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Old 11-20-2021, 10:59 AM   #1
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1990 34.5' Airstream 345
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Preventing rodent damage - advice needed!

Looking for experienced advice on how to prevent and/or control rodent damage on my stored 345LE. It’s parked in my drive, right next to a very lush set of trees and bushes. Not had problems yet, but My neighbors tell me there are lots of critters around. There are all kinds of electronic noise making boxes, smell devices, traps and more. Anyone found what really works to stop them getting on board?
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Old 11-20-2021, 11:14 AM   #2
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We have a major problem with pack rats in my community. Cars have had nests built on the engine with wires and hoses eaten. Thousands of dollars of damage. We use sonic devices in the trailer and solar rope lights blinking under the trailer.

Snap traps on other areas near the house yield a fair amount of these creatures as well.

So far, no problems...
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Old 11-20-2021, 05:22 PM   #3
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Funny that this should come up now! I have been chasing mice
in my AS for a while. I put some security cameras inside and
in the engine compartment. I wondered where they were getting
in. I checked every place that I thought that they might get in
but everything that I could see was tight.

Then I caught them on my cameras;

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These views are from a camera under the hood looking toward
the passenger side. It seems that there is a passage from the
engine compartment to the inside where I can't see it.

I was thinking of filling that area with the spray insulating
foam that expands to fill open spaces. Any better suggestions?
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Old 11-21-2021, 09:24 AM   #4
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My MH is full of foam insulation in places like that. The only thing to be careful of is engine heat. Make sure its not too close to the manifolds.
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Old 11-21-2021, 10:17 AM   #5
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If you use spray foam, maybe ensure it's the kind with stuff in it that rodents don't like to gnaw on because it tastes terrible. Here's one example. I'm sure there are others: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XXSWRYH

Meanwhile, given the heat you will often find in that chamber during operations, you may want to use the good old copper mesh or maybe stainless steel wool (because SS wool won't rust).

Oh, and there's a fun channel on YT that spends a whole lot of time experimenting to figure out what actually works vs. what doesn't when it comes to repelling rodents. Also includes tests with all kinds of mousetraps, some of which are surprisingly cheap and effective. Might be worth a look: https://www.youtube.com/c/ShawnWoodsprimitive-archer
Here's a playlist with many of his repellent tests, a fun watch, especially the fails. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...8mGzraJ1LLEBHG
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Old 11-21-2021, 06:26 PM   #6
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Wow! That is a whole lot of research on mice.
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Old 11-21-2021, 07:16 PM   #7
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My suggestion would be to clear any growth from around the coach that you can.
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Old 11-21-2021, 09:14 PM   #8
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Originally Posted by richard5933 View Post
My suggestion would be to clear any growth from around the coach that you can.
Also put traps, etc outside as well. Get them before they get inside. We had issues in our house and called an exterminator. Buggers can get in the smallest area. The exterminator put traps outside all around the house. Makes sense.
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Old 11-21-2021, 09:41 PM   #9
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I've had issues with mice in my garage and in two of my three vehicles, one of which is parked outside. I read that lighting and Bounce dryer sheets are effective (they apparently don't like the smell of the dryer sheets). Since deploying LED lights on timers and strategically placing dryer sheets in the garage and under-hood I have not had further problems.

As for traps, I found the sticky type to be quite effective especially when baited with a dab of peanut butter in the middle. They seem to be more reliable than snap traps, they don't expose pets to poisoned rodents, and can be easily disposed of after dropping in a bucket of water to somewhat humanely deal with the trapped critter.
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Old 11-22-2021, 04:53 AM   #10
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Our exterminator put a "bait box" near the foundation behind our house, as well as one in the car port.

They get re-loaded every three months.

SPP
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Old 11-22-2021, 06:10 AM   #11
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In summary, according to the videos online, the only repellent for rodents is fresh cab and mint. Everything else failed miserably. The rats wipe them selves clean on the dryer sheets. Pretty convincing evidence as he shows his tests with a camera and it’s obvious what works and does not.
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Old 11-22-2021, 08:20 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Beltran View Post
In summary, according to the videos online, the only repellent for rodents is fresh cab and mint. Everything else failed miserably. The rats wipe them selves clean on the dryer sheets. Pretty convincing evidence as he shows his tests with a camera and it’s obvious what works and does not.
Yes, the first time I tried dryer sheets I came back to find the mice had urinated and defecated all over them.

The only thing that I have found success in keeping them out is stuff every little hole and crevis with copper wool. Steel wool will work just as well, but it does rust in wet environments.

What is fresh cab?
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Old 11-22-2021, 09:13 AM   #13
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Also a couple things have worked for me. I store mine in the garage. I use these plug-in high pitch noise makers. The human ear can't hear but they seem to work. Also put poison cubes in places where I can't get to regularly and my dogs won't get to; like in the Water heater compartment. And I will attest that the sticky pads work the best. I use the larger rat ones. They seem to work better. My wife has a soft heart, so I dispose of them. And this from a farm girl who use to catch mice by the tail in the corn crib. I don't have quite the same response, although I don't like to see any critter suffer. That is why I like the high pitch sound transmitters. It just keeps them out of my garage. Of course that won't work in an outside situation.
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Old 11-23-2021, 08:25 AM   #14
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I have done the same in my garage. Multiple ultrasonic devices. Along with a peanut butter trap. Haven’t had mice in the trap for a few years so I thought this was working. Seeing the videos online it’s clear these devices don’t work. Maybe it’s because his rodents are desensitized to them after all the tests? Can’t say for sure.
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Old 11-23-2021, 02:24 PM   #15
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Old 11-23-2021, 03:12 PM   #16
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Disappointed to hear the feedback on the dryer sheets but glad to know that the rodents will smell fresh after cleaning themselves with them. My problems have been with field mice, not rats, and either they are more discriminating when it comes to odors or I've been lucky.

With regard to poisons, the problem isn't that they can't be hidden out of reach of pets. It's that the rodents, once poisoned, usually don't die on the spot and can migrate to someplace where my dog, or some other domestic or wild animal, can get hold of them.
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