Rodent Deterrent?

[rlovinggood]

I opened up my trailer today and found a live mouse in the cockpit.
Naturally, there was a lot of mouse poop in the cockpit and in the
trailer. I had made at least one mistake of leaving a good supply of
crackers and granola bars in the cockpit and up front in the trailer.
Little bugger had a great home, complete with large food supply.

Tomorrow, the glider will get its annual condition inspection and I'll
be looking closely at tubing and wiring. I don't know if I'll have a
chance to do a leak check tomorrow on the system, but I will soon. My
quick look today didn't show any teeth marks.

Does anyone know a deterrent to rodents? How can I keep them out of
the trailer? The trailer stays parked outside, unfortunately. Would
moth balls work if placed in both the trailer and the cockpit?

Thanks,

Ray Lovinggood
Carrboro, North Carolina, USA

[Brad[_2_]]

Ray,

Don't you have some ferrets??
They are your answer to getting the mice to de-ass your trailer!

Brad

see.............mousebgone.com

On Jan 5, 3:37*pm, rlovinggood > wrote:
> I opened up my trailer today and found a live mouse in the cockpit.
> Naturally, there was a lot of mouse poop in the cockpit and in the
> trailer. *I had made at least one mistake of leaving a good supply of
> crackers and granola bars in the cockpit and up front in the trailer.
> Little bugger had a great home, complete with large food supply.
>
> Tomorrow, the glider will get its annual condition inspection and I'll
> be looking closely at tubing and wiring. *I don't know if I'll have a
> chance to do a leak check tomorrow on the system, but I will soon. *My
> quick look today didn't show any teeth marks.
>
> Does anyone know a deterrent to rodents? *How can I keep them out of
> the trailer? *The trailer stays parked outside, unfortunately. *Would
> moth balls work if placed in both the trailer and the cockpit?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Ray Lovinggood
> Carrboro, North Carolina, USA

[rlovinggood]

Brad,

Yes, my wife has a ferret, "Wolfgang". But I don't know if she'll
like me for leaving her fert in the trailer that is about 56 miles
from the house.

But, she is in Belgium right now and will be there through early March
(they call it "sabbatical". I call it an extended vacation...)

I wonder what little Wolfgang would think about running up and down
inside the fuselage?

I'll also look into mousebgone.com.


Thanks,

Ray

[Brad[_2_]]

Ray,

when you clean out Wolfgangs litter box, put a little bit of that
special stuff in a small tray and put it in the trailer.

Years ago when I was rebuilding my ASK-14 wings, I noticed when I
removed the canvas there was a conga line of dead baby mice spread out
along the spar. I had put some ferret stuff in the wing root cuz I
heard mice running around inside. Apparently mom left and the baby
mice went looking for her.

Brad


On Jan 5, 4:02*pm, rlovinggood > wrote:
> Brad,
>
> Yes, my wife has a ferret, "Wolfgang". *But I don't know if she'll
> like me for leaving her fert in the trailer that is about 56 miles
> from the house.
>
> But, she is in Belgium right now and will be there through early March
> (they call it "sabbatical". *I call it an extended vacation...)
>
> I wonder what little Wolfgang would think about running up and down
> inside the fuselage?
>
> I'll also look into mousebgone.com.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Ray

[rlovinggood]

Brad:

EXCELLENT! Little Wolfgang does leave a pile every day and I'll take
some with me tomorrow morning.

Ferret Poop in the Trailer!

Hope my wife doesn't find out. If she does, she'll probably charge me
for the service...

Thanks for the info. And thanks for the link to mousebgone.com where
they sell the stuff that I can get here every day.

Ray

[[email protected]]

Ray,

The best way to keep mice away is to prevent them from getting inside
in the first place. That means patching up every little nook, cranny,
seam, gap, hole, crack that a mouse could get through. And they can
get through amazingly small openings. 1/4 inch hardward cloth is good
as is aluminum flashing. Self tapping sheet metal screws are
wonderful.

Then, make sure you leave nothing food-like inside the trailer.

Then hang original style Napthaline moth balls by the handfull in old
nylons in the wing roots, spoiler boxes, and fuselage. Remove before
flight.

Then put some of the really deadly (not warfrin) mouse killer bars in
the trailer (in containers accessable to mice but not dogs and cats
that might show up around the trailer some fateful day in the future)

If you do all that you will probably not have any mouse damage come
springtime. The damage can be considerable especially corrosion from
mouse urine. The smell can be impossible to remove and is nearly
fatal in an enclosed cockpit on a warm day.

