Rodent deterrent

[Half Pint Mike]

Hi all, just wondering if anyone has any recommendations for rodent deterrent’s. As my van is sometimes stored outside for a week at a time and I don’t want to find any nasty surprises when I pick it up, many thanks

 

[Brains]

Hi all, just wondering if anyone has any recommendations for rodent deterrent’s. As my van is sometimes stored outside for a week at a time and I don’t want to find any nasty surprises when I pick it up, many thanks

Most vans spend their entire life outside.
Winter layup is the most likely time to get mice as they are happier living outside during the rest of the year.
First thing is to never leave any food anywhere they can get to it.
Which means all packets (open or closed) should live in Tupperware boxes at all times, even the stuff in the lockers, as mice can climb sheer walls
Seal up any obvious holes, although this can be almost impossible in older vans.
In winter put down traditional spring traps. (Glue paper is cruel and the sonic mouse deterrents don't really work)

For paid up members there are a number of fact sheets on this site about the issue.

 

[Ernesto]

As one pest control pro said to me, there aren’t any great deterrents. Moth balls, mint, Bounce sheets … all urban myths. If the choice for a rodent is an unpleasant smell or being eaten, a mouse will choose the smell all day long.
Traditional spring traps loaded with peanut butter is the best treatment

 

[Half Pint Mike]

Most vans spend their entire life outside.
Winter layup is the most likely time to get mice as they are happier living outside during the rest of the year.
First thing is to never leave any food anywhere they can get to it.
Which means all packets (open or closed) should live in Tupperware boxes at all times, even the stuff in the lockers, as mice can climb sheer walls
Seal up any obvious holes, although this can be almost impossible in older vans.
In winter put down traditional spring traps. (Glue paper is cruel and the sonic mouse deterrents don't really work)

For paid up members there are a number of fact sheets on this site about the issue.

Thanks for the reply

 

[Half Pint Mike]

As one pest control pro said to me, there aren’t any great deterrents. Moth balls, mint, Bounce sheets … all urban myths. If the choice for a rodent is an unpleasant smell or being eaten, a mouse will choose the smell all day long.
Traditional spring traps loaded with peanut butter is the best treatment

Thanks for the reply

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[PaulOH]

I live in an area where I have seen mice jumping around my back garden at times - living in a neighbour's woodpile. The van was parked less than 3 metres away over a fenced wall, but had no mice at all. I think that the more tarmac, concrete and brick you have surrounding the van, then the less likely (though not impossible) it would be to have vermin.

If they get in, wooden traps with peanut butter the best - checked daily...

 

[MisterB]

I would only use baited traps inside IF I knew they were in there, on the basis that the smell may attract them in! If the place you stored your van had a cat wandering around ....

 

[L' Hobo]

This is one of the reasons why, if there's an alternative, I do not let my grey water dribble as I believe that any water source, especially one that contains bits to eat, is attractive to rat and mice (amongst other things) during the night.
Am I being too careful or, as I have never had any rodent problems in 50yrs, am I being sensible?

 

[Jim]

How to Keep Mice out of Your Motorhome

We can get a rodent infestation at any time of year, but it’s at the time of the first frosts that we need to be especially on our guard from rats or mice looking for somewhere warm and dry to spend a cold winter. Mouse infestations are much more common than rats, and we’ll concentrate […]

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