Keeping mice out of the utility bay

Topic: Keeping mice out of the utility bay (Read 4449 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Keeping mice out of the utility bay

Reply #50 – November 21, 2010, 07:08:59 am

Quote from: George Stoltz – June 04, 2010, 08:23:13 pm

Before we became full-timers, our coach often sat for months at a time in a very rural setting and connected to shore power. I was concerned that mice might enter the utility bay and gnaw on the electric cable or the water hose.

Water hose gnawing would be bad. Electrical insulation knawing less so, since they would not likely gnaw on the copper conductor. What is 4+ bad is air lines - I have now had two instances of this; the first resulted in the inability to air up the coach, the second resulted in being unable to release the driver's side parking brake. BUMMER!!

Re: Keeping mice out of the utility bay

Reply #51 – November 21, 2010, 08:36:27 am

Don't count on the little critters not being able to gnaw through a small copper wire like the ones from the thermostat to the furnace and telephone wires. They did it at my house before we moved in. It was vacant for over a year so I guess it could have also been a field rat but the wiring was all chewed up.

Re: Keeping mice out of the utility bay

Reply #52 – November 22, 2010, 04:12:27 pm

Quote from: PatC – November 20, 2010, 04:30:56 pm

I'll stick with moth balls and peppermint oil thank you.

I haven't used any of the peppermint oil so far...but I do use moth balls and the moth ball cakes. I saved some empty vegetable cans, removed the paper label and drilled several holes in the can about 1/3 of the way up from the bottom and put moth balls in the can. Then I placed these cans around in various places in the bays....and I hang the plastic hanger with moth cakes in it from cables in the engine compartment. I sure don't want the mouse eating insulation/hose problem.....

Re: Keeping mice out of the utility bay

Reply #53 – November 22, 2010, 05:45:45 pm

I read an article recently that said that castor oil has the same asphyxiating effect on rodents as peppermint oil. The article confirmed that both are very effective, limited only by the need to replenish the oil frequently. It didn't say how frequently, but I imagine it relates to the strength of the smell

Re: Keeping mice out of the utility bay

Reply #54 – November 24, 2010, 10:20:16 am

I received some additional information about using the Peppermint oil. I went into MOMS Organic market to buy more Pepermint Oil. I told the clerk helping me what I was using it for, the clerk mentioned she mixes in Clove oil with the Peppermint Oil and it will work even better. The Peppermint oil which has been very effective so far since I found the critter about four months ago and as per the recommendations of all in this group, I placed peppermint solution and traps in the interior and exterior bays of the coach. The mouse was found dead in the sewer bay killed by a wooden mouse trap, I assume while he was trying to exit the now very peppermint smelling coach!

I did purchased the clove oil based on her recommendation, either a great up-sell by the sales clerk or as she said an additional ingrediant to enhance the effectiveness of the peppermint oil.

Tony

Re: Keeping mice out of the utility bay

Reply #55 – November 24, 2010, 11:13:27 am

Tony, give it try, who knows? Would you like fries with that?

Re: Keeping mice out of the utility bay

Reply #56 – November 24, 2010, 02:00:16 pm

Tony, did they say how much clove oil to add? Hmmmm, I might try that next time. I can remember my mother using whole cloves to keep out ants from their house. Can't say if it worked or not as this wouldn't be noticed by a kid. How expensive was the clove oil? I was a little shocked when it cost me over $9 for a bottle of whole cloves from Wal-Mart this week. (cranberry sauce not ants)

Re: Keeping mice out of the utility bay

Reply #57 – November 24, 2010, 04:27:04 pm

i've been using the peppermint oil as a deterrent, and have not had any mice, but it does evaporate very quickly. Has anybody tried this, or similar, commercial product?
http://www.bonide.com/products/product.php?category_id=865
I believe it includes peppermint oil as one its components.
Mike Spitz
2003 u295

Re: Keeping mice out of the utility bay

Reply #58 – November 27, 2010, 10:45:15 am

I am much more agressive. We have a rodent problem at our storage and one of the little critters got in and made a next on top of my Aqua Hot. Used the insulation from around the A/C line in the engine bay. I immediately went and purchased a box of rat/mouse poison and distributed in the engine bay and joey bed areas as well as around the perimeter of the coach. No more rodents. Continuing to keep coach perimeter well protected with a barrier of rodent poison squares. Sounds more harsh than Peppermint oil, but has been successful.

