I think this might fall under preventative maintenance. I'll be parking my tractor in a lean-to shed. What are folks doing to help prevent rodents of any sort from nesting, chewing on wires, or generally reeking havoc on their tractor? Can anything be done?
Rodents / mice / chipmunks
- Thread starter Norman
- Start date
TheOldHokie
Well-known member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
L3901/LA525, B7200DT/B1630, G2160/RCK60, G2460/RCK60
Leave the hood open, put a ¼" mesh screen over the air filter inlet, TomCat mouse poison bait stations around the perimeter of the shelter, keep weeds and brush trimmed to the ground 20' all the way around the structure. Cats will pi$$ on your equipment.
The only thing for which I’ve found moth-balls useful….is moths. (and they are harmful to people especially children). Cedar chips work just as well against moths but might be used for nesting for rodents.
If you do continue to use moth balls, choose a brand that contains paradichlorobenzene instead of naphthalene because it is less harmful.
Male cats pizz on everything…females don’t.…but they might use upholstery for a scratching post.
If you do continue to use moth balls, choose a brand that contains paradichlorobenzene instead of naphthalene because it is less harmful.
Male cats pizz on everything…females don’t.…but they might use upholstery for a scratching post.
jyoutz
Well-known member
Equipment
MX6000 HST open station, FEL, 6’ cutter, forks, 8’ rear blade, 7’ cultivator
I keep tomcat bait block stations everywhere in the barn and outside. This keeps the mice population low. For squirrels keep the hoods open on parked vehicles. That deters them from nesting in the engine compartment.
Thanks for all the great input. I’ll be sure to apply many of the suggestions. Need to stay away from poison though, I don’t want my dog to accidentally get some. No small kids or cats around so at least I don’t have to deal with that.
I don't know if you have an electrical outlet but I bought some inexpensive ultrasonic noise emitters for my shack in the country 2 years ago and it has made a big difference. I was skeptical initially but they have really proven their worth. My issue has been birds pooping all over my tractor and items "stored" in the barn . I can live with that.
A cat can take care of that also. Rubber snakes sometimes help.
I can tell you that plastic owls do not work. My wife and I were sitting in our garden admiring our work when we heard a big ruckus over to our right…. where the plastic owl sat on the fence overlooking the garden…. It had a 2” hole in it’s base for the moulding/manufacturing process…. and a bird suddenly flew out of the hollow owl… where the nest was located.
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jyoutz
Well-known member
Equipment
MX6000 HST open station, FEL, 6’ cutter, forks, 8’ rear blade, 7’ cultivator
Go to tractor supply and buy a tomcat bait station. The bait is enclosed in a lockable box that is child and pet proof. The access holes are mouse-sized. This is the only effective long term solution for mice.
jyoutz
Well-known member
Equipment
MX6000 HST open station, FEL, 6’ cutter, forks, 8’ rear blade, 7’ cultivator
The absolute best way (and this works in fully infested areas as well) to eliminate this problem.
RUN IT!
RUN IT!
Get some peppermint oil - dilute a bit with some water - and then spray, spray, SPRAY anything that looks even remotely chewable.
Had a critter get up under hood of my truck and chew 1/4 the way through the main engine wiring harness. It took me 2-3 days to put it all back together. And then i found the peppermint. I now religiously spray down the engine compartment wiring about once a week.
Oh! They also found the wiring that goes to my outdoor AC compressor. Woke up one morning and it was like 80° in the house. All of that wiring is now enclosed in steel sheathing....and I still spray it down with peppermint.
They are RELENTLESS!
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Bmyers
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Lifetime Member
Equipment
Grand L3560 with LA805 loader, EA 55" Wicked Grapple, SBX72 BB, LP 1272 mower
I use this is in the cab:
Then I use the spray on the engine:
Also, I keep my hood open. Finally, I use Tomcat bait traps around the barn. So far, it has stopped/prevented any damage.
Then I use the spray on the engine:
Also, I keep my hood open. Finally, I use Tomcat bait traps around the barn. So far, it has stopped/prevented any damage.
the other thing about poison are predators. Mouse eats poison and runs off. Owl eats mouse and gets poisoned. Then it dies, and a buzzard eats on the dead owl. It gets poisoned too. You get the idea.
People up the road got into a pickle a number of years ago; they had same issue and someone found a dead bald eagle a half mile or so away, with no apparent wounds. Fish and game people took the bird and found rat poison had killed it after it ate a poisoned rat. The owners of the place got a good sermon about it. They were using poison to control the mouse/rat population and in doing so were also controlling the predatory animal population without them even knowing about it.
People up the road got into a pickle a number of years ago; they had same issue and someone found a dead bald eagle a half mile or so away, with no apparent wounds. Fish and game people took the bird and found rat poison had killed it after it ate a poisoned rat. The owners of the place got a good sermon about it. They were using poison to control the mouse/rat population and in doing so were also controlling the predatory animal population without them even knowing about it.
jyoutz
Well-known member
Equipment
MX6000 HST open station, FEL, 6’ cutter, forks, 8’ rear blade, 7’ cultivator
That is true with strychnine bait. Most mouse baits are warfarin, a blood thinner used for humans also. The amount needed to affect a predator is far greater than the amount needed to kill a mouse. Tomcat mouse blocks are warfarin, not strychnine.