Chronic repeated mouse/rat problem

DougBoy66 said:

I did have a 2014 toyota car that I could not keep mice out of. Finally figured out they were getting in through the cabin air filter. They would chew a hole in it and fill the air box with acorns. Turn out, an insurance claim guy told me, that the insulation on the wiring in newer cars is made from processing soybeans which is why they like to chew it. I know this is absolutely no help but I do understand your frustration. I know they make some electronic deterants but I am not sure how well they work

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while newer cars do seem to have more problems with mice and rats, it is especially bad with Toyotas. For whatever reason their mixture for the wire insulation is more attractive to rodents than other manufacturers. My in-laws live in a subdivision and they have have problems with mice chewing the wires in their minivan. The neighbors have a Tacoma and same thing, but the neighbors Subaru never has any issues and it is parked right next to it.

asmith said:

while newer cars do seem to have more problems with mice and rats, it is especially bad with Toyotas. For whatever reason their mixture for the wire insulation is more attractive to rodents than other manufacturers. My in-laws live in a subdivision and they have have problems with mice chewing the wires in their minivan. The neighbors have a Tacoma and same thing, but the neighbors Subaru never has any issues and it is parked right next to it.

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Several years back, someone on Facebook had an 80s Econoline motorhome stored, but was going to be used soon. they found the 7.5L engine wiring all chewed up. They paid way too much to have a shop replace it, I guess with a used harness? then it immediately happened again. last I heard, they were constantly just selling it and taking a huge loss.

So many great suggestions here!! I think @Old Goat takes the cake for rodent infestations.

I thought I had it bad.

@Cubey the traps still work, but they have gotten smarter around them. You have to change.

Run the traps perpendicular to the path of travel. Always put at least 2 together. Maybe even a glue trap in between.

Use a file or pliers or knife to make every trap a “hair trigger”

Try putting the peanut butter on the bottom of the mechanism so they have to change their approach.

The hood up does work, even on a van. Throw an LED light (5000k light temp) on the back of the intake hooked to a Christmas photo eye, or simply use a switch or hook it to the battery.

And if you see them in the daylight, in the open, you can usually get them with your favorite piece of “humane” firewood. Killed plenty that way!

The traps are reusable, and for heavens sake, don’t throw the dead mice in the trash!!! Predatory birds can see them from way up in the sky. Feed those birds and now you have a helping hand. I have yet to see a dead rodent last more than 24 hours before something else ate it!!

I think Lucy needs a pet cat for a friend!!

Good luck!!

I just bought a Payday as mentioned earlier and am currently trying peppermint oil as well.

The only method I haven’t seen mentioned here is try a water trap under the van to drown them!

Oh, may not help you, but on the snap traps with the plastic yellow piece, I grind down the top of the metal on a grinding wheel to a point. It becomes pretty hairy at that point.

Not sure how many out there hunt and fish, I did to put meat on the table years ago, when just starting out and building a family while living in Northern Idaho.
I learned pretty quick that eliminating my human scent worked wonders when dealing with anything animal related.
From deer *** and pine sol mix at the sport store for big game to never touching the worm with your bare fingers when you bait your hook, it works like magic.
Which is also why if a Game Warden catches you with a can of WD-40 in your tackle box you can get a hefty fine and loose all your gear.
The same goes for mouse traps.
Never ever ever touch a trap with your bare hands.
I have a set of dishwashing gloves I use exclusively to set traps.
I'm in a very rural, unincorporated area in a mountainous part of Washington State.
Coyotes roam the streets at night, deer ravage the fruit trees and set off your motion lights throughout the night, and racoons find ways to open the trash on any day you drop your guard, so there are inevitable occasional rodent intrusions.
I've used the same trap for the last four that have made it past the scent guard, and always within one day of hearing the damned thing.
Smash a tiny smear on the inside of the bait cup, your not offering a feast, and if you fill the cup they will be able to pry the blob off.
All you need is the scent of PB, not human, always wear gloves when handling the trap.
Most time's it's the human scent from handling that warns the mice to stay away.
Good Luck!

It's been a week or more since any have been trapped or heard. Traps are still all set inside and under hood. rodent repellent moth balls still in engine bay. led rope light running 24 hours a day. maybe between all that, catching that last bunch, and the nearby cat, maybe they fled to the abandoned RV nearby. or i simply caught them all finally.

