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WILL1E
Moderator
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# Posted: 22 Sep 2020 12:36
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Basic question, what techniques/products have you used to keep mice, squirrels, etc. out of your camper that's left in the woods throughout the year?
Backstory for me  :
A few years ago we had a 30 some foot travel trailer on our old piece of land in NE Wisconsin. It was a newer camper with 2 slides. Went up in spring to open the camper up for the year and i filled up the water tank and when i went inside and turned the pump on and opened a faucet i heard water gushing outside. Went outside and saw water leaking near the door. I pulled back the fabric/tarp like material they use on the belly to find a a mouse carcass and some chewed up pex water line. As i was laying on the ground looking at that, i noticed the belly of the camper was sagging at the rear. Went back there, gave it a few hits with a stick only to hear what sounded like loose debris. I slit that open for a waterfall of pine needles, pine cones, ect. etc. Needless to say the mice and red squirrels were living the high life in the belly of our camper all winter. Insurance ended up totaling the camper and we ended up selling the land.
So i'm trying to avoid this scenario at our new land with our 3 year old travel trailer sitting on it. I do plan to use our land/camper on weekend throughout the year so hopefully it won't sit totally unused.
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Brettny
Member
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# Posted: 22 Sep 2020 13:42
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Poison blocks outside of the camper. You can try the snap trap method but unless your there alot you will never win.
I have had success with a bucket trap but I wouldnt put it in the place you want to keep them out of. You will be basically baiting them to come in if you do it inside.
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WILL1E
Moderator
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# Posted: 22 Sep 2020 13:52
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So i should just put a massive block of cheese on the neighbors property and i'll be set, right?! 
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Steve_S
Member
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# Posted: 22 Sep 2020 14:51
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I cannot suggest any poisons or baits because the potential to harm other non-nasty critters.
Living within a forest in a home with Live Edge Cedar siding, all manner of critter thinks it's a home-sweet-home so it's a matter of combat with them.
Any spot they are chewing to get access inside, or well worn trails, use the "spray" and mice, chippies & squirrels will stear clear of it.
The "Spray" is a gardening trick. Take a couple of cloves of garlic, some really HOT hot peppers (or Durfy's Hot Sauce nuke version) and puree it in a blender with a bit of water, strain & put into a spray bottle. Spray any access hole, chew spot or trail. One sniff or one bite and they DO run like hell. REapply monthly and within a couple of months they will give up.
A mouse / rat can squeeze through a hole the size of a US Dime without any difficulty. Most wire mesh is big enough to allow them through but they can & will chew it if they are determined. Squirrels especially bad for that. Smooth Sheet Metal or using stock Soffit Sheeting (before it's cut for soffit sizes, it comes in long sheets) Soffit sheeting is good because they can't shew through it but it still allows for air to pass though to ontrol moisture & condensation.
Good Luck, hope it helps.
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Nobadays
Member
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# Posted: 22 Sep 2020 19:24
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We have had good luck using 1/4" hardware cloth (rabbit wire) on our open garden beds. We had a 1/2" bird netting first, chipmunks and mice went right through. We then tried a ~1/2" plastic mesh on them but that didn't stop the mice. The 1/4" hardware cloth has kept everything out.
How about cover the bottom of the trailer in hardware cloth. I have heard/read that folks use this to cover insulation under the cabin to keep rodents out.... works for many. Just don't leave any holes.
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darz5150
Member
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# Posted: 22 Sep 2020 23:33
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https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7FvCsDd-IiM&t=26s
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darz5150
Member
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# Posted: 23 Sep 2020 00:50
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Squirrel trap.
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Brettny
Member
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# Posted: 23 Sep 2020 06:18
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We have been mouse free for over a year now. I can really only say it's due to lowering the population. I use the same method of poison at home and have never seen any dead animals that arnt targeted by the poison.
Some times try as you may you can never keep them out if the population is to high.
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WILL1E
Moderator
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# Posted: 23 Sep 2020 07:32
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Thanks for the suggestions!
The problem is, i don't know what the population is up there yet. The other issue is that i don't want my 2 dogs getting into anything.
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Brettny
Member
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# Posted: 23 Sep 2020 08:02
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I also have two dogs. Use the bait stations and you shouldn't have a problem.
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Atlincabin
Member
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# Posted: 23 Sep 2020 08:47
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+1 on the hardware cloth
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Nate R
Member
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# Posted: 23 Sep 2020 11:19
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On bait: "A note about the poison. Rats (and gerbils, hamsters, and mice) cannot vomit. Unlike my dogs. It turns out that corn gluten and salt can kill rats and mice by stopping up their digestive system and causing dehydration. The rats become comatose and die in their burrows. Although poisonous to rats, corn gluten won’t hurt other wildlife – and other wildlife can eat any dead rats and not be poisoned themselves."