Matt

On Jan 5, 5:37*pm, rlovinggood > wrote:
> I opened up my trailer today and found a live mouse in the cockpit.
> Naturally, there was a lot of mouse poop in the cockpit and in the
> trailer. *I had made at least one mistake of leaving a good supply of
> crackers and granola bars in the cockpit and up front in the trailer.
> Little bugger had a great home, complete with large food supply.
>
> Tomorrow, the glider will get its annual condition inspection and I'll
> be looking closely at tubing and wiring. *I don't know if I'll have a
> chance to do a leak check tomorrow on the system, but I will soon. *My
> quick look today didn't show any teeth marks.
>
> Does anyone know a deterrent to rodents? *How can I keep them out of
> the trailer? *The trailer stays parked outside, unfortunately. *Would
> moth balls work if placed in both the trailer and the cockpit?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Ray Lovinggood
> Carrboro, North Carolina, USA

[Brad[_2_]]

You are most welcome..............ferrets rule!

Brad


On Jan 5, 4:24*pm, rlovinggood > wrote:
> Brad:
>
> EXCELLENT! *Little Wolfgang does leave a pile every day and I'll take
> some with me tomorrow morning.
>
> Ferret Poop in the Trailer!
>
> Hope my wife doesn't find out. *If she does, she'll probably charge me
> for the service...
>
> Thanks for the info. *And thanks for the link to mousebgone.com *where
> they sell the stuff that I can get here every day.
>
> Ray

[ZZ]

rlovinggood wrote:
> I opened up my trailer today and found a live mouse in the cockpit.
> Naturally, there was a lot of mouse poop in the cockpit and in the
> trailer. I had made at least one mistake of leaving a good supply of
> crackers and granola bars in the cockpit and up front in the trailer.
> Little bugger had a great home, complete with large food supply.
>
> Tomorrow, the glider will get its annual condition inspection and I'll
> be looking closely at tubing and wiring. I don't know if I'll have a
> chance to do a leak check tomorrow on the system, but I will soon. My
> quick look today didn't show any teeth marks.
>
> Does anyone know a deterrent to rodents? How can I keep them out of
> the trailer? The trailer stays parked outside, unfortunately. Would
> moth balls work if placed in both the trailer and the cockpit?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Ray Lovinggood
> Carrboro, North Carolina, USA

Ray

Matt is right on...build them out. However, if one gets past that
effort, a glue trap is very effective, especially if you place a small
dab of peanut butter in the center. They can't resist the stuff and it
is likely that they will cruise right on by the wires and tubing to get
to the trap. Put a large piece of cloth in the cockpit because he might
spread a bit of glue about trying to escape. Usually they get glue in
the nose and mouth and quickly suffocate. Once a month or so, check the
trap and replace it if occupied or refresh the PB if not.

One word of warning...don't forget about it and sit on it for an entire
flight. Ask me how I know this?

Paul

[Brad[_2_]]

years ago a friend and I checked out a homebuilt wooden motorglider,
think it was an Oldershaw? The wings were stored LE down in the
trailer and the mice had moved in. The LE at the root rib was rotten
due to all that mouse urine..........Matt is right on with that
comment!.

Brad


On Jan 5, 4:29*pm, wrote:
> Ray,
>
> The best way to keep mice away is to prevent them from getting inside
> in the first place. *That means patching up every little nook, cranny,
> seam, gap, hole, crack that a mouse could get through. *And they can
> get through amazingly small openings. 1/4 inch hardward cloth is good
> as is aluminum flashing. *Self tapping sheet metal screws are
> wonderful.
>
> Then, make sure you leave nothing food-like inside the trailer.
>
> Then hang original style Napthaline moth balls by the handfull in old
> nylons in the wing roots, spoiler boxes, and fuselage. *Remove before
> flight.
>
> Then put some of the really deadly (not warfrin) mouse killer bars in
> the trailer (in containers accessable to mice but not dogs and cats
> that might show up around the trailer some fateful day in the future)
>
> If you do all that you will probably not have any mouse damage come
> springtime. *The damage can be considerable especially corrosion from
> mouse urine. *The smell can be impossible to remove and is nearly
> fatal in an enclosed cockpit on a warm day.
>
> Matt
>
> On Jan 5, 5:37*pm, rlovinggood > wrote:
>
>
>
> > I opened up my trailer today and found a live mouse in the cockpit.
> > Naturally, there was a lot of mouse poop in the cockpit and in the
> > trailer. *I had made at least one mistake of leaving a good supply of
> > crackers and granola bars in the cockpit and up front in the trailer.
> > Little bugger had a great home, complete with large food supply.
>
> > Tomorrow, the glider will get its annual condition inspection and I'll
> > be looking closely at tubing and wiring. *I don't know if I'll have a
> > chance to do a leak check tomorrow on the system, but I will soon. *My
> > quick look today didn't show any teeth marks.
>
> > Does anyone know a deterrent to rodents? *How can I keep them out of
> > the trailer? *The trailer stays parked outside, unfortunately. *Would
> > moth balls work if placed in both the trailer and the cockpit?
>
> > Thanks,
>
> > Ray Lovinggood
> > Carrboro, North Carolina, USA- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[rlovinggood]

