Hickory Dickory Dock

[ORANGE]

Are you kidding me?  Mice and mice and more mices?

  I watched this video by little house on the road.

First thing in the morning Im buying cayenne from Walmart and sprinkling that like fairy dust.   The horror. The horror.

No harm  in my carpet either!

So mice in the west mice in the east.  Maybe Im gonna just stay home...

 

[highdesertranger]

dang that guy is annoying. has he ever made a positive video? in every video of his I have ever seen he is always whining about something. the jerky camera in that one gave me motion sickness, I couldn't even stand to watch the whole thing because I couldn't find my Dramamine. highdesertranger

 

[Elbear1]

He's comedy gold

Every video: people try to tell me but they is wrrrrrong....followed by the silliest logic ive ever heard

He put a video out couple weeks ago about having to sit in 103f heat. Said its not worth driving to washington cause thats the only place that isnt severly hot.... He resisted goin west for years cause who knows why then gave in and decided to go to arizona in the middle of summer.

He doesnt believe in solar because "its not worth paying thousands" over running a generator 6hrs a day.

Doesn't believe in conserving water "cause it aint normal to clean dishes with a spray bottle"

Then bitches how expensive fuel and finding water is and how we are all lying about doing this life.

All while truly believing hes smarter than everyone else.

 

[bullfrog]

This guy has been doing this nomadic life terribly for quite some time yet he is still alive and moving, amazing that anyone can be such a glutton for self inflicted punishment. Just goes to prove anyone can do this, but if you try real hard you can almost make it bad enough to complain about it and maybe laugh at your stupidity enough to support a YouTube channel. Opening your hood to let the engine compartment cool off but secure it so the wind doesn't rip it off (don't ask) as mice and ground squirrels are usually looking for somewhere out of site that is out of the weather and warm makes it less desirable. Harbor Freight sells solar rope lights on sale or with a coupon for less than $10. Bounce dryer sheets work well in living spaces as well as unbaited traps (you don't want to attract them also do not feed the birds) in runway areas work well. Older cars wiring insulation is not made out of soy based plastic so I've been told but I still hang rope lights along the wiring. In 15 years the only mice we have caught trying to get in were because some nearby campers fed the birds all summer then left. Put three traps by the most likely path and sprayed white vinegar to destroy the pee scent trail the exploring ones left the next few days. I guess pepper would work as well.

 

[maki2]

Don't forget that DRAMA on youtube channels attracts viewers the way food attracts mice.

If you leave crumbs around and have lots of garbage on hand then the mice will adore you. Being a good housekeeper is the first line of defense. Store your food goods in airtight containers so that the smell does not attract mice. Cardboard boxes of cereal and paper bags of flour are going to create issues not just with mice but also with weevils.

 

[RoamerRV428]

if a few mice might scare ya away, then......LOL

don't worry on small things, life is out there to grab and have fun and every now and then ya deal with the crap of some of it rock on!!

 

[Qxxx]

I've been camping in places where there are lots of mice. There were attracted to the wiring in the van, not food, and were eating the insulation on the wires in the engine compartment. I killed 6 or 8 with traps. I tried some of the spray repellent sold by Home Depot, which is supposed to confuse their sense of smell, but apparently it's not all that effective.

 

[cyndi]

Thanks, HDR! After reading your post I knew exactly who made the video and I needn't waste my time or data

 

[ORANGE]

So I didnt know there was such animosity toward the guy that has that youtube channel.

But to me mice munching my wires is very very scary!

Likely not having the cell service for help. Not being able to walk to others for help. Not being able to do any work on "wires". Yes this to me is a very scary proposition!

It is one thing to be driving along and oh, your van is acting up, best go have it looked at VS waking up to a munched up engine wires overnight and cant go anywhere. I already thought an electric jump would be good to have. But man--mice munch! Lights! Fairy Dust!

I may just be the sort of person because of circumstances that NEEDS to be with/stay in a caravan. Not suitable to lone wolf it at all.

 

[Elbear1]

If you minconstrue it as animosity and use that term, hes gonna get a boner about it.

 

[highdesertranger]

yeah I don't have any animosity for the guy, I just find him highly annoying like nails on a chalkboard. like I said I have never seen a positive video from him. maybe he has some but I have never seen one. highdesertranger

 

[Qxxx]

Flocking works for many types of animals: fishies, birdies, and lone wolf RVers. If you're with a caravan of 50 other vehicles and the predatory mice come, there's less chance they'll attack your vehicle, especially if the others are parked over near the bushes, and you're parked out a bit in the open. It's kinda like being the slowest runner when the bear attacks.

I would carry half a dozen mouse traps and use them around the wheels of the vehicle at night.

I have also wondered whether it would be helpful - or the opposite - to just feed the mice silly. Eg, put a goodly sized piece of food over near where you think they are, and let them gorge on that while you're camped there. If their little bellies are satiated, then maybe they'll leave your vehicle alone. Ya never know.

