Critters

[MIMF]

OK gang, I know this is a subject that has been discussed many times. I thought all was good because, I have not seen any evidence of hitch hickers or room mates in the last couple of years. That is until this last weekend.

I have thrown drier softener sheets and mothballs down under the floors into the underbelly and it seemed to be OK.

However, this last weekend, Gail and I were down at the KOA South Campground in Shepherdsville, KY. We picked up our granson in Fishersville on the far east side of Louisville and went to the KOA.

We got set-up and pulled the grill out from under the basement and there layed a pile of chewed up nut hulls. Right under the grill!

Got up on Sunday morning and went up to Taylorsville to watch him play a Sunday afternoon football game. They won the game! Got back to the 5er Sunday evening and went to bed.

At about 4:00 in the morning, I was awakened to a scratching sound in the front wall of the closet. The little ba$&@*) was between the nose cone and the plywood. I got out of bed and tapped on the front wall. That was a mistake because, he then scampered up into the ceiling and across toward the water closet. Then he started scratching up there.

My question is, what can I use to drive his furry little butt outta' there? I have visions of it chewing wires and creating a real mess.

Thanks, everyone for any good ideas.

Dale

[Trailer Trash 2]

Poison the thing Die-Con it to death. is it a squirrel or a mouse?

[dsprik]

Use a couple drops of pure peppermint oil on a couple of cotton swabs and put them up in your AC vents and in your basement. Hopefully they can find their way back out. Mine couldn't.

[Rondo]

Dale-- I've hear that a VERY SMALL dog will work but have never tried it! I think Dave has the idea and hopefully he will find his way out the same way he came in! If not, ask Dave. He still has one in his ceiling.

[Waynem]

Park in the desert for a couple months and deny him/her his nuts.

[Lambchop]

Dale,

We had the same thing last Nov on our way to FL.
It looks like they come up through the basement area. Acorn nuts all over. It took a couple of days & we got 4 of them!
We used the reliable mouse traps bated with peanut butter. Works every time. Good luck.

Roy & Kay

[MIMF]

Roy and Kate,

I tried the traps baited with peanut butter. Put 4 of them in several different areas of the basement this last Wednesday. Went over to the unit yesterday and......nuthin'.

I'll leave the traps ther for a while yet and see what happens.

Maybe he liked so good in Kentucky, he decided to stay! That would not make me mad at all!!!

[richfaa]

Ammonia..Plain old Ammonia Had a ground hog trying to dig a den under the foundation of the stick house. Cotton balls soaked in ammonia and they were gone never to return.

[Tom S.]

RICH: Well do you blame them? Ammonia would drive me out too!

As for traps, set them against walls. Mice don't like to run in open area and tend to scurry along walls.

[Starchmill]

it's pretty amazing that thet can burrow their way into the underbelly at all. After just having done the Montana factory tour, I was impressed with how sealed the underbelly really is. They must be very determined to get in there!

[8e3k0]

The under belly is sealed well to a point as there is large openings where the hydraulic cylinder rods extend through the frame for each slide. I am going to try and make up a circular rubber seal that acts as a wiper and seal at the circular hole in the frame for each cylinder rod. A mouse or squirrel would have no problem in accessing the belly via that route.

[Exnavydiver]

I would avoid using De-con or other bait/poison. If they eat it and then die inside the rig you will have a wonderful time getting them out and can enjoy the odor for a few weeks while they decompose. Either find a way to chase them out or use snap traps. We had several hitch hikers last winter and the snap traps took care of them all, no more finding "presents" in the linens or towel drawers... Dave

[et2]

I use a snicker bar. It always works for me. Just pull off a small chunk and press it on the mousetrap trigger. Just caught two in the home the other day.

[DarMar]

quote:Originally posted by 8e3k0

The under belly is sealed well to a point as there is large openings where the hydraulic cylinder rods extend through the frame for each slide.

That's exactly how squirrels got into our underbelly 2 years ago. We now use steel wool to fill these gaping holes.

[racerjoe]

This year I am using fresh cab and also pure peppermint inside and in storage compartments.Thanks to all of the suggestions. This will be the first time using both of these. after about 10 years of using dryer sheets with good luck,last winter we had mice. So time to try out new stuff.

[JimnJulie]

Dale we used a "sticky pad" in the basement with peanut butter on it. He used the cold air return to make his way from the attic to the basement. The smell of the peanut butter got to the little hitchhiker before I needed a sandwich and so in the morning he was hanging out there waiting for me to take him for a ride in a different vehicle. I gladly obliged.

[RCMP03]

Traps should work well, as noted against the walls with the snap towards. Peanut butter is fine providing there is nothing better available to the critters. De Con if all other food sources eliminated.

[jackandh2o]

Where does one find peppermint oil??

Thanks
Ray

[Tom S.]

quote:Originally posted by jackandh2o

Where does one find peppermint oil??

Thanks
Ray

Try your local drug store.

[racerjoe]

We found peppermint oil at our local market where all the spices were.