Mice!

Dave Diefenderfer

Dave Diefenderfer

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Wednesday evening I discovered evidence of mice on my sneakbox. So far just mouse crap.... have not found any nesting or chewing. I immediately placed some Decon boxes on the hull. I then stopped at Home depot for a repellant as I would rather keep them away, then try to kill them all, and run the risk of getting other critters too with the Decon.... picked up some Critter Away, which smells like herbs and spices I might marinade a steak in!? Sprinkled it on the ground around the boat, and put some in a coffee can in the bottom of the boat. Yesterday when I checked again, the mice had hit the bait. I sprinkled the rest of the container around the boat, but I am suspect if the mice will notice. I cleaned up real good last evening so I can see if there is any new activity when I get home.

Anyone have a foolproof method? If they chew my wires, or get into my new outboard, I will go nuts!

Dave
 
Dave,

Many years ago, I declared war around here on everything brown, hairy and under 12" tall.

I live in the country and it seems that every animal that falls into that category digs, eats or craps everything and everywhere I wish it wouldn't.

Personally I am not a fan of D-Con because I can't see the results and I never know if the wrong target is getting into it or possibly eating a poisoned critter. I don't want to accidentally whack somebody's pet cat.

So I am a big supporter of the old fashioned body count. In your case, I'd go to the standard 6 pack of wooden mouse traps.

(But I am a traditionalist) :)

And no, I don't use paper mache cheese.
 
Kill the little bitches and don't ever let down your guard. Kill them in the spring, summer, fall, winter. I used to get soft and let down my guard, they taught me not to. They will chew everything and then to top it off piss on it.

Traps with peanut butter placed along runways or pinch point are you best bets.

I have at least 10 traps set at all times - just got one yesterday.
 
I had the same problem in my little boat....them and those #@&#@*^#@*#@ chipmunks......Chipmunks partially cured with live traps and mice cured with d-con....I have no mercy on them! I did set traps for the mice but I would find the traps all over with teeth marks on them....Yard full of raccoons!....not too worried about harming stray cats, not many of those around, nor the raccoons (way too many of them).....

It was so bad I would flip my boat over and find them sleeping underneath and some would run out of the foam.....those mice are no longer with us!
 
I opened my boat late this season, the minute I took the cover off I could smell the urine. Did not see droppings so I figured maybe I was mistaken ... started cleaning and hose out when the little stinkers started jumping out like in the cartoons, except I found no humor in it. Last winter when I put the boat away I placed several plastic cups filled with moth balls in the boat, I guess that was useless. Now I have several glue traps baited with dog food (Dinner Rounds) and check it weekly. So far so good.

I like the pail trap, looks easy to build. Question: why is it you should not use auto antifreeze in the pail?

Thanks,
Charlie
 
Anti Freeze works great in areas that are subject to freezing temps. It is toxic and you want to be careful not to leave it out if there is a risk of household pets or "nice" wildlife drinking it. It is lethal and it is non-selective.
 
The pail trap works like the dickens! ONly trouble in warm weather they start to decompose, and that stinks big time. If you're serious set several can traps out and empty them with regularity. Damned effective they are!
 
Dave,
Been using a "mouse bucket" for 6 years now and it's very effective.
I use the antifreeze because they suck it in and it preserves them and then don't smell bad over time.
Keep it away from pets. If any other critter gets into it...goner.
Lou
Click on the link on a newsletter I did back in March of '05 and it's on page 8. You can also go to our club website: www.rccd.org and click on the Newsletters and drop down to the March '05 and go to page 8.
Lou

www.rccd.org/Documents/Newsletters/RCCD-NL-0503.pdf
 
I discovered something similar by accident several years ago. I had a large folgers coffee can that I had collected some used motor oil in (about 2"), and I left it out by my boat. We had a small rain storm that added another 2-3" of water to the oil, before I set it in the corner of my garage that was always getting rats in it. I came out the next morning and noticed the can and thought I'd finally dispose of it. Inside, drowned in the water/oil mix were 9 mice. Now, all I can figure is that some smell just drove them nuts, and they just kept jumping in and dying...not being able to climg the slick sides of the can or jump that high once covered in oil?? Anyhoo, might be worth a try for inside your boat, or somewhere the 5 gallon contraption won't work. I know of nothing else that'll mess with burned motor oil. LOL
 
A freind has one of my 15ft boats and when he took the cockpit cover off there was a dead mouse on the floor. The only way for it to get in was through the rubber boot in the motor well for the fuel and stater cables. The hole in the boot is small with all the stuff going through it but the little bugger still got in. Once in it wasn't able to get out. I guess you could call the boat a giant mouse trap.
 
Appreciate all the advice, that is why I asked! While the bucket trick is slick, being the boat is stored outdoors, I am afraid it will invite other critters and make a mess.... raccoons,opossum , skunks, squirrels and chipmunks have easy access to the boat tent. Just checked this morning, no new activity, so whatever hit the D-Con the first night has not been back! I'll keep my fingers crossed. Thanks, Dave
 
Well, you can always build a pole shed with walls and a good door to keep all your toys out of the elements, and away from the rodents.
Bad feature of d-con or anything containing warfarin. the little buggers get terribly thirsty, and often, on their quest for water, they will die in walls and ceilings--BIG problem occurs when they begin to liquify--Man does that make stinkies, but on a good note, you can find them via the stain that develops as they seep into ceiling/wall! HEHEHHEHHEHE.
During my stint at SIU, i worked for family housing.. Noone opted for the regular traps until the liquid mice happened--Changed most folks' minds pretty fast.
With the old fashioned traps, you can fantasize being an old mountain man, checking your traplines for beaver, wolverine, mink,,,,,,,,
 
Go to your nearest Pet store that sells Ferrets and ask for some Ferret dung.

The smell of a Ferret will drive any and all rodents away quickly. Best nonlethal method there is.
 
Hi Dave. You have my complete sympathy on your mice issue. I use de-con in all the little nooks and crannies of the barn and hard to get to places in the garage, and traps in the boat. Remember that aluminum boat I had? One year red squirrels set up house in the bilge. I blocked off all but one entrance to the bilge and set a 110 connibear muskrat trap over the remaining entrance and eventually caught them all. Like George said, you get to play mountain man/trapper when you are getting the dead ones out of the trap!

No mercy to mice!

John
 
"Had" Mice in the carving shed.........



001pme.jpg

 
Trapline is set, baited with peanut butter.... one on the bow, one on the rear deck, one on the dodger and one on the foredeck, under the dodger. The Critter-Away was a waste of money. Mice have hit the D-Con every night, passing right over the Critter-Away. Maybe the Critter-Away will keep the larger rodents away?

Smells like one of the mice died under the floor of the boat shop.... at least in this weather it won't last long! I'll check the traps each morning. Piece of plywood under each trap so they don't ooze onto my boat!
 
Dave,
I had a supper mouse. He avoided my single traps like a Houdini.

Ashley and I came up with a plan and it worked great. Tunnel of Love. 3 Long blocks (2x4x 18") Two walls and a roof. 4 traps, two facing each other at each end in tunnel. Peanut butter covered cracker in the middle. This set has accounted for many a dead rodent and is a load of fun to hear go off in the middle of the night. Many double and triple sets.......

Have fun. I love having a trapper for a daughter.

I love the bucket idea, but my dog would wind up eating the peanut better and drinking the dead mouse water...... grosssssss.
 
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