Hi All,how I can repel mice from partying in my caravan ?
I’ve kept it in the garden, and we’ve never had a problem with mice before round the house – but my caravan can draw mice from a distance and they seem to treat it as their local rave venue. There were several in there this morning – chewing up my tea towels and loo rolls!
First thing you need to do is get under the caravan with some sealant and seal thoroughly around every pipe,cable,warm air duct or anything else you can find that comes through the floor,if in doubt just seal it up. Make sure you remove any food at all whilst it's in long term storage. I also place a mouse trap on the floor so i know straight away if they're getting in. I had a bad experience about 5 years ago were they chewed through my upholstery and scratted all the material off the trim buttons. I did the above with that caravan and never suffered again and have done it with my current caravan and fingers crossed that's been fine too.
Just remember not to block air vents! These should be covered by plastic covers with holes in them, I've heard of ppl replacing the plastic ones with metal grills to stop the little barstewards getting in.
Also, taking everything chewable you can out of the caravan helps. Although that's not helpful if you intend going winter camping.
Mine will be laid up, cover on, after next week, last trip out until spring, so after that, everything will be brought into the house. I even bring in the mattresses and backs, they live behind the wardrobe during the winter.
Our caravan is kept in storage a few miles away and we had a problem with mice living in our old caravan. The problem was that we had an old carboard shoe box (home) under the seat and doggy chew sticks (dinner) in a separate low cupboard. The paper inside the shoe box was ripped to shreds (bedding) so they had a permanent dry home for weeks on end. Basically it was the perfect invitation for 58 star luxurious accommodation. You can block up all hole and vents etc. but a caravan needs to breathe so whereby you restrict the mice you end up with another problem being condenstaion which leads to damp, catch 22 as they say. What we did was we buy a battery operated rodent repeller and put that in the caravan which the battery lasts for months. For the past 3 years now we have haven't had a problem with mice at all but ensured also that there's no more 5 star luxury accommodation. The fields belong to the wild life so we humans are actually invading their territory so rather than trap and kill them I find that a deterrent is the better choice both for us and the rodents and the main thing is IT WORKS!
As far as I can find there is no scientific evidence that the electronic devices work. My opinion is that they tend to be used after an infestation has been cleared and any foodstuffs removed and therefore making the location less attractive to rodents. A couple of bait boxes placed in the caravan and possibly another under it would be more effective and can be easily checked on a frequent basis to see if any of the bait has been consumed. If they are baited with blocks there is little chance of the bait being taken to other locations.
------------- 'A sure cure for sea-sickness is to sit under a tree'
As far as I can find there is no scientific evidence that the electronic devices work. My opinion is that they tend to be used after an infestation has been cleared and any foodstuffs removed and therefore making the location less attractive to rodents. A couple of bait boxes placed in the caravan and possibly another under it would be more effective and can be easily checked on a frequent basis to see if any of the bait has been consumed. If they are baited with blocks there is little chance of the bait being taken to other locations.
The problem is with this method is if your caravan in storage miles away like ours is with no electricity supply it doesn't give you much of a choice but to use one of these battery operated repellers. If I was to trap the mice I would have to attend every couple of days to release them which would cost me a fortune in fuel and is cruel because they would then starve to death and if you were to kill them then that would an attraction for flies. Maybe there is no scientific evidence that these repellers don't work but what other evidence do you need when the proof has been accomplished first hand by your own evidence. There are loads of myths that haven't been proved but at some time they do get busted and this is one of them from my own experience. At the end of the day the OP either tries one or they don't, the choice is theirs but the advice is that it worked for me and still have a damp proof caravan with no rodent damage or infestation any more.
Thank you all (I am James' sister). My caravan is 28 yrs old (and still fully functional and dry) - there is no way I am going to be able to block every tiny gap in it and replace every plastic grill with a metal one (yes they do chew through the plastic ones). There is no food in the caravan - it is the bedding and shelter they want - loo rolls, tea towels, curtains ! So yes I will clear it out completely - and I will try the electronic repellent and see how we get on.
I am also going to take my cat in there with me and let him roam around while I clear out - maybe the smell of him will be enough to deter them.
Thanks a lot
Suzie
Very funny ! popping into the caravan every few hours and shouting at them seems to be putting them off too. Electronic repellent on its way and I will report back. It would be great if it worked. Cat is reluctant to play a leading role in this mission......
Bearing in mind there is a limitless supply of mice in the surrounding countryside, trapping them would be a very longterm and unpleasant job.
Quote: Originally posted by Suzie V on 24/9/2012
I am also going to take my cat in there with me and let him roam around while I clear out - maybe the smell of him will be enough to deter them.
Thanks a lot
Suzie
Yes this method works well! Mice can sense and smell a cat from a mile away. Let her sleep in there overnight if you can.
Quote: Originally posted by the black fox on 24/9/2012
12 bore double barreled shotgun works a treat .tends to make a mess of the caravan interior though .
mouse traps are the only effective deterrent
Oh How this has made me chuckle!!! Thanks I needed that - what with being stuck in an office on my own til 10 tonight!
I was going to say get a cat as Bill suggests but the poster already has one!!
------------- Degsy Rowlands is my love, my life and a lunatic!!!!!!!! Louise x
Let us know how you get on with the sonic repeller because it helps others on here with the same problem. I didn't actually know about them myself until I read a thread on here a few years back and someone suggested this idea and that it worked for them. As recommended it worked for me too so hopefully it will do likewise for you. This is where this forum has it's merits in more ways than one.
Good luck!
My van is in the same storage compound as Tango's and we had mouse problems as well. We tried the sonic thingy - the little critters chewed it! Best thing we found was to remove all food/chewables and used bait boxes from B&Q, and a long handled spoon to pick up the dead uns. We checked twice a week (fortune in petrol) but we got rid eventually.
Quote: Originally posted by chilephilly on 25/9/2012
Good luck! My van is in the same storage compound as Tango's and we had mouse problems as well. We tried the sonic thingy - the little critters chewed it! Best thing we found was to remove all food/chewables and used bait boxes from B&Q, and a long handled spoon to pick up the dead uns. We checked twice a week (fortune in petrol) but we got rid eventually.
How do you know that your caravan is kept at the same storage compound as ours? I know that DSB from Polesworth kept his caravan there which was spoken about in a thread a long while back.
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Topic: Mice, how to prevent them?
