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Old 06-20-2019, 08:20 PM
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Default how to keep mice out

Need suggestions on how to keep mice out of cars parked outside. Looking at 12-volt powered ultrasonic devices. I will also use chemical or other spray such as essential oils, peppermint, etc. One little devil just committed suicide by destroying the ventilation fan buried --unfortunately-- deep inside my Focus dash. Guidance based on experience appreciated.
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Old 06-20-2019, 09:10 PM
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From what I've heard they don't work...nothing really works for cars parked outside.

However when I parked the 914 outside when the garage was getting work done, I had luck putting it under a cover and placing mint oil soaked cotton balls all around it and drier sheets inside. Maybe I just got lucky.

I've had loads of chipmunks storing nuts etc under my intake manifold on the A4 (V6)...at least I think the were chipmunks. Doesn't look like the 'stuff' mice 'store' in my shed and in my minisplit before I hardware clothed the thing.
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Old 06-20-2019, 09:38 PM
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Among other things I fight mice for a living.

Ultrasonic anything is 100% effective in 0.000000% of applications. Deterrent sprays are as effective or perhaps even less so.

Install Tin Cats and snap traps in the storage space as they can catch and still be set for the next one and there is a next one...... Bait them with peanut butter filled cheese crackers. The ones that come 6 to a plastic packet. 1/2 a cracker per tin cat. Check the traps every other day. You will need to suck up to dispatching them as Tin cats are live traps but if toy wait long enough they are slow death traps. Google how and where to deploy. Where is important.

Next in line is snappers. Skip the little wood ones. Tom Cat makes a white plastic snap trap that is easy to bait and set and gets most sizes but the very tiny ones. Bait with peanut butter.
Hate to say it but.....sticky traps are the go to for all sizes from adult to the small ones.

Steel wool sealed in with caulk to fill holes.

Warfarin based bates can be used for long term control but don't bait near or in the house and only use in proper bait boxes that keep the baits away from non target pests like dogs and kids.

Domestic cats only increase mouse populations and notably, measurably decrease song bird populations.

Mice can smell even tiny amounts of food or where food was. They will also come into spaces to come out of the cold.

Hate to say it but I have never seen any "humane" formats that do a thing to stop or slow mice and the damage they cause.
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Old 06-20-2019, 10:14 PM
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various versions of this...

have not seen anything work at keeping them away...gotta cut the population.
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Old 06-21-2019, 09:09 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mlytle View Post
various versions of this...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93Xz8TG-6MA

have not seen anything work at keeping them away...gotta cut the population.
If used these in the past, particularly in our bygone lawn mower shed, where mice had destroyed some wiring in my riding mower. Another thing not mentioned in the video is to use antifreeze instead of water. Stays liquid in the winter, and slows down the decomposition process if you don't check the bucket frequently.
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Old 06-23-2019, 04:06 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vicegrip View Post
Among other things I fight mice for a living.

Install Tin Cats and snap traps in the storage space as they can catch and still be set for the next one and there is a next one...... Bait them with peanut butter filled cheese crackers. The ones that come 6 to a plastic packet. 1/2 a cracker per tin cat. Check the traps every other day. You will need to suck up to dispatching them as Tin cats are live traps but if toy wait long enough they are slow death traps. Google how and where to deploy. Where is important.



Kurt: Did you mean TOM CATS (a type of mouse trap) or TIN CUP (a type of whiskey)? Just to be safe, I bought both, but it's going to be tough to pour the whiskey into that small of a glass.
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Old 06-24-2019, 05:24 PM
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Tin Cat mousetrap.
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Old 06-29-2019, 11:17 AM
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do you dunk the entire thing in a bucket? Interesting approach.
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Old 06-29-2019, 11:48 AM
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We moved to Round Hill 4.5 years ago. The number 1 thing on my wish list for the "new" house was a nice garage. Guess what was and is missing at this house (until I build or modify what I have)?

The PO was a black smith, carpenter and stone mason and built a nice-ish work shop (for him). My car fits with about 2-3" on each side of the side mirrors and there are huge gaps between the sliding doors and in the eves - so mice and snakes come and go. I found evidence of mice in my car the first spring we were here and purchased the bubble quickly. It has been 100% effective so far.

Not that much of a hassle either - probably 3-5 minutes to unzip and roll up the top and vice-versa.
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Old 06-29-2019, 04:23 PM
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https://youtu.be/C8xh1WqseSk

This seems like a quick death and easy clean up.
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