Mousecapades - a tale and a warning

[tmc2318]

It's the first fall for my L3540 which is always stored inside my dads shed on the farm. This weekend I went to open the cab door and was meet with a foul odor and knew right away that something had died as the smell was that bad. So I plugged my nose and moved it outside and opened the windows and doors to air out. I assumed that a mouse or mice had made it inside the cab and died. I tracked the smell to an area around the wheelwell and took out the floormats and some bolts out the get the molding loose enough to look have a better look. Sure enough I could see a ball of foam that looked like a mouse nest with a dead and decaying mouse inside (maggots included). I cleaned it out with a shop vac and sprayed disinfectant all over the area. I will let it air out and hopefully I can get ride of the smell. Later Dad told me that he had poison in the garage to keep the mice at bay. The mouse did a bit of damage to the foam and insulation but it is hidden behind the molding. Now I don't know if I should park it back in the garage but I hate to leave it outside.
The moral of this story is to remind everyone that it's the season for small rodents to find a place to stay for the winter.
> Does anyone have any ideas on how to keep mice out or at least repeal them?

 

[bigdad]

You might try Moth Balls/Moth Flakes. There isn't much short of a Bull Snake that will keep them out if they want in especially after they have scented the area. Make sure to check your wiring. They love to chew the insullation.

We have a terrible time with them getting into our signal enclosures on the RR.

 

[MarkLeininger]

> Does anyone have anyone have any ideas on how to keep mice out or at least repeal them?

barn cats

 

[Bird]

Moth balls is the only thing I've used although I'm not sure just how effective they are.

 

[Captinjack]

I have a constant battle with the little rodents and believe it or not, the best defense for mice is powdered Habeneo? Just spinkle it from a shaker around the perimeter of the room because that is where they always run. When they get it on their feet, they lick it off and WOW! With their extraordinary smell capabilities, they will forever forsake going to a place that smells of the hot powder.

I used to always have mice take up residence in the fan shrouding of my riding mowers until I discovered the hot pepper trick. Works like a charm. No more tearing the shrouding off the mowers each spring to clean out the nests.

I tried using poison, but it didn't seem to work well as they always came back and in fact were hoading it in my shoes, bottles and other places. I guess the "good" stuff is banned like everything else that worked well.

 

[john_bud]

I'll have to try the hot pepper trick. sound cool, uh hot!


I use the poison around the building and traps. If you have a cab, outside is just as bad as inside. They will find it and take up residence pretty quick. Just like the cartoon cat, I hate's meeces to pieces!

jb

 

[rdsaustintx]

barn cats

X2. The strayer the better.

I inherited one with my property. It has fought off skunks (PU) and has nasty gouges in its tail from the local coon pack. Occasionally find a shredded mouse.

Have grown very fond of the rascal.

 

[rScotty]

> Does anyone have any ideas on how to keep mice out or at least repeal them?

I don't know how to attract the critters, but last year a weasel stopped by the woodpile for a week and cleared all the rodents out of the barn, basement, and sheds.

 

[stupakmike]

Bait blocks always work good, if you do not have pets around to get into them. I use to use moth balls but found that dry sheets work just as well. I learned this from storing boats for the winter.

 

[Bird]

Bait blocks always work good, if you do not have pets around to get into them. I use to use moth balls but found that dry sheets work just as well. I learned this from storing boats for the winter.

Uhh, you do mean "dryer" sheets, as in the fabric softener stuff my wife puts in the clothes dryer, don't you?

 

[Danno1]

Uhh, you do mean "dryer" sheets, as in the fabric softener stuff my wife puts in the clothes dryer, don't you?

Yes, he does. I've also heard that they make a good insect repellent. Put them in your pockets or under your hat.

I find it hard to believe it works in either situation. I've always though this was someone's idea of a practical joke!

.

 

[stupakmike]

Please excuse me for my misprint. But it seems you got the idea. DA....

 

[Bird]

Please excuse me for my misprint. But it seems you got the idea. DA....

I've done the same sort of thing plenty of times, so I just couldn't resist.

 

[smfcpacfp]

You guys have some creative solutions. I used to have a cat, but she died and I travel for long periods of time, so I just use Dcon and traps. I have found that a bucket of water with a little water works, mainly by accident. They just fall in and drown. I think I will try the coke idea.

Mice, chipmunks (rat traps and Dcon) and squirels (live traps and drowning) have cost me a lot of money over the years

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

We use Habenero on the edge of the garden. We always plant 2-3 plants and then in the fall we dry them and grind them up in the blender. Put the mix in an old parm cheese container and sprinkle all around the edge of the garden the following spring. No wascally wabbits since we have have done this.

Have never tried it for meises but don't see why it wouldn't work. I usually always throw a couple of packets of poison behind the wood pile in the fall. Something is eating it.

We had an outside cat for years but someone or somthing got it. Was a good mouser.

Chipmonks are another thing. I feed them Lead. They seem to like 22 short CB's the best.

Tom

 

[Berniep]

We always plant 2-3 plants and then in the fall we dry them and grind them up in the blender.

Tom

The first time I did that I ground them up a little too fine and when I took the top off the blender I tear gassed the kitchen.

 

[4720 OWNER]

Frozen uncooked/unrisen bread dough. Tasty treat for the cats.

 

[medicshawn]

My tractor got really hot last time I cut grass. Today I discovered something had a nest in the bottom of the radiator. Apparently the poison isn't good enough. I've found 3 in the last couple of months.

 

[have_blue]

I'll have to try the hot pepper trick. sound cool, uh hot!
jb

I guess it works, but beware! If you start up the tractor, the fan or exhause can blow the pepper around. All it takes is a tiny spec in the eye to ruin your morning. Yea, I guess that's why it works.

Best success I have found is to keep no food, drink, or animal feed in the tractor shed. Sweep or vacuum any grass seed that accumulates on the mower deck. Set some mouse traps. I like the plastic "run" type traps, but they should be checked daily or the captive mice will chew them up.