Keeping Mice at Bay

[DUCeditor]

Hate to admit it to myself, but here in NH the driving season is nearing its end. Soon will come the pre-Winter prep and the bye bye hugs until the Spring.

I've owned my Spider for over 25 years so the Winterizing routine is pretty well set - but with this exception: Several times, come Spring, I have found that mice made their way into the car and built nests there. I can only assume they somehow climbed up the wheels and tires and then found a way of entrance -- into the trunk and the glove box!

Can anyone suggest an effective way to prevent this? The shed the car is stored in has a dirt floor (I put down a large poly tart to help keep moisture at bay -- only a problem in the late Autumn and very early spring), and there is (as there must be) a lot of air circulation openings so keeping mic out of the shed ins not possible.

Any proven preventatives will be appreciated!

-Don

[aj81spider]

I surround mine with snap traps baited with peanut butter. I catch a few mice a winter and so far (knock on wood) none have made it into the car.

[Jon124]

I have owned my spider for about a year and a half, so last winter was the first time I stored it. I found advice online to spread bounce dryer sheets throughout the car so I tried this out. My car was stored in similar conditions, in a farm Quonset where there would be mice present. In the spring I found no evidence of mice in the car, and it smelled nice and fresh! I used almost a whole box of 100 and stuffed them everywhere.

[daved]

Heard that mothballs work. Only problems is that the smell stays in the car for a few weeks in the spring. Probably best to not use a lot.

[76was124]

I use peppermint oil on cotton pads...never had a problem

[DUCeditor]

Thanks guys for the suggestions.

I've googled each and found at best mixed results. One fellow, for instance, used the Bounce sheets one year with success but the next year found that the mice had gathered the sheets and used them to build a nice comfy nest in his classic Mustang's air filter. Others reported similar issues with peppermint oil dipped cotton.

It may be that such work for a time and then the material loses its scent as the months pass.

I did buy some mouse/rat poison. Better a dead mouse or two in the trunk that a nest I suppose.

Still listening with an open mind though, so further ideas or contradictions to what I've read are welcome!

-don

[joelittel]

Peppermint oil has worked really well for us. We use a combination of a spray solution and dipped cotton balls and reapply once a month.

As a side note, the peppermint keeps the spiders out too, so we use it all year long.

[DUCeditor]

Thanks Joel. For me the issue is that the car, stored in a large shed elsewhere on the property away from the main house, is inaccessible once the snow starts to fall. What ever step(s) I take has to be able to serve through the entire wintery season -- mid-November through at least mid-April. I.e., kiss, hugs and bye-bye.

-don

[toplessexpat]

Get a cat?

[DUCeditor]

Get a cat?

And he will spend his time in an unheated car shed, some hundreds of yards from the house, that can only be accessed by going over, under or through several feet (or more) of snow. That'd be one dedicated to his assignment cat! Any idea where I can find such?

-Don

[DUCeditor]

Dumbspell repeat post (sorry)

[DUCeditor]

Dumbspell repeat post.

[spiderdan]

I found advice online to spread bounce dryer sheets throughout the car so I tried this out. My car was stored in similar conditions, in a farm Quonset where there would be mice present. In the spring I found no evidence of mice in the car, and it smelled nice and fresh! I used almost a whole box of 100 and stuffed them everywhere.

Agree with Jon
I get the smelliest bounce sheets I can buy and lay them around the tires. Never had a problems in 14 years.
Although I have never seen a flying mouse, I shove a couple up the muffler, just in case.

[DUCeditor]

I found advice online to spread bounce dryer sheets throughout the car so I tried this out. My car was stored in similar conditions, in a farm Quonset where there would be mice present. In the spring I found no evidence of mice in the car, and it smelled nice and fresh! I used almost a whole box of 100 and stuffed them everywhere.

Agree with Jon
I get the smelliest bounce sheets I can buy and lay them around the tires. Never had a problems in 14 years.
Although I have never seen a flying mouse, I shove a couple up the muffler, just in case.

Well it can't hurt to try it! Thanks.

-don

[toplessexpat]

Get a cat?

And he will spend his time in an unheated car shed, some hundreds of yards from the house, that can only be accessed by going over, under or through several feet (or more) of snow. That'd be one dedicated to his assignment cat! Any idea where I can find such?

-Don

Simple.... Snow Leopard