Mice

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

So what is the correct way to keep mice out of a camper?

[Chef]

Buy a 6 pack of Irish Spring soap bars and take them out of the boxes, lay them in logical Mouse entrance spots or travel areas.

They really hate the smell.

You may want to put the goo traps out too, they will catch more than one at a time and you can toss them easily.

[lip_ripper]

Bounce fabric sheets.

Don't buy the generic ones thou, they'll use them to build their nests.

[UdeLakeTom]

I have found that Tomcat bait works good also. They eat the stuff because it is in fairly large bricks, unlike d-con, which they carry to their nests and leave a big mess.

The rumor is that bounce changed there formula...they found that whatever the mice didn't like was not safe for humans...

Go figure...I tried it, and it didn't work for me, so if anybody has had luck recently, please update.

I usually put the Tomcat in storage areas of the camper.

[motley man]

I agree with the TOMCAT bait. I use it and never have problems with mice, chipmunks, etc.

[meatfish]

I used poison bait and did not care for finding dead stinky mice.I use a five gallon pail,fill up about 1/3 full with RV antifreeze.then you take a 1 lb coffee can with lid and put a stiff wire(hanger,making sure it spins freely)through the center long enough to reach the edge of the pail.Then smear peanut butter on the can and sprinkle with nuts or goodies.Then lean a piece of wood(ramp) on the pail.They jump,it spins,they swim for a bit.It works great.

[Chef]

Where do you buy Tomcat?

[Boosey]

Best to stop them where they come in. My step dad is an exterminator and with his advise here is what I did when I had mice. Take steel wool and plug any possible spot that you can fit a pencil through. The mice in my camper where coming in where the extension cord connects to the camper. They climbed the cord and came in there. A little steel wool stopped that.

I also put out a black plastic bait box (prevents larger animals like dogs from getting the bait. Then put bait bricks in the box. These items including tomcat can be bought from a big hardware chain or better yet a farm and fleet store.

[Chapo]

I know a person that uses bloodmeal. He sprinkles it on the ground/cement around the RV and apparently mice/rats can't stand it. They haven't had a problem with mice since then but I don't know if its proven.

[woodsmanmn]

I use the five gallon pail trap. It doesn't have to be reset and keeps on catching them. My record is sixteen in one week.

[minneman]

A friend of mine has a few collector cars, he uses mothballs around the tires to stop them before they get in. also, get rid of any food inside. And what ever you hear about bounce dryer sheets.. ive seen nests built with them.

[echotrail]

You can also try "Oil of Peppermint". A few of drops on cotton balls keeps them away. It's strong stuff and your camper will smell pretty in the spring.

[Ryan_V]

been putting bounce in my camper/boat for 20+ years. NEVER had a mouse in either. the key is to put enough of them in. I buy a box of 120 for my camper. seems like alot, but 20 or so in a 30' travel trailer doesn't go far. the mice don't like strong perfume type smells, so the more the better!! in face, just got back from the store with the rv anti-freeze and bounce for it tomorrow!! waited too long to get her pressure washed before backing her into the shed until May!!!

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

All of these are ideas from you that have had luck with your particular method. But, what do RV dealers say is the best method? These guys store them all the time.

[jdsmi]

Don't let anyone tell you mothballs work. Used to swear by them but I just got my fishhouse out of storage (which was stored with mothballs). Little vermin chewed 3 holes in the canvas. Poison & traps for me from now on.

[big_walleye22]

I had a friend tell me to use COMET, sprinkle around the out side perimeter of the camper and any entrances, I am going to try this on our hunting shack this year, tough to keep them critters out, steel wool in the openings is a great suggestion also

[opsirc]

Bounce fabric sheets.

Don't buy the generic ones thou, they'll use them to build their nests.

used dryer sheets the last three years in the camper and boat, work great no more mouse problems.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

Tap your heels together 3 times and repeat after me... there are no mice, there are no mice...

It seams like for every solution listed there is somebody else saying it doesn't work.

[tharreld]

Comet around the wheels and the hitch post. For the last 8 years I've kept my camper in my Fathers barn. No mice yet. Make sure you have a nice ring of comet, mice won't cross the ring. Don't need to all the way around the camper, just anything that makes contact with the ground.

[UdeLakeTom]

So what happens in the winter when the snow covers up the comet?

[tharreld]

So what happens in the winter when the snow covers up the comet?

The comet will ony work indoors.

[UdeLakeTom]

Isn't it corrosive??

[tharreld]

What I've done in the past is park my camper inside my Dads barn (he no longer has cows). Go around the wheels and the post with a ring of comet. Works great. To answer your question Lake Tom; it will leave a mark on the concrete floor. Looks more like a bleach mark then corrosion.

[redseal]

DO NOT USE MOTH BALLS!!!!!! We put them in our camper on a seasonal site last year at closing and could still smell it on closing weekend this year!!!! dryer sheets was suggested to me

[UdeLakeTom]

Thanks...that won't help me too much...it is parked on private property up north.