I bought some rodent sherrif on amazon, seems to keep some away, but I need a tanker of it for under the house.
I HATE rodents.
Trapped these 2 in about 5 minutes in the dually, few years back.

typ4 said:

I HATE rodents.

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They’re even more frustrating and peskier than I am

Out in the big shop yesterday, I found a Pack Rat in one
of the Plastic traps I posted above. Caught him right across his Snout.
Then one Mouse on the other end of the shop.
That fancy electric Victor trap, so far haven`t caught one Mouse in it.
Wife found one Mouse in the Garage yesterday. Have 4 traps out there.

Shot 4 Kangaroo Rats and 4 or 5 Mice out the Kitchen window this week.
Dang mice are hard to hit. The zip around, and when I get a bead on one,
zoom they are gone.


Goat

Old Goat said:

Out in the big shop yesterday, I found a Pack Rat in one
of the Plastic traps I posted above. Caught him right across his Snout.
Then one Mouse on the other end of the shop.
That fancy electric Victor trap, so far haven`t caught one Mouse in it.
Wife found one Mouse in the Garage yesterday. Have 4 traps out there.

Shot 4 Kangaroo Rats and 4 or 5 Mice out the Kitchen window this week.
Dang mice are hard to hit. The zip around, and when I get a bead on one,
zoom they are gone.


Goat

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I got ripped off getting one of those electric traps too.
Was the only thing left at the hardware store one day.
Something like four D batteries, in addition to the $30 "trap".
That was around 15 years ago, should have known better.
The cheap plastic spring one are best, unless you happen to nail one with a c02 pistol, then it's just plain fun.
Ever try one of those water bucket ramp ones?
You put some PB on the underside of a platform above water in a 5 gal bucket.
They go up a ramp and fall in trying to get to the bait.
Never tried it, but have seen staged videos that looked effective.
That would seem the best way to deal with a number of those things.
Several years ago I did an out of town project, was away for two months.
Didn't keep count, but got at least half a dozen.

Just saw this.

And I was thinking about going to Colorado next month to boondock.

Ehhh maybe I won't after all.

That's true. I saw it yesterday. What I saw didn't give much more info than that does. It didn't say where, when, etc.

IDIBRONCO said:

That's true. I saw it yesterday. What I saw didn't give much more info than that does. It didn't say where, when, etc.

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Yeah Colorado is a big state, but with my recent repeated rodent issues, I'd rather not go to Colorado right now but maybe if I always keep the rodent mothballs in the engine when parked in the woods, it might keep them away.

divemaster5734 said:

I got ripped off getting one of those electric traps too.
Was the only thing left at the hardware store one day.
Something like four D batteries, in addition to the $30 "trap".
That was around 15 years ago, should have known better.
The cheap plastic spring one are best, unless you happen to nail one with a c02 pistol, then it's just plain fun.
Ever try one of those water bucket ramp ones?
You put some PB on the underside of a platform above water in a 5 gal bucket.
They go up a ramp and fall in trying to get to the bait.
Never tried it, but have seen staged videos that looked effective.
That would seem the best way to deal with a number of those things.
Several years ago I did an out of town project, was away for two months.
Didn't keep count, but got at least half a dozen.

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These Victor electric traps work great, end is open and they walk right in.
Even caught 2 ground Squirrels, so the have some OOMPH.

The new one I posted above hasn`t caught anything yet. Right now it is in
my 80 Mercedes on the front floor. The Plastic snap trap has caught one.
It has been pretty hot here the past couple weeks, 100 plus. So the critters
have been laying low.
When it gets cold and snowy, they will be moving inside like a bunch of
squatters. OH, there was a dead Spider in my new fancy one....

I tried the bucket thing but with the wire through the bottle with PB smeared
on it. next day nothing in the bucket and the PB gone.
Finally figured out it was the Rats.

There is the co2 traps that really takes them out.
At the end the guy says the Rats and Ground squirrels are tasty...Yuck.

Here is one from back in the 1800`s, works great, and no batteries.
Is powered by the Mice.


Goat

My truck had been sitting a few weeks in late summer. At the gas station I felt something hit my foot. A BREASTFEEDING MOUSE AND BABIES had fallen out of my dash and onto my foot!!!!