 

[Kaylee]

I have also wondered whether it would be helpful - or the opposite - to just feed the mice silly. Eg, put a goodly sized piece of food over near where you think they are, and let them gorge on that while you're camped there. If their little bellies are satiated, then maybe they'll leave your vehicle alone. Ya never know.

Dear Qxxx, you are often wise, and one should always try hacking and/or kludging even oddball solutions to problems.

In this case, my experience has been that even very well fed mice will chew on just about anything, just in case it's edible. Perhaps they're exploring for the future?
They often get into then abandon what would seem to me to be a reasonably tasty hunk of food.
I "get" that they're looking for food, but why open 10 things and take only a taste of each, when you can gorge on the first package?

Bottom line: They're annoying destructive.

So far, the only time I had a problem was at a NFS designated campground.
I strongly suspect those mice "know" that any vehicle will have food, so they investigate.

At all my self-found sites, I've had zero issues... so far, knock on wood.

If you do acquire a mouse, I strongly recommend moving, as soon as practical.
Even if you kill it, there's a fair chance the local population "knows" about vehicles.
Find somewhere with an ignorant population.

I still hang rope lights along the wiring.

Could you explain how that helps?
I've never heard of that trick, but you are a Guru.

 

[highdesertranger]

yep mice and rats are like horses. it doesn't matter how much you feed them they will still eat anything and everything in site. very destructive if left unchecked. highdesertranger

 

[Qxxx]

Well in that case ... Ha, you'd think that a humans would be smarter than a mice. Give them some adverse psychology. Put out some food that is tainted with something a mice don't like to eat - if such exists. Then put more of the same food inside the engine compartment. Do they eat shampoo? Soap in yer mouth.

I don't much watch those survival gallery cooking shows, but do remember one gal saying: "I will not be defeated by an EGG!).

Aww, then they'll probably just go on to sampling the wire insulation.

Kaylee Serenity, some people think that light in the engine compartment will dissuade mices, as they prefer working in the dark.

 

[jim solo]

Mice are no problem. They do not like peppermint oil smell, put two drops on cotton ball and watch them run..
And it makes your rig smell so good. Those little bottles that you get in the spice area of grocery store. Use a
few cotton balls around the areas you think they might be traveling. Vinegar first on pee trails I guess.

 

[Kaylee]

Kaylee Serenity, some people think that light in the engine compartment will dissuade mices, as they prefer working in the dark.

Thanks Qxxx-the-Browncoat!

That doesn't feel likely to me, but I only have experience with Great Lakes region mice.
I've spent about 8 winters in remote cabins (first my parents, then off-season rentals after my car accident), plus a few years renting rural old houses, so have lots of experience with s&b mice. The ones I've encountered had no issues with light.

My exact-o-mundo one van mouse also was not deterred by light, though that was before I got (frugal) area lighting, and just had a single lightstick.
The van mouse also was only briefly deterred by me banging tubs and rocking the van.
Persistent little guy/gal!

Orange:
Here's Prius-guru Suanne's blog entry on mice:
http://suanneonline.blogspot.com/2018/05/mice-and-stuff.html

Frankly, in your situation, I recommend you not worry about them, and just start your experiments.
You'll soon know whether they're an issue, and can always just Punch Out of a problem location. That's the biggest advantage of starting with gentle trips: there's less pressure, less risk, and lots of exit options.

If you already have some peppermint oil/whatever, sure, bring it, but don't stress over it.
Stress Is Bad!


Question:
Has anyone tried DrBronner's Peppermint liquid soap, for real, in the field?
I have some, plus cotton balls in my FAK (First Aid Kit), so next time I'll consider giving that a try.

 

[B and C]

I bought moth balls in a bag on several full timers recommendations. At Walmart you get two bags in a box for cheap. I put one on each side of the engine bay behind the headlights. I still haven't figured out if my generator no start is due to mice but I put two more bags on the frame by the rear wheels after the no start started just in case. I haven't had any new symptoms that I know of but don't get out to the van much these days. It sits there neglected but not much I can do about it now.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

 . . . I have also wondered whether it would be helpful - or the opposite - to just feed the mice silly. Eg, put a goodly sized piece of food over near where you think they are, and let them gorge on that while you're camped there. If their little bellies are satiated, then maybe they'll leave your vehicle alone. Ya never know.

First, I never think it is a good idea to try to get rid of pests by attracting them.  Put a trap out you attract 3 (or more) mice.  The first gets whacked, the second gets the cheese, the rest are hungry, looking, and where you don't want them (near your rig).

Second, in a lot of places it is frowned upon (if not illegal) to feed wildlife.  It makes the problem worse; the critters learn to equate your van with food (i.e. bear problem).

Third, any food that will attract mice will attract a number of other undesirables, including but not limited to:
  - skunks,
  - raccoons,
  - porcupines,
  - bears,
  - snakes (attracted by the mice).

i haven't had a problem (yet).  Maybe 'da beagle is a deterrent?

 

[highdesertranger]

a good mouser is the best defense. my dog Scout(RIP) was the best. highdesertranger