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Topic: Mouse Repellent, should I? (Read 1089 times) previous topic - next topic

Mouse Repellent, should I?

Any updates from those using Fresh Cab Rodent Repellent, Mouse Magic, Irish Spring, or ultrasonic pest repellents for more than a couple seasons is appreciated.  Your experience, where to place, how many, what happens with a dog around, etc.  I'm willing to spend a little if it helps the odds.  With the open channel down the middle with all the fuel, electric, and air lines I feel more concerned than before with my previous rvs.  Should I be?
97 U295 40, Build #5040, 6C8.3 325 HP
Oregon Continuous Traveler
Samsung Residential #RF20HFENBSR,
Xantrex SW2012, (3)AGM8D Hse, (2)AGM Grp24 Eng, Victron BMV-712, 1800w Solar 4 LG & 2 Sunpower
Extreme Full Body Pt w/hdlmps, new furn/floor, 4 down Lexus 2004 GX470 AWD curb weight 4,740 lbs
Prev: 1990 Barth, 10L 300 2 yrs; 91&92 Monaco Signature, 10 yrs, 10L C 300 &  6C8.3 300; 1997 ForeT 6C8.3 325 since May 2017.  Employed by Guaranty RV 14+ yrs.  Former VW New Car Dlr/Service Dlr, Sales Mgr, Rv Sales, and Service Adviser from 1968-2017
"Don't criticize what you can't understand" Bob Dylan

Re: Mouse Repellent, should I?

Reply #1 –
Quote from: Jack Lewis –
1. Any updates from those using Fresh Cab Rodent Repellent, Mouse Magic, Irish Spring, or ultrasonic pest repellents for more than a couple seasons is appreciated.  Your experience, where to place, how many, what happens with a dog around, etc. 
2. I'm willing to spend a little if it helps the odds. 
3. With the open channel down the middle with all the fuel, electric, and air lines I feel more concerned than before with my previous rvs.
4.. Should I be?

Jack,
1. That is like boxers or briefs but we like "Fresh Cab"
    1a.  We don 't have pets
2.  If a mouse sets up house keeping and likes the taste of wire insulation then a little preventive $ will be a lot less than doing nothing.
3. There are several threads that cover preventive actions like using steel wool, brass wool, stainless wool, screen wire, spray foam to close up the tunnel.  Some will say that this is a "waste of time" but we use stainless steel wool at every bulkhead. If a mouse does get in hopefully it will be trapped in just one compartment.
4. Refer to #2  If you camp out in remote campgrounds you are in these little critters domain.
As a side note without being to descriptive we also use SS wool on the H2O vent line for the same reason, and yes they can get in there.

Pamela & Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: Mouse Repellent, should I?

Reply #2 –
Peppermint oil on cotton balls wrapped in aluminum foil placed in the bays will keep the little buggers out. I also keep glue traps out as well.
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: Mouse Repellent, should I?

Reply #3 –
Been using peppermint and cotton balls in cut down soda cans, per Scott's idea, we camp host in the desert and have had very good results ^.^d .
I have also sprayed foam in the cable runs at both ends of the bus, I have one can in each bay.good luck ^.^d
Andy & Eileen
MONTROSE COLORADO
1992 U300  40' 6V92 TA
2016 4 Runner
1998 Jeep Grand cherokee

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee) Build # 4135 Skp# 122921

Re: Mouse Repellent, should I?

Reply #4 –
Years ago we had mice in the attic (could hear them scampering around).  An exterminator said there was nothing he could do as long as I had a wood shake roof (since replaced).  In desperation, I bought a pack of electronic emitters that were being sold at Costco.  No more mice.
We have not had a problem with mice, but I will try the peppermint oil as a precaution.
 
2000 U320 mid entry  #5688
2006 Jeep Liberty


USMCR retired
SDFD retired
FEMA US&R TF8

Re: Mouse Repellent, should I?

Reply #5 –
I use Irish Spring, 3-4 in every bay. I also sealed up the cable run at both ends with spray foam. So far so good.
Richard & Betty Bark & Keiko our Golden Doodle
2003 U320T 3820 PBDS
Build # 6215
MC # 16926
2016 Chevrolet Colorado 4X4 diesel

Re: Mouse Repellent, should I?

Reply #6 –
Whatever is used to drive the little dears back into the woods is fine. Something that kills them inside the coach should be be avoided, at all costs. Coaches that travel a lot seem to have less (or no) problems, mice and rats don't like vibrations. We have a friend with a SOB that was stored for a long period and he called me about a smell when he went to fire-up. Yup, he'd used some kind of poison in storage. I would not have given him $5.00 for the coach!
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: Mouse Repellent, should I?

Reply #7 –
We use FreshCab, MouseMagic (buy in bulk) and the electronic emmitters.  No mice.  I am not sure which is better.  We had chipmunks visiting our front steps and leaving calling cards.  A plug in emmitter seemed encourage them to go elsewhere.

Do all that you want.  At least your bays will smell better.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN
 

Re: Mouse Repellent, should I?

Reply #8 –
We typically use three different approaches at once, and that seems to handle it.

1) Multiple Yard Sentinel ultra-sonic devices pointing under the coach (including one at the small swing down wet-bay access)
2) Electronic mouse traps in various places
3) Cab Fresh packets in various places

Mice are all individual, and what bothers one mouse may be something another mouse isn't phased by.  Our experience has been that relying on one single product or approach alone is not enough.

There are some years when the ultra-sonic units are enough to keep the mice out, and the traps don't catch anything.  Then we've had some mice that have ignored the ultra-sonic units, ignored the Cab Fresh packets, and get killed by the electronic traps.

I am convinced that juvenile mice (weaned but not yet adults) are the worst.  They seem to ignore everything, and are small enough that they can often steal the bait from a variety of traps.  They grow quickly so eventually the traps get them.

Chris