Car Storage: Keeping Critters Out

[Pat in Speedway]

A couple of weeks ago I rented a 10'x20' storage unit to store my Corvair until April. I put it in there with 2 D-Con containers, since it's out in the sticks next to some cornfields. I stopped by there today to take it out for an hour's drive, and when I got there, both D-Con containers were empty. Even more bothersome was a suspected piece of plastic IN the car that looked as if it had been nibbled on. I had both doors firmly shut, all windows closed, and all fresh air vents closed as well. How this thing got in there is beyond me. I checked the interior as thoroughly as I could, but found no little critter under any of the seat cushions or anywhere else.

So, after I left, I headed to CVS, picked up two old-school mouse traps, 8 Tom Cat brand "block bait", 4 boxes of D-Con, 6 packs of Tom Cat bait pellets, and two boxes of moth balls. Here's what I did:
1. Set both traps with peanut butter
2. Put all 8 block baits around the perimeter of the storage unit
3. Put all 4 boxes of D-Con in each corner of the storage unit
4. Surrounded each tire with a line of moth balls, which I find mice aren't too fond of.
5. Put a couple of moth balls in the engine compartment (they're known to love nesting under the top engine shroud), on the front floorboard, and in the trunk.

Question, is there anything else I might be able to do that is known to work? I'd love to get a cat and throw it in there, but the unit is unheated and uninsulated. I've read on a few forums about using Bounce dryer sheets, but some have said they work while others say the mice use them for their nests.

Thanks for any comments & Happy Ho-Ho!

 

[oilyriser]

Maybe a sheet of metal under each tire, and an electric fence charger could have some effect, unless the sidewalls are high enough for the mice to avoid getting zapped. They might learn to climb around the tires, and jump into the engine bay.

 

[moribundman]

Originally Posted By: Pat in Speedway
How this thing got in there is beyond me.


If a mouse can fit its head through a crack, then its body will also fit (unless the mouse is morbidly obese). A small mouse's head is only the size of a pea, so your chances of preventing a mouse from getting inside the car are almost nil. You'd have to tape and seal every crack and passage. Then you'll run into a condensation and mold and mildew issue due to heat cycling without proper ventilation. Rodents will also chew merrily through plastic and rubber. How about a fine wire mesh cover for the whole car, weighed down where it touches the floor?

 

[oilyriser]

A square yard of plywood under each wheel, covered with glue

 

[Pablo]

I don't have the magic answer....but I hope the reek from the dead rodent bodies doesn't permeate the seat cushions.

 

[Mr Nice]

Does Boric Acid help keep away pests ?

I use it for ants , but I don't know about mice.

 

[Pat in Speedway]

Originally Posted By: Pablo
I don't have the magic answer....but I hope the reek from the dead rodent bodies doesn't permeate the seat cushions.

I'm sure having the moth balls in there for the next 3 months will take care of that. Regardless, I'll be cruising all summer with the windows down....rain or shine!

 

[TallPaul]

Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
Does Boric Acid help keep away pests ?

I use it for ants , but I don't know about mice.


A couple months ago I found some insulation on the air conditioner hose chewed up pretty badly under the hood of my motorhome. I put a big wad of almond butter (don't have peanut butter) about 1" diameter and an equal amount of boric acid together and mixed them well, then placed it on the fan shroud next to the chewed up insulation. Next day I saw chew marks in the wad, but it was mostly still there. I pulled it out and in a couple months now have not seen any more chewing under the hood. I suspect it was one of these little red squirrels as I had them get inside the motorhome basement a couple times in the past.