Mice eating wires on tractor

[Tomas]

I have an equipment barn with a dozer, tractor, backhoe and 4 wheelers in it. For the last 3 years at least two of these units have been disabled by mice eating the wires to sheds. I have put out tons of poison and there are dead mice all over the place.
How do you folks keep mice out of your equipment. I have also tried mothballs, but they did not help.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Tom

 

[stravis]

I use cats. I have three barn cats that were strays. We feed them and take them to the vet, but other than that, they are half wild. The only mice I see are ones that they are eating.

You probably know this, but you need to take care of it quickly as chewed up wires can easily cause a fire. A friend of mine recently lost his john deere 4440 to fire due to mice.

 

[Tomas]

I would gladly put cats in there, but I do not live on the farm and am not there for several months at a time. I don't think I could keep cats if I did live there due to the darn coyotes...

 

[chopped]

try this
YouTube - Bucket Mouse Trap - In Action

 

[woodchuckie]

I had a problem with my wires on top of the fuel tank going to the fuel gauge. I cut a piece of mesh like gutter guard to fit and wrapped it around the wire. I've not had any more trouble.

 

[niemeyjt]

Dog hair is said to be a deterrent. Save the combings or trimmings from your / friends dogs and place around tractor.

A neighbour had same problems with a car and this is what she did.

J

 

[Concordriver]

I have had quite a bit of success using oil of peppermint. You can buy bottles of peppermint oil at health food stores. A few drops of peppermint oil in the engine compartment at regular intervals seems to have solved my mouse problem. And, it makes the tractor smell like a candy store...not a bad thing!

 

[dmccarty]

This is going to be a wacky suggestion that I do not know if it is possible....

Mice are programed to avoid the smell of cat pee according to a report I read years ago. If mice smell cat pee they want to leave.

Can you get some cat pee? :laughing::laughing::laughing:

Cat urine smell is highly aversive to rats and mice, but after infection with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, they are attracted by it, highly increasing the likelihood of being preyed upon and of infecting the cat.[6]

That was at Cat pheromone - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The report I was reading was about the theory that some mental illnesses in humans might be caused by the Toxoplasma gondii or something similar.

Anywho. Got some Cat Pee? :laughing: I did search a bit thinking that maybe there are cat scents for hunting or something but the only thing I found was products trying to get rid of Cat Pee.

Know someone with a cat? Maybe they will save the kitty litter for you. I would wear a mask and gloves though. See Toxoplasma gondii.

Later,
Dan

 

[beenthere]

I see we have two threads running on this question.
One would be better (next time )

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/205633-keep-mice-out-equipment.html

 

[Tomas]

A method to my madness, beenthere. Posted under general country living so people with barns and no equipment could share their views, and under equipment owners for further help. Sorry if I ruffled your feathers.
Tom

 

[tommu56]

I've been using dryer fabric softer sheets stuffed around the engines and dash areas.

I do remove the ones around the engine before running but the ones under the dash stay there till I change them every 3-4 months.

I keep the new ones in a plastic zip lock to keep them smelling good for the mice:laughing: