Rodent protection?

"All that" I typed was the first and last sentences. The rest was copied from his thread. Fine, if you want to throw fish at folks who post the same questions over and over, be my guest. I don't know if that is kinder. I'd rather know how to fish myself.

 

I'm guilty of being lazy, apologies. I'll be using the search more.

 

You said cats (to kill the mice) or bait (to also kill them).

I reversed the two - as in bringing in mice (which would lead to more problems) and cat bait (which would be harmful to the cats that would solve the mice problem).

Thus setting up the situation in which someone had not solved a problem, but rather created an entirely worse problem by attempting to solve a problem.

This simple formula is the basis for most 30 minute TV comedy shows, now that I think of it.

 

But can't take cats camping. Leaving the vehicle at the trailhead is an issue.

 

i didn’t know that, just felt a lot of effort was put into the response. Then you have the other side, where when someone brings back an old thread, they get crap for brining back the dead thread.

I agree, rather know how to fish. See my response above, and I can say, I myself have been stumped while searching.

 

I have the same issue with squirrel's. So its always in the garage.

 

I use this (pure peppermint oil) with water to make a diluted spray.
https://www.amazon.com/Peppermint-E...521-4552-a2d3-338294fd25ad&pd_rd_i=B01LPP9SHO

It doesn't leave a residue in the engine bay.
I use on the tires too because I think rodents crawl up the tires.
I apply every day because I have seen evidence of intrusion in the past and my neighbors have had their harness chewed.

 

Everyday you spray your engine and tires down?

 

Yes. I do it every night before sundown when the critters come out (semi rural area) It’s my theory that true peppermint oil needs to be applied very frequently. This may not be the case with some products that have other additives. I will gladly spent a few hundred bucks and a few hours over the course of a year for peace of mind and hopeful avoidance of chewing.

 

Snuggle fabric softener sheets. I use these in all the vehicles I store in the barn over the winter. I'm not a big fan of the smell, but I do like the teddy bear mascot ; ) Anyhow, they have always prevented rodents from taking ahold.

 

Tell us more about about the quantity you use for dilution with water

 

1:4.5 ratio of peppermint oil to water.
Some “peppermint” is actually Mentha arvensis. This is not true peppermint. Look at the ingredients and get menthol piperita.


I have also started using mighty mint on the tires treads. It does leave a white residue, but smells just as potent and costs a bit less. https://www.target.com/p/mighty-mint-insect-38-pest-control-15oz/-/A-84595732?region_id=951951&ref=tgt_adv_xsp&AFID=google&fndsrc=tgtao&DFA=71700000049437459&CPNG=PLA_Household+Essentials+Shopping|Household+Essentials_Ecomm_Essentials&adgroup=SC_Household&LID=700000001170770pgs&LNM=PRODUCT_GROUP&network=g&device=m&location=9060440&targetid=pla-361957169676&ds_rl=1246978&gbraid=0AAAAAD-5dfZMBTHY2BFxu9FAon8TduhTK&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4bi8mvyFgQMV8g2tBh2C-AYvEAQYAyABEgLRDvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

For the time I got a gallon of this from Home Depot. Peppermint, Cinnamon, and Garlic. Comes with a spray. Similar price too. I will give it a shot

 

I didn't spray the tires but the area around the tires. I mean they will have to walk past those areas to get to the tires right lol.

 

Pretty neat setup. I can reuse it when I make my own cheap formulae lol

 

Mothballs and close recirculation door before you park so they don't nest. Get a shelter kitten and keep it a little hungry

 

Most effective solution

 

We live out in the country in a fairly new development which the construction is disturbing a lot of indigenous wildlife and thank god we have a garage…..if we leave garage doors open for any length of time we get those unwanted little field mice this time of year especially when the temps drop. The really small field mice can lick all the peanut butter off the standard stock trap without setting it off a lot of the time.

My Small Mice Solution:

#1. Take some vice grips and squeeze the trip ledge in on the trap trigger just a tiny bit. Once you find the hair-trigger point sweet spot don’t change the vice grip adjustment and tweek all your traps the same.
If you go too far just take a small screwdriver and pry the ledge back out and reset with the grips. You will need bomb squad steadiness to set them into place.

#2. Make sure to pack peanut butter into the circular void on the trigger so it will increase the effort/chance of a trip.

I have a ~dozen traps in the garage set in all corners/underneath stuff and any thing stronger than a deep breath will set them off, bu-bye little guys.

Also recently I have also instituted some DIY glue traps as well…..this means WAR!

 

What is it?

 

Rodent repellant in powder form

 

Is there a brand name or named ingredient? Wondering if it’s non toxic to other animals.

 

Thank you

 

I actually bought this same product because I have a cat (not a good mouser) and a dog, and I did not want anything that was gonna harm or kill them... so funny story...

I sprayed the shit out of the area I was trying to deter mice, put a wifi camera with motion alarm set to actually see where the mice were coming from and how they were getting in. Sure enough, the motion alarm went off the next morning around 8am, so I quickly logged in and saw a black squirrel who ran up to the area, sniffed, turned around the ran away. LOL. Might be a coincidence but after I used that spray, my problem with mice stopped. Not sure if it was totally from that spray, or because I had been killing them with old fashioned mouse traps for a little while. They haven't returned. Neither have the squirrels

 

It's not toxic, even to the rodents. A bunch of essentials oils and garlic and stuff. I cannot recall the name, but Home Depot carries plenty

 

The spray did the trick, rodents hate that smell.

 

I spray it every 6mo and let it dry up before attempting to restart the engine.

 

From Google: it's been suggested that car wires that are made from plant matter can give off a smell that attracts rodents, though it is more likely the warmth and scent of the insulation that attracts them. The most likely reason rodents chew car wires, however, is merely to trim their teeth. Rodent teeth are unlike human teeth.

 

This stuff is available at Target and Amazon.

 

Well here we go.. $8,100 new harness from all the elctrical being chewed.. one month ago.. lifted the hood yesterday and a new rat is back at it.. in So Cal and park outside but with no food in or anywhere near the truck.. less than a year old when this happened.. bought the Mighty Mint and sprayed the wheels/wells.. someone suggested I soak sponges in the oil and place under the hood.. I can't use poisons as I have a puppy and live on a corner where everyone passes with their dogs. Should not have to do this daily on a new 55k truck.. crazy~

 

Ditch the engine cover and wash your engine regularly. I haven't had the same issue again after I removed the engine cover and started spraying Grandpa Gus' peppermint oil. I also regularly wash my engine.