I am by no means an expert on pest and rodent control, but after researching the subject I can offer a few ideas that seem to work for other RVers.The first and most important step is to try and prevent mice from being able to access you RV. This can be difficult because they can enter the RV through some very small areas. Start by inspecting the underside of your RV for any gaps or holes. Fill these gaps using silicone or expanding foam. A word of caution, if you never used expanding foam before you should experiment with it on something other than your RV first. When it dries it can expand a great deal more than you expect.
Next, open drawers and cabinet doors inside your RV. Look in all of the corners and crevices, especially where plumbing and wiring enter the RV. If you can see any daylight mice can get in. Again, fill these areas with silicone or foam.
Mice also enter through vents like the furnace. You can purchase wire mesh type covers from your RV dealer that can be installed over these vents. Many RVers suggest you spray some type of insect spray (that contains mint oils) around the tires to discourage mice. The only problem with this is you would need to do it every couple days. I don't recommend any type of poison. It can take several days for the poison to work and the mice will usually die somewhere that you can't find them. If this happens you may never get rid of the smell.
Other RVers recommend using mothballs throughout the RV and in storage compartments, if you don't mind the smell of mothballs. The alternative to mothballs is dryer sheets like Bounce.
People swear they work and the smell is much more pleasant. If you are close to where your RV is being stored you may want to use conventional mouse traps and check for mice every few days. The only problem with traps is the bait can actually attract mice. Of course you will want to remove any food from the RV that can also attract mice.Everything you need to know about using your RV you can learn from Mark Polk. Check out his books and DVDs at RVbookstore.com.
We live WAY OUT in the country and mice can be a problem. I've found that keeping true "outside" cats is our solution. I feed and water them daily and they return the favor by keeping the mouse population down to zero around the house, outbuildings and camper.
ReplyDeleteAnother suggestion is with two people on a dark day or evening. One person under the RV and the other with a bright light inside. Open all compartments and shine light inside. Person under RV looks for any light. Fill the hole. Do this inside and with the outside compartments.
ReplyDeleteSaw this idea with a older bus conversion. There was not way to plug all the holes. He took 4 5gal plastic buckets a piece of wire and a coke or beer can. Punch a hole center of can bottom, suspend can with wire center of bucket that is 1/2 full of water and put good stuff on top of can (peanut butter) and a piece of wood for mouse ramp.. He set one by each tire (the way they were getting in). Mouse goes up ramp, hops over to can for food, can spins and they drown. No smell, no mess dump every few days. It worked.
ReplyDeletePart of the process of closing up our summer trailer includes the placement of all of the sheets in a very large box of Bounce dryer sheets all over the trailer; in drawers, on and under cushions and mattresses, on every available surface, on closet floors, etc. They make cozy beds for the mice, but the trailer sure smells nice when we open it in April. We've also stuffed various openings with brillo-pad-like wire, since we were told mice don't like that, either.
ReplyDeleteThis summer, we plugged in two of those electronic rodent repellent units; the ones that cover 1200 sq ft each? Our trailer is 33', with no slides. We put one in the rear bedroom and one in the livingroom. Guess what - we still have mice. We also have a cat. She catches and tortures about 1 a week.
Bounce Sheets do NOTHING for Missouri mice or mosquitoes!! Hope they work for others.
ReplyDeleteLive in rural north Florida; rodents of some sort chewed propane line while RV was parked in the back yard. Bought a bottle of fox urine with three dispensers (small platic bottle with cotton inside) and hung those around the RV. Replinish once a month. No problems in the two years I've been doing that.
ReplyDeleteFulltimers with two Rat Terriers aboard. Enough said.
ReplyDeleteMice got into my RV by climbing up the shore power cord. A small diameter power cord prevented entry. I had to rent a carpet cleaner to shampoo everything.
ReplyDeleteUse peppermint oil on a cotten ball and put around camper. This will run the rodents out. They don't like the smell.
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