Question rodent management

[sheridany]

What are you doing to keep rodents out of the coach? I am interested especially what you do for the sewer hose hole. I have read about bronze or steel wool as I would like to understand how to do that. What about the electric devices that emit high frequency sounds? I need to crawl up under the coach and make sure there are no openings that need to be “foamed” close.

 

[Neal]

Wow, I was actually just thinking of posting about this! ?

I've been fortunate, the only critter I've had on board so far was some albino frog that stowed away when in Naples or Ft. Myers. I use the ultrasonic devices throughout my coach and have since day one. I have one plugged into the block heater outlet (aft driver's side compartment), one in an outlet just forward of the pegboard bay, one in the master bathroom outlet, one in the outlet over the kitchen sink and one in the outlet left/aft of the driver's seat.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082DQG9C7/?tag=rvf01-20

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I don't do anything else other than keep the wet bay holes closed up. I 3D printed a wet bay cover plate that helps seal around the sani-con hose. I do carry pest control spray and do spray the basements and house a few times a year.

 

[Akdare]

I use these same ultrasonic repellers at home near my security cameras...spiders love the IR lights and build webs right over the lenses. They‘ve eliminated about 90% of my camera cleaning...

 

[sheridany]

I did buy some of this stuff earlier this year. I have yet to find the time to apply it. I do like @Neal solution better. plug and play.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

We have long used coarse stainless steel wool to plug entry holes in both the RV and S&B house. It doesn't rust or corrode, and is very effective at keeping "critters" out. The stuff I have is about 4" wide and 1/2" thick. I carry a several 12-15" pieces in the coach and wrap it loosely around the power cord, water hose and sewer hose just below the floor where they exit the coach. Each piece is secured by a bunji loop/ball. The stuff is pretty sharp, so I use gloves when I handle it. The sharpness is what keeps rodents from chewing through it, or pulling it out.

It can be a little pricey, but so can rodent damage. I was fortunate to find a roll locally at a great price. A local hardware store had ordered a large roll of it for a customer that later decided they didn't want it. I bought it for pennies on the dollar and have had enough for the RV, house and plenty left over.

I think I will try the electronic repeller in the engine compartment to keep rats, squirrels, etc. away. Haven't had a problem yet, but don't want a "first time."

TJ

 

[sheridany]

I was googling the topic earlier today and read on some old posts about a product called sewer sock?

SEWER SOCK - How To Keep Rodents Out of RV

The Sewer Sock will is a tool that will show you how to keep rodents out of rv

www.sewersock.net

I actually did not expect to find much in my search but TJ's steel wool solution is often cited as a effective deterrent along with a myriad of other interesting approaches. It seems like you just have to pick one you are most comfortable with and make sure it is effective through the coach.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

In looking at the Sewer Sock, it mentions control of ants. For those with ant issues, try "diatomaceous earth," available at most hardware stores. It is a very fine powder that impedes the ant's ability to travel over it. Just sprinkle some at ground level around and on the hose/cord going into the coach. It is safe and easily wipes off when you are ready to move.

I carry a large shaker of DE in the coach and have found it very effective on ants and similar crawling critters. And, it is a great absorbent, so mixing in a bit of peppermint oil will create a rodent repellant as well. You can search online for a DE mouse repellant recipe for specifics.

TJ

 

[sheridany]

I happened to be reading on another page and they suggest DE like TJ mentions above. What was also interesting are the other products like comet. i would have never thought of those.
You can dust to deter ants with any of these nontoxic alternatives: Safe Solutions Food-Grade DE, talcum powder, medicated body powder, baking soda, Splenda®, dried peppermint, cinnamon, salt, freshly ground pepper (cayenne), garlic powder, cream of tartar, bone meal, powdered charcoal, cedar oil, Tide®soap, calcium chloride Bon Ami® or Comet®

 

[Old-RV'er]

At storage, I put in tomcat rodent houses in every storage compartment, except the one exposed to air where chassis batteries are. (Tomcat 1 oz. Mouse Killers (4-Pack)-037161005 - The Home Depot) - I keep the deck plate cover screwed in when sewer hose not in use. When using coach, leave rodent houses in compartments, use a critter guard thing with sewer hose out, and put this stuff around coach when camping about once a week or after rain storm. AMDRO 24 oz. Ant Block Home Perimeter Ant Bait-100522802 - The Home Depot. We have never had ants in coach period using this stuff.

