We are struggling to keep mice out of our motorhome engine. We are using various deterrents without success. The bottom of the engine is open to the elements. We have filled every hole found to stop them entering the habitation area. We have no electricity as it is in a storage compound. Can anyone suggest what else can be done?
i would also be tempted to put traps inside the motorhome
we have issues at home with rats and i am currently experimenting with a non toxic method that involves a 50/50 mix of plaster of paris and flour with an oxo cube sprinkled in to attract them.
DOING NOTHING IS NOT AN OPTION
and could lead to an expensive problem either in the vehicle wiring or habitation area upholstery.
Have got anything edible in the habitation area, things like doggy chew sticks or biscuits for example which pet owners sometimes leave in there for convenience?
It doesn't matter how many deterrents you use, if there's an attraction for food they will try to locate it.
You have to think logically where mice are concerned as all they are trying to do is find a warm home where they can survive the winter months so a 5 star accommodation with a food supply for a few months is absolutely perfect.
make 4 wells in the ground if you have some plastic drive onto them, and then make a puddle around each wheel of jeyes fluid, if also helps if you use a watering can with jeyes in it to soak the ground area of your storage pitch as that will clear the smell of the mouse pee, its that they use to follow back into their nice protected nest they have made in your engine, it wouldnt hurt to wash that down with the jeyes aswell
You have probably tried this but I use RepelShield which I used to spray on the MH engine and now spray on the legs and vents of the caravan.
works for me.
I’ve read of humane traps & you release the mice far away. Conversely, you get a poison bait box.
Mice start breeding at 6 weeks old & have about 90 babies in their short lives so time is of the essence. Sounds like the storage site owners should have working cats, like many farms do. Do the owners know there’s a mouse infestation?
If they are field mice which I suspect they probably are the only real solution is to remove any grass or other harbourage/cover around the MH as they do not like being out in the open. Once that is done at a last resort place a few of the plastic snap traps in the engine bay but not where birds or other non target species can get into them.
There is nothing humane about the live capture traps and legally you are responsible for the welfare of any animal in a live capture trap. In case you are thinking of rodenticide, there is nothing licensed for use against field mice, likewise home concocted substances are just as likely to fall foul of the various wildlife and animal welfare laws. If its not on the label you can't use it.
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Quote: Originally posted by ratcatcher on 03/12/2021
You have probably tried this but I use RepelShield which I used to spray on the MH engine and now spray on the legs and vents of the caravan.
works for me.
Jeyes fluid sounds good
Bit whiffy though
t us it only smells for a short while, but from experience it works to keep the horrible buggers away for long long time and when we had the problem of them getting in our caravan it was the only thing that worked long term
Thank you for your advice, will definitely try it. Can you tell me if Jeyes Fluid should be watered down and can it damage any rubber/plastic or paintwork in the engine compartment & bodywork/ wheel arches etc.
Thanks for your reply.
We have no food whatsoever is in the motorhome. We cannot see why our motorhome is being targeted by the mice other than the odour they leave behind - so think maybe Jeyes Fluid, as others have suggested is the next move.
Quote: Originally posted by hazelp338131ymd on 04/12/2021
Thank you for your advice, will definitely try it. Can you tell me if Jeyes Fluid should be watered down and can it damage any rubber/plastic or paintwork in the engine compartment & bodywork/ wheel arches etc.
just follow the ratios on the instructions as for the tyres we didnt have any problems at all on the caravan and they where sat in puddles of it for many months, as for your engine compartment its just a wash of it to remove the pee smell which will dry off, hence the need for the wheels to be in puddles to hinder/deter the only other thing we found effective was to get some plug in sonic things, but you do need 240 volt power for that, maybe bring the mh back to your home for a few days and have plugged in?
Quote: Originally posted by hazelp338131ymd on 04/12/2021
Thanks very much - such brilliant ideas.
Could
the Jeyes fluid affect the rubber in the tyres & the engine at all do you know?
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Topic: Mice in motorhome engine
via mobile 03/12/2021 at 9:34am
