Rodent Repellent

[kanzkan]

We've had little furry creatures perusing our living and engine quarters during the night on several occasions while boondocking.  We've placed Irish Spring soap bars in the engine compartment as well as inside living quarters in hopes of repelling them.  We also leave our engine hood open with a light on.  We have mouse traps placed here and there and don't recommend using traps that use adhesive to capture them alive (guilt ridden capture method).
We're looking for information on what others are successfully using to eliminate these nocturnal visitors?

Gary & Susan  :huh:

 

[John61CT]

https://vanlivingforum.com/showthread.php?tid=27429

 

[Moxadox]

If you mentioned where on the planet you are located, while locked in mortal combat with pesky rodents, I missed it; where are you?

I had a few conversations with exterminators in Southern Arizona recently. The consensus was that the only real way to get rid of the buggers, once they have discovered your vehicle, is live trapping ("Hav-a-Heart" type trap). Bait the trap with peanut butter, and in the morning, take the trap and its occupant far, far away and let it go. Rinse and repeat until no further activity is noted.

Lights and obnoxious sounds will annoy you (and any neighbors you may have), but the rodents are only bothered by them for a night or two, until they realize it's a trick.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[highdesertranger]

I have a combination anti-rat, garbage disposal, camp guard, and bed warmer. his name is Scout and he is real good at what he does. highdesertranger

 

[kanzkan]

Our experiences with critters trying to access our food rich living quarters has all occurred while in the Southwest US (California, Arizona, Nevada, & Utah).
We're really anxious to hear what others are doing to discourage scavenging critters?

 

[John61CT]

Did you follow the links trail above?

Pretty comprehensive. . .

 

[B and C]

5 posts and two dead links is all I find there

 

[DLTooley]

I'm not sure there is a better mouse trap than the spring loaded traditional type.

 

[Dingfelder]

My mother just caught her second rat with a peanut-butter-baited spring trap of the kind that looks like a pair of spikey dentures, gotten from Home Depot. Needed the real big one. Nothing else worked despite years of trying.

 

[highdesertranger]

the link John posted in post number 2 takes you to a previous discussion on this forum. highdesertranger

 

[B and C]

the link John posted in post number 2 takes you to a previous discussion on this forum.  highdesertranger

That link takes me to a post that has 5 posts in it.  Post 3 from Cyndi has two links in it that are both dead.  

Everything else here is working as it should.

 

[highdesertranger]

try this one,

https://vanlivingforum.com/showthread.php?tid=13708&highlight=rodent
or
https://vanlivingforum.com/showthread.php?tid=12767&highlight=rodent

I just typed rodent into the search function and got 6 pages of threads. highdesertranger

 

[IGBT]

It probably won't work in a engine compartment but I have fallen in love with the 5 gallon bucket trap.

So simple my wife said no way it would work.

Get a 5 gallon bucket, fill it 2/3 with water.  Sprinkle sunflower seeds on top (they will float) until you can't see water.

Prop a 2x4 by about 2 feet long against the bucket lip.

Wait a few hours.  The mice will run up the diving board and go whee! into the delicious sunflower seeds, which will not support them of course.  They drown really fast (less than a minute).

Caught about 15 in one night.

 

[lenny flank]

A couple of Kingsnakes will solve the problem.

Bonus--they'll keep Rattlers away, too.

 

[highdesertranger]

IGBT that's interesting. I have to find someone with a sticks and bricks and a rodent problem. highdesertranger

 

[B and C]

Thanks HDR. I could have done that if I would have remembered I could. Also trying to point out broken links so others don't follow in my footsteps. (Don't follow me, I'm lost)

 

[highdesertranger]

no problem Brian I only checked the one link and didn't dig in deep enough until you said something so thanks to you. dang we need that thanks button back. highdesertranger

 

[B and C]

Yes we do.

 

[John61CT]

Sorry didn't realize those two links of cyndi's got wiped in the site crash.

Here's some others

https://www.google.com/search?q=site:www.cheaprvliving.com+rodents+OR+pack-rats

 

[Ella1]

Found this on another forum:
a slight change may be more effective

I set up the 5 gallon bucket, sunflower seeds, ramp. Set it on a nice level spot. Problem is that the ground squirrels knock off the ramp and eat the seeds. Now what?

okay the bucket needs to have two small holes near the top, one on each side of the bucket...then you put a thin rod (wire coat hanger?) through one of the holes and thread an empty beer or soda can on it lengthwise so it spins freely and then push the end of the rod through the other side:

: :
:- - - - - - - - XXXXXXX- - - - - - - - - :
: :
: :

Where : are the sides of the bucket
- - is the thin rod (used a straightened piece of coat hanger)
X represents the aluminum can

all you do now is put a few inches of water in the bottom of the bucket, attach your ramp so it leads the critter up to the thin rod and bait the can(I use a strip of newpaper taped around the center of the can and a gob of nutty peanut butter).

The critter walks on the rod out to the can, step onto the can and pitches sideways into the bucket were is gets to swim for a bit.

Problem solved.