All,

Thanks for your inputs. The trailer is a "Swan", which is a
clamshell, fiberglass top, trailer that looks a bit like an older
Cobra or Komet. The only place I think they could get in is at the
rear where the top comes down on the tailgate. Not sure if that is a
tight, i.e., smaller than a mouse, seal or not. If that is the
opening, I'll have to see what can be done to make it tighter. Don't
think hardware cloth is the answer in this case.

While I do enjoy the new trailer, I guess it has a fault: It makes a
nice mouse home. While my old trailer had several faults, I can't
blame it for attracting rodents. Heck, it probably repelled them with
its sheer ugliness. Since it wasn't very weather tight, with large
gaps between the rear (and only) door and the trailer frame, and could
have allowed LARGE critters in, I'm kind of surprised this never
happened when I had that trailer. Guess it was too ugly outside and
too cold inside. I guess the little furries didn't find it as
attractive as the nice new Swan.

Wish I could live where the trailer could stay inside a nice building
and my wife's pets could keep the unwanted critters at bay. But it
stays tied down outside.

Thanks,

Ray

[Sarah Anderson[_2_]]

rlovinggood wrote:

>
> Wish I could live where the trailer could stay inside a nice building
> and my wife's pets could keep the unwanted critters at bay. But it
> stays tied down outside.

Wish I could live where the trailer could stay outside. :)

brrrrrr


Sarah

[Vaughn Simon]

"rlovinggood" > wrote in message
...
>
> Does anyone know a deterrent to rodents? How can I keep them out of
> the trailer? The trailer stays parked outside, unfortunately.

I have repeatedly heard that fabric softener sheets are very effective at
repelling mice from enclosed spaces. Never tried it myself.

> Would moth balls work if placed in both the trailer and the cockpit?

Moth balls seem to work against a broad range of rodents. I have twice used
them to get racoons out of attics. I put them in old socks, tie a cord to the
sock for retrieval, & toss them into the far reaches of the space. Unlike
fabric softener sheets, moth balls stink almost as bad as rodent urine.

Important question: Are moth ball fumes corrosive to metal parts or harmful
to plexiglass?

Vaughn


>
> Thanks,
>
> Ray Lovinggood
> Carrboro, North Carolina, USA

[Todd]

Be happy you are evicting the rodents on the ground. A number of
years ago I was happily flying along at 17,999 over the Collegiate
Range in central CO eating my ham & swiss sandwich when I felt
something crawling UNDER my leg. Seconds later that little bugger
crawled up on my leg. When he realized that he was about to get a
flying lesson (aero release out vent window) he popped back under my
leg and the seat cushion. I spent the next (seemed like hours) few
minutes feeling him squirm around under my butt.

My favorite anti-mouse solution is the Mouse Glue Board. Bate it up
with some peanut butter and tape it to a larger piece of cardboard.
Set it in you cockpit and wait to see what you get. The cardboard
keeps him from crapping all over your seat when he gets his front feet
stuck on the glue board. REMOVE MGB BEFORE FLIGHT!

[[email protected]]

On Jan 5, 7:29*pm, rlovinggood > wrote:
> All,
>
> Thanks for your inputs. *The trailer is a "Swan", which is a
> clamshell, fiberglass top, trailer that looks a bit like an older
> Cobra or Komet. *The only place I think they could get in is at the
> rear where the top comes down on the tailgate. *Not sure if that is a
> tight, i.e., smaller than a mouse, seal or not. *If that is the
> opening, I'll have to see what can be done to make it tighter. *Don't
> think hardware cloth is the answer in this case.
>
> While I do enjoy the new trailer, I guess it has a fault: *It makes a
> nice mouse home. *While my old trailer had several faults, I can't
> blame it for attracting rodents. *Heck, it probably repelled them with
> its sheer ugliness. *Since it wasn't very weather tight, with large
> gaps between the rear (and only) door and the trailer frame, and could
> have allowed LARGE critters in, I'm kind of surprised this never
> happened when I had that trailer. *Guess it was too ugly outside and
> too cold inside. *I guess the little furries didn't find it as
> attractive as the nice new Swan.
>
> Wish I could live where the trailer could stay inside a nice building
> and my wife's pets could keep the unwanted critters at bay. *But it
> stays tied down outside.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Ray

Probably the main reason they didn't get into your old trailer is
because you didn't leave food in the glider. Thats a sure fire mouse
invitation.