I did have a mouse incursion in the other MH. and after I started using the tomcat rodent motels, never again. I have heard putting a little peanut butter on the bait makes it more effective, have not tried it. I have been told, and some Consumer Reports have tested ultrasonic devices and they reported they did not work. I cannot speak from experience. I have not tried them. I know the dog barking thing we tried did not work, nor the bird repellent noise thing did not work. And the mouse noise thing I put in the barn did not keep them out of it. Good old traps or mouse hotels have worked for me.

 

[Old-RV'er]

Update, put in mouse traps and baited with Peanut butter, with dryer sheets still putting off stink. As far as I can tell, and check weekly, no new critters have gotten in. Traps are undisturbed. Go figure.

 

[Joe Hogan]

Here is a solution

 

[Kevin D Pem]

Here is a solution View attachment 4079

yup that works!

 

[Kevin D Pem]

Also a LED light strip under the coach on strobe works well. You just about had me spill the beans. Well OK here we go. Almost a year ago, this is the anniversary month, I was cleaning out my cargo and found signs of mice. Well short story long, The worst part of mice infestations are not coach repairs. I am still fighting side effects from a hanta virus infection. Truth be told it almost took my life. as there are no treatments for it 38% of the cases end in death. I am still here though I would not be on this forum had I been healthy enough to do my usual stuff.

Just a little info, My opinion of masks changed drastically after my lungs got compromised from not wearing one when I should have. As the saying goes stupid is as stupid does. Anyhow what I found that got me though this was many of the things health nuts were saying about covid-19 cures.

I followed Bob Becks Protocol, I did electro therapy, drank ozoneated water to increase oxygen in my blood, I got a neubulizer and colloidal silver generator, took NAC, elderberry supplements. All this stuff helped, it kept me breathing but the real virus kicker was when I started taking Zinc. Yes folks Zinc was just prescribed to Saunda's oldest kid after being diagnosed with covid 19. Nothing else but Zinc and was sent home. In a week she is almost over it. I to am over the infection but not the lung damage, don't know if I will ever be, we will see.

The moral:
Wear a mask when cleaning up the shed. If you wear a mask for the other outbreak, spray it with Colloidal silver because silver kills virusus when it comes in contact with them. Take Zinc as a prophylactic in this pandemic time. But most important of all, keep the mice out before they can spread disease in your rig.

 

[Rich-MLsRV]

Update, put in mouse traps and baited with Peanut butter, with dryer sheets still putting off stink. As far as I can tell, and check weekly, no new critters have gotten in. Traps are undisturbed. Go figure.

I've found traps to be the most effective. I always have them set with peanut butter. I have traps in the wet bay and other cargo compartments.

I also looked behind the kitchen sink and filled holes with silicon.

This summer we picked up some guests from one of the campgrounds we stayed at. The traps got them.

 

[AbdRahim]

I use the electronic things near passenger seat, one in the bedroom, and one in the electrical bay. Also I put essential peppermint oil on cotton in tea balls, everywhere, in drawers, cabinet, under the dash, hanging from ceiling vents, etc. I refresh regularly. When standing outside the coach near the bays one can smell the peppermint. I also hang some in the engine compartment, along with moth balls. These also hang from various spots under the rig. I also tie a peanut or other plastic bottle wit holes in it to the tire covers so that when the wind blows, the scent gets distributed under the coach, and it rattles around and makes some noise. I also put brass wool around the wires under the kitchen sink and sprayed rodent repellent foam around those. There are also TomCat poison houses around the house. Praying that is enough. Phew!