Keeping out the mouse

[Jay4200]

Does anybody have a tried and true method to keep the mice away? I continually find the little buggers up under the hood and dash of my tractor, to say nothing of in and on my lawn mower when I lay it up for the winter. Do dryer sheets actually work? I would hate to spend a few dollars just so those under-grown rats can have a fresh smelling nest for their young-uns! JP.

I have heard that keeping the hood open (or sides removed, as in the case of my tractor) keeps the mice from nesting in the engine compartment. I've never had a problem with them - at least yet, even though my barn is infested with the buggers. I have been keeping the sidecovers off of my tractor lately, but I'm not saying that is why.

I put out traps (all eaten clean with no triggers) and poison (ate that too - hope they're all dead), but there are still tons around - price you pay for living in the woods. I have seen some big things flash by a couple of times in my garage too, and found some unnervingly big pee spots and poo piles - I think I have a couple of Bigfoots living in there...

JayC

 

[jpwazz]

So it sounds like cats or mothballs are the way to go with dryer sheets coming in third. As for the cats, there are a few around the area but I don't "own" any myself but may consider one or two. In the mean time I suppose I will try mothballs. Thanks, JP.

 

[Diamondpilot]

So it sounds like cats or mothballs are the way to go with dryer sheets coming in third. As for the cats, there are a few around the area but I don't "own" any myself but may consider one or two. In the mean time I suppose I will try mothballs. Thanks, JP.

They are hard to beat. Mother natures answer. Like I said before I hated them for the first 37 years of my life but wised up.

Just make sure you give them some food to keep them around, a bed so they will not sleep on the seat of your tractor or hood of your car, and plenty of water.

Chris

 

[blueriver]

Cat ... or Cats ... the best way to handle mice!!

 

[knightrider955]

Dryer sheets work great. I swear by them. Never any mouse problems

 

[DaveOmak]

I tried to smell "moth balls" once.
Couldn't figure out how to get their little
legs apart.

 

[shane]

I tried to smell "moth balls" once.
Couldn't figure out how to get their little
legs apart.

I've been following this post. I knew before it was over with someone would...


Cats are the best answer around here. We keep two outdoor cats. Every now and then a mouse will make it's way into the shop. I keep a live trap set in there when I catch one, I deliver it to the cats.

 

[tommaple]

I tried to smell "moth balls" once.
Couldn't figure out how to get their little
legs apart.

That made me laugh out loud!

 

[atobuk]

I can sympathise with you.I found a Kubota recently that hadnt been used for a long while and it was minus its complete wiring loom due to mice so they really are a problem.

 

[weedpharma]

Here we use toilet urinal blocks - pick a scent u like & cabs & machines r mice free & smell good when season starts

I have used the same in Donnybrook area. Have not seen the baits touched since. Previously I was replacing them every couple of weeks.

Weedpharma

 

[johnvickl]

Moth balls I promise they work, you can put them in a sock and crush up. I put them under hood with it open. I put on all 4 wheelers floor boards. No mice

 

[Redneck in training]

I can sympathise with you.I found a Kubota recently that hadnt been used for a long while and it was minus its complete wiring loom due to mice so they really are a problem.

I was working in Russia for about two years on pipeline construction between 1978 and 1980. There was a several miles long sunflower field by the compressor station. One day several combines started harvesting the seed and started on the distant side of the field. As they approached closer the station and our compound was invaded by millions of mice. Wires in the cabinets housing the control system were eaten to bare cooper, many cables in underground cable channels were eaten, they peed on the terminal blocks in cabinets and junction boxes making them corroded and conductive. When the invasion was over in about a week later we had to remove all already installed equipment, cables etc and start from beginning again.

Friend of mine worked for the Air force. One day there was a jet ready to take off when its auxiliary tanks fell on the runway. Investigation showed that mice chewed some wires and the short released the tanks. They had to take apart all the aircraft and inspect them. After that they had to put a sheet metal "fence" about a foot high around each wheel after the plane was parked.

 

[ray66v]

Cats, or the Bounce.

There is an outdoor weather bait now, that seems to be knocking them off.

Moth balls? I'd rather have the mice. :thumbdown:

 

[shane]

Here we use toilet urinal blocks - pick a scent u like & cabs & machines r mice free & smell good when season starts

I tried the urinal blocks. The mice did stop chewing on the wires, but it created another problem, the mice started peeing on everything. (sorry for the lame humor)

 

[OzGrasshopper]

u should always remove the label so they dont get the urge

 

[nickel plate]

I make these water traps and bait them with peanut butter. They just keep on trapping-I've emptied out multiple drowned catches, refilled the water, the existing peanut butter is still plentiful and intact on the spin can, check it in a few days and do it all over again.:thumbsup:
You can add some antifreeze to the water if it's in cold weather but one must be extra careful as it will kill other animals if they drink it so put the trap where cats, dogs, livestock etc. cannot get to it. The trap will also work well with a dry bucket as the mice cannot jump up and out. Put a little bedding material in the bottom and they will hide and not try too hard to escape. The only downside to a dry bucket is that you then in the end have to deal with live mice. If you are in to catch and release, do the dry bucket.
The yellow bucket was the first one that I made a few years ago, the white bucket trap is the "new and improved" model with a folding ramp for storage, hitch pins to keep the bait can centered, an anti-shifting method to keep the ramp in place on the bucket lip, a couple of different bait can height settings for small/larger rodents, all that good stuff. I've made and sold quite a few of these newer traps.

 

[trailmaker]

Problem with cats is they kill everything. I've got cotton tail rabbits, quail, snakes and lizards that I really enjoy having around.