly with the nest. But I think they would have returned without the last repulsion of the dryer sheet. I did not want mail stinking of moth balls).

 

[Rara Avis]

I did not want mail stinking of moth balls).

Yeah...I could just see Homeland Security on the board asking here, "Who told you to put mothballs on your mail?", after you sent in some of your bill payments and your mailed receipts set off some sort of security systems...

 

[SkunkWerX]

I have used the little plug-in repellers in my sheds and workshop for the past 15 years. They seem to keep the little buggers away.

They work best if you rid your place of any "squatters" first. Then the transmitters keep any tresspassers from wanting to stay.

I had such good luck with them at my prior residence, I immediately palced 3 of them in my 30x40 pole shop 4 yrs ago, upon it's completion.
Not one rodent found, to date. Knock wood.

Storytime: I had an 18hp gas Ford garden tractor w/48" mower deck that caught fire while I was mowing one fall, many, many years ago. Mouse nest on the exhaust manifold. Quite stinky. I looked like an old locomotive puffing smoke across the yard, heading for the garden "fire hose".
Those were the days!