We are currently in the market for a used TT/5'ver. The question I have is how do you all keep pack rats, field mice, etc... out of the camper when you aren't using it? I live in a heavily wooded area, near a creek and have a big problem with these guys. My son's truck sat for 2 days last week, parked near my shed where the yard light doesn't reach. Now I'm replacing wiring to the injectors so it will run. That quick, this time of year. My concern is they will chew the thing to bits during the non-use times. Any ideas are welcome. Thanks in advance.

 

fabric softener sheets scattered in the trailer

 

x2, unused dryer sheets.
Metal screens around any opening you can find. Wiring, plumbing etc.
Dryer sheets under furniture, inside cabinets, inside storage compartments. Place on top paper plates and and then put them on the beds, sofa etc. No stains that way.

 

Do the dryer sheets keep them from getting into the "under belly" area. I'm concerned about wiring, etc... Thanks.

 

First mow the area short
Next bait the area with something that they can not carry off and must chew on and eat on the spot.
Buy a case of beer or have a pitcher of cold adult beverages on hand.
Place lawn chair and the above a strategic place preferably in the shade
Load the .22 with shorts or CB caps
HAVE A RAT KILLING

The above can be carried out at night with the addition of a Q beam or night vision scope

 

That was my son's solution, except with root beer, he's only 16.

 

I use those little green baits that are available at Home Depot, take 16D nails and push them into the ground all around unit. Come back next day with bag and pick up the bodies, they don't make it far after feasting on the squares. I store mine inside the pole barn and attach these to every 4x6's with screws, usually need to replenish every couple of months or so. Keep the dogs away. This really helps to cut down on the population I have found and they just can't resist the squares.

 

My father-in-law is an organic farmer and cannot use any poisons, etc. So he has 13 cats (give or take a few). Anything less and there is no competition for the mice. His whole farm is mouse free. If they cannot find mice, they eat grasshoppers.

 

Old farm houses are notorious for 'livestock'. Here is what I do for poison to keep the pets out of it and encourage the rodents to eat it.

I use a 1.5" or 2" PVC pipe. Cut 3 one foot pieces. I then glue all three pieces to a T. Cut a length of #9 wire so it fits in the leg of the T + 1". Bend over about 1" of the wire so that you can now string a series of the bait blocks with a holes onto the wire. Place the filled wire into the leg of the PVC T you built. The wire should be long enough that when placed in the T, the bait can not slide off the wire once a cap is placed on the end. Cap the leg so the bait can't fall out. I have used both a standard glue on cap with a screw to hold it on, or glue on a screw cap assembly. Depends on what I have or how much I want to spend. The screw on caps make reloading easier but cost a bit more.

The pipe gives the critters a place to hide and feel safe while consuming the poison and keeps the poison from the pets. A 1' length of bait means I don't have to fill it every day. Make several and place around the area. Similar station setups can be purchased at farm stores, but run $15 or more. Mine cost only a few $ each and in some cases hold more bait.

 

never leave any food type item in the camper to start with. Then some or all of the above suggestions, along with tossing a dog flea collar into the water heater and in the back of the fridge area. That'll help keep insects out of those critical places too. Maybe one under the ac hood, one in any compartment you don't want bugs in.

 

Keep it simple .....

Cougar urine.



It also helps keep other animals away, too.


Kris

 

How do you train a cougar to pee where you want it to?

 

We have a black lab and 3 weiner dogs. They do way better killing mice and moles than our Cat. We keep the trailer in the fenced in yard with the dogs. They camp out under the 5er. No problems. Also helps keep the 2 legged critters from messing around.

 

It's one of the scent killers you can find in the hunting aisle of your local outdoors/hunting store (Cabela's, Sportsmens Warehouse, etc.). We had a problem with a dog in our neighborhood, so we marked the yard with it and he won't come near our property now.



Kris