Park your empty trailer on some nice bright concrete on a sunny day
and get in and close it up. Then, just look around for all the light
leaks to find where the little *******s are getting in. A bright
spotlight inside on a dark night will work too. You might be
surprised when you really start looking. It only takes one tiny
opening and a reason and they will TRASH everything! Dont get me
started!

Is your old trailer available?

MM

[Cats]

On Jan 6, 12:10*am, Brad > wrote:
> Ray,
>
> when you clean out Wolfgangs litter box, put a little bit of that
> special stuff in a small tray and put it in the trailer.
<snip>

This is said to work for those of us with cats as well. But I agree
with the other poster, don't leave any food in the glider.

[JS]

Learned about this from a handful of Minden pilots...
Buy a "Mole Chaser", which runs on 4 C- or D-cell batteries. Put it
in the cockpit and turn it on. It emits a noise every 20 or 30
seconds, which for some reason isn't liked by rodents.
These things are likely more expensive at your local nursery but on
Amazon for about $15.00 US.
I have gone so far as building the circuit board of a mole chaser
into a project box, incorporating a 5V regulator and an "Anderson
Powerpole" connector. Everything 12V of mine uses or has adapters to
Powerpoles, so any available battery, charger, solar panel or
combination can be hooked to it.
Have also used moth balls, but the smell isn't pleasant to people
either. Have needed to un-stick a mouse trap from my shoe. Haven't
tried cat or weasel deposits!
Yes. Of course I've flown with a mole chaser still running. Only
noticeable when flying slowly, which we know the fix for.
Jim

[Bob Whelan[_3_]]

rlovinggood wrote:
> All,
>
> Thanks for your inputs... While my old trailer had several faults, I can't
> blame it for attracting rodents. Heck, it probably repelled them with
> its sheer ugliness. Since it wasn't very weather tight, with large
> gaps between the rear (and only) door and the trailer frame, and could
> have allowed LARGE critters in,


>I'm kind of surprised this never
> happened when I had that trailer...

Ray,

It almost certainly never happened because you never left food in the
trailer/cockpit, and, the trailer to overwinter unattended.

As others have already noted, food - absence of, really - is the key.
Mice aren't very bright, are nearsighted, and forage primarily for food.
Basically, they have Zero Incentive to go anywhere they don't have
reason to suspect food calls. Why would they waste energy exploring an
aerial desert (i.e. a glider trailer) - unless it's not really a desert?

If it's good for your soul to try and block all entrances, have at it,
but if you do only one thing to your glider/trailer...eliminate stored
food (including crumbs)!!!

Regards,
Bob - Mom's paid mousecatcher - W.

[[email protected]]

On Jan 6, 1:16*pm, Bob Whelan > wrote:
> rlovinggood wrote:
> > All,
>
> > Thanks for your inputs... *While my old trailer had several faults, I can't
> > blame it for attracting rodents. *Heck, it probably repelled them with
> > its sheer ugliness. *Since it wasn't very weather tight, with large
> > gaps between the rear (and only) door and the trailer frame, and could
> > have allowed LARGE critters in,
> >I'm kind of surprised this never
> > happened when I had that trailer...
>
> Ray,
>
> It almost certainly never happened because you never left food in the
> trailer/cockpit, and, the trailer to overwinter unattended.
>
> As others have already noted, food - absence of, really - is the key.
> Mice aren't very bright, are nearsighted, and forage primarily for food.
> * * Basically, they have Zero Incentive to go anywhere they don't have
> reason to suspect food calls. *Why would they waste energy exploring an
> aerial desert (i.e. a glider trailer) - unless it's not really a desert?
>
> If it's good for your soul to try and block all entrances, have at it,
> but if you do only one thing to your glider/trailer...eliminate stored
> food (including crumbs)!!!
>
> Regards,
> Bob - Mom's paid mousecatcher - W.

The problem is that mice will bring food along and store it in your
glider if you haven't already provided them with some. They have a
lot of spare time and can pile up some impressive stashes. They also
like protected spaces to build nests for raising families. Any
material that they can shred becomes nest. Build them OUT is the only
sure way.

I forgot to mention in my first post that live traps are pretty good
too; better than poison.

MM

[rlovinggood]

Ok gang, first of all, the old trailer was sold about two years ago.
Oh, you can't imagine how happy I was, and remain, to move into the
new trailer, even if it is a "mickey mouse" trailer now...