Re: Keeping mice out of the utility bay

Reply #59 – November 27, 2010, 09:37:48 pm

I know there may be other points of entry for critters, but the sewer hose door is the most obvious. I wish I could take credit for the critter block that keeps them out of my coach but John Rostie, the previous owner, made this one, see attached photos. It simply slides into the gap when the door is open and allows my Shore electric cable and TV cable or Satellite cable through to their receptacles when the Bay Door is closed. These are the only two cables I keep hooked up when parked for any length of time. I always fill my water tank rather than use the city water hookup so I don't have to worry about a water hose coming out the door. I don't hook up my sewer line until I'm ready to dump the tanks so all I have to be concerned with are the TV Coax and the Power Cord. It leaves no room for critter entry through this bay. So far, no critters.

The wood block is easy to make for anyone with a little woodworking skill. I might even paint mine if I ever get real energetic.

Re: Keeping mice out of the utility bay

Reply #60 – November 27, 2010, 10:52:13 pm

Are you taking orders for this insert Kent???

I've been using some kind of squirrel deterrent spray, was real pricy from Lowe's, mix in spray bottle and squirt around - smells like Mexican hot peppers IMHO - but it did make the squirrels at one camp site shy away as well as the birds wanting to get water from water line dripping - now will it work on mice - WTHK's

Have also sprinkled the green rat/mice bate around inside bays which is to make them exit to seek water

So far have not have a rodent issue - but then I sleep very soundly and would never hear them in the basement reaping havoc

I'll only wake to shoot the idiot who enters front door

Re: Keeping mice out of the utility bay

Reply #61 – November 27, 2010, 10:59:14 pm

I don't have a work shop right now but I will be happy to supply measurements if anyone wants to make their own. It is real simple construction.

Re: Keeping mice out of the utility bay

Reply #62 – November 27, 2010, 11:12:18 pm

Quote from: Scott Beard – November 27, 2010, 10:45:15 am

I immediately went and purchased a box of rat/mouse poison and distributed in the engine bay and joey bed areas as well as around the perimeter of the coach. No more rodents. Continuing to keep coach perimeter well protected with a barrier of rodent poison squares. Sounds more harsh than Peppermint oil, but has been successful.

Scott,

Some thing(s) to keep in mind with rodent poison. The Posse are concerned.

Keep Bentley's safety in mind. If he were to ingest either the poison OR a rodent that had eaten the poison, he also would be endangered. Most rodent poisons are high doses of a drug similar to Coumadin. A significant blood thinner that can kill your beloved pet.

Many states are seeing significant decreases in natural predator populations due to the predators dying off from eating poisoned rodents. Texas is experiencing a decimation of the owl and hawk populations as these birds are the victims of rodent poison use.

Prevention, when possible, is a much better alternative than the currently-available poisons.

Just a gentle suggestion...

Michelle

Re: Keeping mice out of the utility bay

Reply #63 – November 27, 2010, 11:16:58 pm

The points made by Michelle are very good and important. There is another BIG drawback to rodent poison. What if they can't get back outside for water? We lived in a house in a wooded area near a river. Previous home owner mistakenly hid rat poison where we could not see it. But we sure could smell the occasional dead mouse. In a motorhome it will make you want to barf.

Re: Keeping mice out of the utility bay

Reply #64 – November 27, 2010, 11:59:27 pm

Buy a large batt of steel wool at a hardware store. Put a long roll of it in a plastic bread bag. Then wrap it around your drain hose but inside your utility bay. Easily removed and stays clean and dry. Do the same with shorepower line and water hose. For those use smaller bags. If your tank valves have openings larger than the pipe do the plastic bag/steel wool thing there also.
Rodents do not like to chew on steel wool, but if they chew a hole in the plastic bag you will know they were there! (operative word is WERE)

Re: Keeping mice out of the utility bay

Reply #65 – November 28, 2010, 12:04:47 am

Norm, I think that is a great idea. They would be easy to store and use when needed. I may replace my wood block.

Does anyone know of other areas of vulnerability. I found one other area on my U225 where the wiring went into the coach from the engine area. I used foam to seal that off. It seemed to work. I haven't been under my U300 yet.

