Mice in Van (again)

British Red

M.A.B (Mad About Bushcraft)
Dec 30, 2005
26,886
2,137
Mercia
Cholecalciferol? Worth noting it's highly toxic to dogs and other animals. Not a fan of poisons.
A very useful tool cholicalciferol because it's non bio accumulative so massively reduces secondary poisoning risk. However not only is it toxic to other animals (most poisons are) but there's no antidote. It really needs high quality staked bait stations. When BASF first brought it out as Selontra I had to take another qualification to use it.
 
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British Red

M.A.B (Mad About Bushcraft)
Dec 30, 2005
26,886
2,137
Mercia
Exactly that yes, selontra. I have never used it for field mice, they tend to jump on traps readily enough I've had no need, central Cardiff is 9/10 house mouse little gits anyway. It is absolutely excellent for troublesome rat jobs, and used properly reduces a lot of the secondary poisoning risks with sgars.
If you do use it it's worth knowing that it's now available in a paste formulation. I find the wax blocks of Selontra deter rapid uptake which us important.

 

Ystranc

Settler
May 24, 2019
535
404
55
Powys, Wales
We get mice and voles in our studio this time every year. We store wool, fabric, leather, art materials and a whole lot more there; we can't afford for it to be destroyed. Despite my best efforts of sealing the building up it's still a planked, insulated, barn - they're going to get in. So, sadly, I have to put traps down. I think, about 80% of the catch is yellow-necked mice and field voles.

I've tried the ultrasonic deterrents with zero effect.

I would not dream of using any poisons because a) it's a horrible way to die and b) I cannot guarantee it won't get passed on to predators.
The other issue with poison is for the brief period of time it takes the dead mouse to desiccate it will stink…poisoned mice hiding away in walls or under floorboards stinking the place up…not nice.
 

demented dale

Full Member
Dec 16, 2021
1,006
484
58
hell
Not for the first time, mice have invaded my campervan. This time they made a cosy nest in a cupboard by ripping up tissues. They also chewed the end off a small plastic container and damaged a seat cushion. They seem to love plastic zip bags and chew their way inside to investigate what's there.
They make an inordinate mess as well as crapping everywhere and it took me most of the morning to empty, clean and replace kit in the cupboards.
I caught one mouse in an old-fashioned trap using peanut butter as bait, but I'd rather not have mice in the van in the first place.
Apart from the obvious of not having any edibles in the van, does anyone have any ideas as to how to deter them from coming into the van in the first place?
do a bush craft catch and cook.
 
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Pattree

Full Member
Jul 19, 2023
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UK
I’ve heard that some councils have trialed a similar device to deter teenagers from gathering in trouble hot spots.
They did try it at our local Spar. Young people gathered there and apparently intimidated some shoppers. As Spike Milligan said. (Eccles voice) ” Everyone got to be somewhere.”

The logic was that only young ears could hear it and be irritated by it - it wouldn’t annoy older people who couldn’t hear it.

So the kids recorded it and an adopted it as their ring/alert tone when using their phones illegally in class.

Doesn’t work on mice or students.
 
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just_john

Full Member
Mar 22, 2012
297
158
South Wales
If you do use it it's worth knowing that it's now available in a paste formulation. I find the wax blocks of Selontra deter rapid uptake which us important.

Harmonix was very disappointing for me above ground, literally zero bait take on multiple occasions. Burrow baiting I found it excellent, burrows not reopened after just one baiting.
 
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British Red

M.A.B (Mad About Bushcraft)
Dec 30, 2005
26,886
2,137
Mercia
Harmonix was very disappointing for me above ground, literally zero bait take on multiple occasions. Burrow baiting I found it excellent, burrows not reopened after just one baiting.
Interesting. I found Selontra uptake poor unless I smeared it with peanut butter!
 

Nice65

Brilliant!
Apr 16, 2009
6,837
3,250
W.Sussex
We’ve had mice in our van and advice to block up holes doesn’t mean anything. Its impossible with a vehicle to even see an entrance.

We baited a trap over several nights, caught 3 mice, carried on for a couple more nights with no more caught.

Just next to the van by the wall is where they run, our Jack Russell says so. Under a weighted down bucket is a Goodnature captive bolt trap that has killed a couple. I’ve used the chocolate paste it came with and refilled the dispenser with peanut butter. Only thing is, there are slugs getting in and triggering it.
 
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Broch

Life Member
Jan 18, 2009
8,456
8,316
Mid Wales
www.mont-hmg.co.uk
If we tried trapping outside the building I'd be rebaiting the trap every hour and all I'd be doing is attracting more into the area. We don't get house mice (sympathies to those that do) so I'm not prepared to trap the wild ones outside. By trapping the ones that come in we prevent the nest building; it works but, sadly, I have to be persistent over winter.
 

oldtimer

Full Member
Sep 27, 2005
3,314
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Oxfordshire and Pyrenees-Orientales, France
A follow up to all the helpful advice.

I bought an ultrasonic device. I think I must have deaf mice. There was another raid and I caught one in the little nipper trap. I thien took Mary's advice and bought some mint essential oil. I thought it was expensive but has oroved to be worth every penny. No mice damage since, the van smells nice and a few soaked pads in the studio attic kept them away from there too.

Moral of this mouse tale; heed the advice of the BCuk hive mind. I could have saved the cost of the sonic device and the batteries. Wonder if the sonic device is keeping the hedgehogs away?

PS The cost of the sonic device was equal to a year' subscription to BCuk!
 

TLM

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Nov 16, 2019
3,227
1,701
Vantaa, Finland
A very useful tool cholicalciferol because it's non bio accumulative so massively reduces secondary poisoning risk. However not only is it toxic to other animals (most poisons are) but there's no antidote.
Did not notice this before, yes overdose of vitamin D is unhealthy. In humans vitamin K2 acts against the harmful effects and vitamin A has been tested in humans and chickens and it is kind of antidote.

But it looks like vitamin D effects differ wildly between species.

If and when working Mme Toddy's recipe is superior to any poisons.
 

just_john

Full Member
Mar 22, 2012
297
158
South Wales
A follow up to all the helpful advice.

I bought an ultrasonic device. I think I must have deaf mice. There was another raid and I caught one in the little nipper trap. I thien took Mary's advice and bought some mint essential oil. I thought it was expensive but has oroved to be worth every penny. No mice damage since, the van smells nice and a few soaked pads in the studio attic kept them away from there too.

Moral of this mouse tale; heed the advice of the BCuk hive mind. I could have saved the cost of the sonic device and the batteries. Wonder if the sonic device is keeping the hedgehogs away?

PS The cost of the sonic device was equal to a year' subscription to BCuk!
I get asked weekly about ultrasonic repellants weekly My reply is, if they worked, I'd be trying to sell you one.
 
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Pattree

Full Member
Jul 19, 2023
2,086
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I’ll call your mongoose and raise you a wild dog.

I had mice in my van. Just pulling back a couple of metres from the hedge seemed to work. I used to park with my bonnet in the greenery. They now have to break cover to reach it. Also I’ve seen rooks searching under the van.
 

MikeLA

Full Member
May 17, 2011
2,089
399
Northumberland
Try aluminium mesh from hardware stores, thin enough to be cut with normal scissors. Very thin and light, I use it on the air bricks to stop them coming through. A good glue will suffice.
 
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Toddy

Mod
Mod
Jan 21, 2005
39,133
4,810
S. Lanarkshire
Mine did. A wee present, and looked so totally miffed to be told to take that out !
She did it, but she wasn't pleased about it. I think she brought it in to play with :rolleyes:
 

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