Today, after completing the Annual Condition Inspection, I spent a few
hours with vacuum cleaner, compressed air hose, wash bucket and rags
and attacked both glider and glider trailer. I also cleaned out every
bit of scrap food that I could find. I'm sure I have the cleanest
trailer at our field right now. Probably can't say that I have the
cleanest glider because I just can't get in every nook and cranny and
it is 38 years old, plus or minus, now.

As to shredding for a nest, oh yea. I had several blue shop paper
towels in the cockpit and some had been shredded for nesting. I had
some foam padding up front of the trailer and the little bugger had
dug a nice little spot between the two sheets. Not sure why he went
to the trouble because it was the "egg crate" style stuff to start
with. Oh yea, there was a plastic grocery bag that was shredded. And
mouse "croutons" in many places.

A quick check of the electrics didn't find any problems. By "quick" I
mean I connected the battery and turned everything on and did a "radio
check".

Not yet have I done a pressure check (vacuum check) on the pnuematics,
but that will come when I can find a reasonable weather day (I'll be
working outside...)

At the end of the day, I placed a small plastic container in the rear
of the trailer. Inside are the miniature "Lincoln Logs" produced in
one day by my wife's pet ferret. After the trailer was closed up and
tied down, I almost forgot the fabric softener sheet. I meant to
place it in the cockpit, but in a rush to go, I just placed it inside
of the cargo door. So there's poop in the rear and fabric softener up
front. Oh yea, she's gonna smell nice when I open it up! :-)

Ray

[Mike Schumann]

I had a cabin with a bunch of these. Totally useless devices.

Mike Schumann

"JS" > wrote in message
...
> Learned about this from a handful of Minden pilots...
> Buy a "Mole Chaser", which runs on 4 C- or D-cell batteries. Put it
> in the cockpit and turn it on. It emits a noise every 20 or 30
> seconds, which for some reason isn't liked by rodents.
> These things are likely more expensive at your local nursery but on
> Amazon for about $15.00 US.
> I have gone so far as building the circuit board of a mole chaser
> into a project box, incorporating a 5V regulator and an "Anderson
> Powerpole" connector. Everything 12V of mine uses or has adapters to
> Powerpoles, so any available battery, charger, solar panel or
> combination can be hooked to it.
> Have also used moth balls, but the smell isn't pleasant to people
> either. Have needed to un-stick a mouse trap from my shoe. Haven't
> tried cat or weasel deposits!
> Yes. Of course I've flown with a mole chaser still running. Only
> noticeable when flying slowly, which we know the fix for.
> Jim



--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

[[email protected]]

On Jan 6, 8:43*pm, rlovinggood > wrote:
> Ok gang, first of all, the old trailer was sold about two years ago.
> Oh, you can't imagine how happy I was, and remain, to move into the
> new trailer, even if it is a "mickey mouse" trailer now...
>
> Today, after completing the Annual Condition Inspection, I spent a few
> hours with vacuum cleaner, compressed air hose, wash bucket and rags
> and attacked both glider and glider trailer. *I also cleaned out every
> bit of scrap food that I could find. *I'm sure I have the cleanest
> trailer at our field right now. *Probably can't say that I have the
> cleanest glider because I just can't get in every nook and cranny and
> it is 38 years old, plus or minus, now.
>
> As to shredding for a nest, oh yea. *I had several blue shop paper
> towels in the cockpit and some had been shredded for nesting. *I had
> some foam padding up front of the trailer and the little bugger had
> dug a nice little spot between the two sheets. *Not sure why he went
> to the trouble because it was the "egg crate" style stuff to start
> with. *Oh yea, there was a plastic grocery bag that was shredded. *And
> mouse "croutons" in many places.
>
> A quick check of the electrics didn't find any problems. *By "quick" I
> mean I connected the battery and turned everything on and did a "radio
> check".
>
> Not yet have I done a pressure check (vacuum check) on the pnuematics,
> but that will come when I can find a reasonable weather day (I'll be
> working outside...)
>
> At the end of the day, I placed a small plastic container in the rear
> of the trailer. *Inside are the miniature "Lincoln Logs" produced in
> one day by my wife's pet ferret. *After the trailer was closed up and
> tied down, I almost forgot the fabric softener sheet. *I meant to
> place it in the cockpit, but in a rush to go, I just placed it inside
> of the cargo door. *So there's poop in the rear and fabric softener up
> front. *Oh yea, she's gonna smell nice when I open it up! *:-)
>
> Ray

To me,those fabric softener sheets smell just slightly less hidious
than mouse poop and worse than moth balls. Maybe my friends lay them
all over their gliders to keep ME away. Sure works!

MM