Re: Keeping mice out of the utility bay

Reply #66 – November 28, 2010, 12:10:17 am

Quote from: nitehawk – November 27, 2010, 11:59:27 pm

Buy a large batt of steel wool at a hardware store. Put a long roll of it in a plastic bread bag. Then wrap it around your drain hose but inside your utility bay.

Brilliant! And Karma for you! We have heard critters in our rear end cap (the fixed portion above the engine door) and have thought about how to seal it without a mess. A plastic bag/steel or brass wool-filled "sausage" would be perfect.

Love this forum

Michelle

Re: Keeping mice out of the utility bay

Reply #67 – November 28, 2010, 12:25:33 am

Where does one get brass wool. It would not rust.

Re: Keeping mice out of the utility bay

Reply #68 – November 28, 2010, 08:03:52 am

Quote from: nitehawk – November 27, 2010, 11:59:27 pm

Buy a large batt of steel wool at a hardware store. Put a long roll of it in a plastic bread bag. Then wrap it around your drain hose but inside your utility bay. Easily removed and stays clean and dry.

Nitehawk, need more information here. I can visualize the use and application of the steel wool in a bag, but I am not sure how wrapping the sewer hose to the extent of the size of the bread bag will protect the hose. And, we have water and electric reels so we can't wrap all of them. A photo sure would be nice.

Re: Keeping mice out of the utility bay

Reply #69 – November 28, 2010, 08:44:01 am

George, sorry I can't supply pics. My '89 has electric and water connections that are on a bulkhead in the engine compartment so no welcoming openings for rodents. My drain hose is only down when dumping so no problem there with rodents.
If you leave the drain hose down while camping make a steel wool pkg long enough to go around the drain hose.
If I might suggest--- if you have openings from your utility bay for the utilities into the coach plug these openings with the steel wool gambit. The rodents may still get into the utility bay but no further. Put some peppermint oil in the compartment.
I don't know about brass wool but steel wool can be obtained at any hardware store and the big box stores like Menards, Lowes, Home Depot, Fleet Farm.

Re: Keeping mice out of the utility bay

Reply #70 – November 28, 2010, 08:47:11 am

Kent,
I don't know where to find brass wool, but I have seen stainless steel wool lots of places. That should take care of the rust issue, no? And, no, I can't tell you an exact source, but I bet Home Depot and / or Lowe's would both have it.
Paul
36' 2000 U320

Re: Keeping mice out of the utility bay

Reply #71 – November 28, 2010, 08:48:48 am

Quote from: Kent Speers – November 28, 2010, 12:25:33 am

Where does one get brass wool. It would not rust.

I think he meant Bronze wool and you can get it at Ace Hardware
http://tinyurl.com/2f5c9ox

Re: Keeping mice out of the utility bay

Reply #72 – November 28, 2010, 09:08:25 am

Michelle had originally mentioned brass wool. I had never heard of Brass or Bronze wool but since neither will rust they sound better than steel wool. I'm glad to know it is available at Ace.

Re: Keeping mice out of the utility bay

Reply #73 – November 28, 2010, 10:41:54 am

Brass, Bronze, Stainless, Aluminum, Etc......wool is available at your friendly local machine shop as waste.

I'm fairly certain that the few of us, fairly well scattered, wouldn't be a strain on any local machine shop for quantity. But, wear gloves!

However, my cats enjoy patrolling the bays from time to time when given the chance. Their previous visitation seems to deter any homemaking for critters. They are neutered and in 3 years have never "sprayed", instead they mark their territory by rubbing their cheeks in prominent places.

Just a thought,

John

Re: Keeping mice out of the utility bay

Reply #74 – November 28, 2010, 10:58:03 am

Michelle,
The concern about Bentley is dually noted. This poison is only put out at our storage unit and completely removed upon taking the coach out. I have considered the issue of rodents dying in the coach. In So. Cal. where we live at the base of the mountains we have had a pretty good rat problem since the 2003 fires which pushed them down into the neighborhood. Very annoying and have spent thousands of $$ dealing with the darn things at my home. Not concerned in our area about the predator killing problem because there aren't any here now. Would not ever use poison out on the road and really do appreciate the different suggestions while camping. Particularly like the wood block and steel wool ideas. You guys are always a wealth of information. Bentley really appreciates Michelle's concern for his well being although he would have to get off his bed to put forth some effort to find any type of hidden anything. LOL.

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