sixfive

as I was pulling into the garage a couple days ago I saw a mouse run across the windshield wiper blades and disappear . . . anybody have some good tips how to keep critters out from underneath the hood? I keep hearing horror stories about it and I'm not eager to have one myself . . .

bobblehead

I guess live bait traps would be needed and see how it goes.

bdubs

I would throw some live bait traps out, but also look into mouse repellent sprays/pouches/***** that you could use - a simple spray containing peppermint oil and/or lemongrass may work...you can find them on amazon. I use Ultrasir Rodent Repellent ***** in/around my outdoor storage and hot tub to keep mice away and they seem to work.

Keith66

You may want to try smells that mice don't like, like peppermint oil or anything minty smelling.

Less impact and less involvement.

Cylinder Head

iTrader: (1)

Bait traps, or get a cat.

sixfive

repellent pouches ordered, traps will be set up tonight . . . hope its not too late . . .

Amg///

Had to get rid of my previous car because I couldn’t live with the damage done to it😖. If you live near the country, here are the tips that have worked for last 2 years🤞🏽

- Leave the hood open at night to not let motor stay as a warming hut for the rodents. They don’t like to be exposed to open environment.

- Old school traps with Peanut butter and local cuisine. I had Palm Date shells on my old car’s motor. I place Peanut Butter and Date Shells and have successfully killed every year. They typically climb up the tires and wheels to get into the car.

Didn’t really work-
- electronic impulse deterrents
- Peppermint Oil supposedly is irritating

ygmn

MOVE!

juststeve

DEET, its not just for insects.
purchase a small bottle of 100% Deet and mix it with water in a squirt bottle. soak everything under the hood and let it dry. repeat every 30 days. feed the rodents outside with those blocks of poison laid along the foundation..

I.T. Guy

Plug every hole leading in and out of the garage. And put a block of bait around each tire every night and along the walls/corners. I wouldn't want the mice to get used to getting into the car for "food".
I just spent a summer eradicating mice. Seal everything/stuff steel wool in all holes. Poison bait everything inside. As long as no more can get in/out of the structure and you remove ALL food sources from inside - except the bait poison - you will be successful. Anything else is just pushing string.

It's gonna get stinky for a bit

TugboatBill

When I grew up the common consensus was that cats were lousy mousers. On the other hand if you had a ferret all mice and rats either moved or got eaten.

sixfive

I'm actually about ready to put house on the market . . . not necessarily for that reason

bobblehead

anything caught ?

sixfive

nothing yet but there seems to be activity and given where I live, there's always some kind of activity, even though I have traps throughout the house and a regular service trying to control critters . . . Haven't had the time to pick up traditional traps so I'm using some of those STICKY jobbies til this afternoon when I get time to stop and get some real traps as I don't have much faith in the sticky jobbies

W205C43PFL

The car better not be named Tom.

In my case, after I got a cat I found paw scratches on the finish of the vehicle, not saying it will happen to others but it really depends on the cat, no I don't mistreat my cat, it likes to hang out in the garage for some reason.

TugboatBill

I tried the sticky with a rat problem (outside). All I caught were some paw prints.

sixfive

have all the sticky traps with 8 traditional traps set up and this morning all the peanut butter was gone off the normal traps but no capture . . . I guess it'll be a while . . . starting to wonder if the critter really is in the car . . .

I.T. Guy

They are smart and agile.
And for every 1 you are lucky to trap there’s likely 5-6 more hidden somewhere. Kill 3-4 you easily have 20-30 mice hanging around.

Remove all food sources, seal, and use pro bait. It’s the only way. Otherwise enjoy a lifetime of trapping mice… it will never end.

Faast

Every fall, I go around the house dropping those green mouse ***** along the outside walls and outside the garage doors and so far so good.
House was built back in 2016 and had some activity few years ago and took care of 3-4 mice inside the house and so far seen no evidence of any kind of mice
They are nasty critters and needs to be gone

Keith66

Snakes.

You need more snakes.

sixfive

I keep filling the traps and wake up in the morning with them all empty but none of them have gone off . . . I'm going through a lot of peanut butter right now . . . may need different traps. Keep doubting that the mouse really is still in my car somewhere as I saw it originally where I park for work which is 30 miles away from my home . . .

bobblehead

How big is this rat ? 😆

Keith66

LOL

sixfive

I'm guessing a featherweight field mouse . . .

Keith66

I would suggest against using bait unless it's indoors or in a confined space.

Otherwise, the bait will attract more pests and increase your problem. I would think it doesn't take long before the word gets out that you are the peanut butter house, lol.