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Mouse Talk

We've had no mouse activity in the several years we've owned our FT.  The last couple of nights here in Nashville I've heard suspicious noise in the wee hours of the morning.  It sounds as if they're above the bed but not in the cabinets...sounds like noise from running on the fiberglass on the roof.  But last night I heard the noise come down from above behind what seemed like behind the bedroom corner cabinet at the head of the bed (passenger side). 

I know I've seen what appears to be a channel on the engine bay running up the corners of the coach. Previous owners appeared to have stuck wire mesh (chicken wire) into these cavities.

Please explain the channels that exist in these areas and what if any concern I should have for activity in this area.  And if of concern any remedial action.

Again, no sign of activity (droppings) in the bays or inside the coach so far.

Thanks

Randy
Randy (N4TDT) and Karen Crete
Sarasota, Florida
SOLD:  2000 U270 34' WTFE Build 5756 "Ole Red"

Re: Mouse Talk

Reply #1 –
Randy,

Here you go but ours was a nice ripe full grown racoon.
Busy squirrel

I still have the template. It works on some coaches without modifications other coaches the wood has to be trimmed. This is due to various different tolerances from coach to coach.
Any questions P/M me for a phone number.

Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

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

Re: Mouse Talk

Reply #2 –
Shutting off every opening you possibly can is a good idea.  Rats and mice can cause unbelievable damage to your coach.

Even if the rodents are only able to access your engine compartment, they can still do a lot of damage.  We have had rats build three nests in our engine compartment while our coach was parked in our driveway.  One nest was on top of the engine cooling fan shroud - a very difficult place to even see, much less get to and clean out.  The second nest was on top of the bundle of hoses and wires right where they come out of the central utility tray into the engine compartment.  The third nest was inside our engine air cleaner!  See thread below for the whole story:

RAT - My First

Once the little critters set up house keeping in your engine compartment, any and all wires and hoses are fair game for their ceaseless gnawing.  They chewed through several wires in my engine bay, including the sense wire for my alternator and the wire going to the battery temp sensor for our inverter/charger.  They also chewed a hole in the rubber hose that sends the intake manifold pressure signal to the turbo.

I now keep 5 or 6 Tomcat snap rat traps set in my engine compartment all the time we are parked anywhere for more than one or two days.  Yes, it is a pain setting them up and taking them down - but well worth it if I can avoid any more rodent damage.  So far, the traps have kept my engine compartment critter free for 3 years.  Knock wood!

Tomcat Rat Snap Trap - Rat Traps - Tomcat

1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Mouse Talk

Reply #3 –
Snap traps, glue traps, peppermint oil, Irish spring soap, rat and mouse poison. Still get one now and then.
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 Talk

Reply #4 –
Quote from: bbeane –
rat and mouse poison.

No no no!

Read about secondary rodenticide poisoning and how it is killing off the beneficial predators like owls, hawks, and family pets!

Also, most of the newer rodenticides have no antidote.  If a predator or pet ingests any part of a poisoned rodent, death is almost assured. 
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Mouse Talk

Reply #5 –
We don't even poison ants. When a rattlesnake comes to visit, we relocate. Leben und leben lassen.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Mouse Talk

Reply #6 –
I keep a radio playing in the coach garage, 24/7. Apparently, vermin doesn't like country music.

Speaking of snakes, this youngster was waiting to greet me one morning when I was swapping out the air springs. He met his demise; better him, than me. The young diamondbacks are the worst, since they usually will dump their full load of venom when they strike. Adults will save some for another opportunity.
Greg & Cathy
2000 U320 4010 DGFE Build #5650
Had: 1999 Tradewinds 7370

Re: Mouse Talk

Reply #7 –
Randy:

Last November at our lot in Mission Texas,  at 1:00 AM we had the exact same problem with a young possum climbing up the side of our coach via the engine bay into the cavity behind the rear view camera and the back of our cabinets above the bed. Our "trapper" neighbor encouraged the critter to leave with a long claw on a pole. I subsequently stuffed the access points on both sides with small hardware cloth. It will stop a possum, but not a small rat or mice. Suggest you place sticky traps inside the cavity by opening the panel in the bedroom cabinet.

Bob
Winter: Texas Rio Grande Valley or Foley, AL
Summer: The Gardens RV Community of Crossville, TN
2000 40 FT U270, Xtreme FBP
2017 C-Max Towed

Re: Mouse Talk

Reply #8 –
Wrap the chicken wire with brass wool before pushing up into the cavity (of the coach, of course!!)
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Mouse Talk

Reply #9 –

Any reason this electronic trap would be a problem in the engine bay when parked?  Directions caution "Not suitable for locations were flammable vapor is likely to exist and electromagnetic waves produced by this device may interfere with the functioning of pacemakers and similar devices". No pacemaker here, but I was wondering about any electronic devices in the engine bay that might be affected while parked.

Amazon.com : Victor Electronic Rat Trap - Reusable, Easy to Bait Rat Trap :...

As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.
Randy (N4TDT) and Karen Crete
Sarasota, Florida
SOLD:  2000 U270 34' WTFE Build 5756 "Ole Red"

Re: Mouse Talk

Reply #10 –
I sure can fully attest to mice invading and eating our wiring, causing all kinds of havoc!  For the last 8 Months, after Glue Trapping, with a dab of Peanut Butter, in the middle, we got seven of them!  I am plagued with issues galore since.  I still have to fix the entire Run, from CB # 1.  It only affects the Trash Compactor, the Refer (The duplex outlet next to it for icemaker, still works though, so used that!) and the Voltage - In gauge, and the reverse polarity lights, on the Management Panel!  I have a Dogbone, in-line adapter,  that tells me that stuff anyway!  But when I get home, that "Round Tuit', must be accomplished!  I did not want to do it when out and about, for fear, it would have caused more issues! One place said it would cost over $1,500.00 for THEM to do it!  But there is Rewiring in places in my future, most likely whole new pulls, from the rear to the middle of the coach?

We take 1/4 pieces of Irish Spring Soap, Everywhere we can, and that seems effective, so far, in 8 Months+, on the road!

I see I'd better consider the Engine Compartment, and those cavities, going up the rear cap, as well.....Good Post, I learned something!  I use No Poison, ever, as we saw what happened to our Bald Eagle in the past, and Round Up, I fear is the next DDT, or Agent Orange, experiment, going array!
Tom & Barb Root
'95, 40' U-320C SE, bought from Dave Head, 8/2017  FT Motorcade # 18196 Coach Build# 4663 October '94
2015 VW Golf Sportwagen, 1991 Suzuki Samurai, Off-Road Custom Build-Up, W/Toyota 22re mill, and a 2005 Chevy 2500HD, Duramax/Allison TOADS Will also pull a MacGregor 26X Powersailor 2001 Model, owned since new!

Retired SR Rocket Mechanic, FT Sales Associate @  FT of California, Escondido CA.!  and Retired USMC Gunnery Sergeant (Hence Retired Guns! ) Avionics Tech, on A6E Intruder & OV-10 Bronco Aircraft!  V/N Era Vet, and Desert Storm Participant.  Happily Retired now!
 

Re: Mouse Talk

Reply #11 –
We use Fresh Cab
Fresh Cab® Rodent Repellent | Earthkind
and have found it to be effective. It's available in a variety of locations. We get the 4-pack boxes and put 4 packages in the basement areas and 4 in the main living areas and refresh them every 3 months.
David and Carolyn Osborn
1995 U320C SE 40' Build 4726 Feb 1995
FMCA 147762
Motorcade 17186