From here: URL
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Brettny
Member
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# Posted: 24 Sep 2020 06:13
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Thanks Nate. I wasn't aware of that.
I have been to weekend cabins that when we got there we had to spend literally hours cleaning things due to mice...even though they only had the place to them self for 5 days. I wont let this be my cabin.
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KinAlberta
Member
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# Posted: 24 Sep 2020 09:40 - Edited by: KinAlberta
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Seal up any potential openings. Don't leave anything in the place that smells like food. Keep bird feeders far from the cabin.
I’ve never known a time when we ever had a mouse in our cabin. (70+ yrs in the family) Not exactly sure why. It is well sealed up but it may just be good luck. (Built on blocks, uninsulated floor)
Would somehow ensuring that some air is sucked up through the roof/attic and thus preventing any odours from escaping at ground level and attracting the attention of long nosed critters?
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old243
Member
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# Posted: 26 Sep 2020 22:48
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I have several bait stations . They are pet proof. One close to house wall outside. In the past we have had mice and rats in house. Have had the stations several years now, so far so good. Also one in barn and one in workshop. It is amazing the amount of bait cubes they eat. I likely refill them 4 times a year. This might not be your choice but it works for us. old243
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Bruces
Member
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# Posted: 27 Sep 2020 07:20
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There is a product called “mouse free “ you spray under your camper I have seen sold around here ,it’s supposed to work well but I have no idea ,I have just noticed the product for sale .
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Tim_Ohio
Member
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# Posted: 13 Oct 2021 07:38 - Edited by: Tim_Ohio
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Luck has been on my side, since stuffing pieces of stainless steel scouring scrub pads into holes. It's not unlike the turnings from metal work on the lathe. This trick came about when owning a boat, to keep mice from going inside the hull through water openings. In addition, moth balls (which come in little net bags) are tossed under the cabin and deters a lot of critters. They don't like the smell.
Other wildlife has also been a problem, not related to a trailer, but rather the cabin. Carpenter ants are getting into the roof area and debris is falling from the beam as they work on the structure.
So, off came the metal roof cap and after a thorough spraying with insecticide, a bait trap was placed in each cavity. In addition, bait traps were placed on the floor of the cabin as well. It seemed to do the trick. I've stopped seeing saw dust on the floor. In addition, a bunch of bait traps were place on the ground under the cabin.
Good luck.
Tim
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 13 Oct 2021 14:26 - Edited by: gcrank1
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Last year we had the little Red Pine Squirrels nest in the cath-ceiling, they gained access up the walls into the cavity between the metal roofing and ceiling. The prev owner/hack builder did not seal up much or do 'tight' construction..... The little reds tear things up!
Thought I had a 'couple' of reds, after months of '410 mitigation' the noise quit at the 7 squirrel count. Guess it was a 'couple', and they had kids.
We were good until about 3 weeks ago. Went up after a few weeks absence and a new batch had moved in. So far Ive eliminated 5. Spent 2 weeks off/on tearing off siding to find how they were getting in the walls and making blocking. The 410 is close by (a 20 ga. would be better, good to about 35yds) and any 'chatter' in the surrounding trees calls for a hunt; ya gotta keep em back deeper in the woods. They new batch of young dont stay in the home trees, they go forth to claim their own, in our case, our space.
The mice were our initial problem. I kept snap traps with peanut butter constantly loaded. After about 1 doz we werent getting more so I went to bait boxes with the 'green blocks'. We havent seen or heard a mouse and signs of munching the bait is slim for all past season.
Stay vigilant! The battles may become fewer but the war continues.
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Curly
Member
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# Posted: 13 Oct 2021 23:14
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Some YouTubers swear that spraying peppermint or cinnamon oil solution works to keep the mice out of their cars parked outside. I have not tried it.
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 14 Oct 2021 11:58
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Note on moth-balls and dryer-sheets; we tried them at the old cabin for mice. Initially they seemed to help but as they aged, not so much. Probably need to change em out every month to stay on top of the issue.
Ive heard that cougar pee sprayed around the cabin foundation is supposed to work well 
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WILL1E
Moderator
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# Posted: 14 Oct 2021 12:00
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I ended up putting a bunch of these traps in the basement (underneath storage) of the camper and have caught a few so far, so they've been working great!
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