Wildlife Invasion

rcwass · Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2006 5:42 pm Post subject: Wildlife Invasion

My 22' Cruiser has been up on blocks and covered for the winter. Last week I removed the cover to do some repairs for the upcoming season. I removed my kicker and brought it into the basement. When I removed the shroud I found a large nest made of TP. When I checked inside the cabin I found acorn shells and pieces of TP. Under the sink, more TP. In the V-Berth another nest of TP, more acorn shells and Pea and Pooo!
Chipmunks have invaded my C-Dory. I've been told to put moth balls in the boat next winter. Any other suggestions. What a mess! Hope they haven't eaten any wires.
Thanks,
Dick

drjohn71a · Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2006 6:09 pm Post subject:

Sorry to hear of the rodent problems. Rodents invading farm equipment, planes, autos, motorhomes is a very common problem. A special spray was developed to prevent them from climbing up the inside wheel/ brake line access areas. I believe it is called "Mouse Out". I got some at a small town auto parts store. They use it alot on the farms 'cause the mice get up in the tractors, combines, etc., and chew up the hydraulics something terrible.

Here in Kansas, the fall is the worst time for these invasions. Mice took over my motorhome stored in the roundtop last year. I started spraying from the roof a/c heat vents first, then lower each day. They hated the spray so much they were actually running out while I sprayed.

The stuff smells like concentrated mothballs, so I am certain it is not intended for much inside use, but it seems to air out OK. I have had them in my trucks and balers, too, so I spray everything around the wheel access areas in the Fall and that seems to work.

I hope this might help you out a bit, John

Larry K · Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2006 6:24 pm Post subject:

I've used dryer softener sheets like Bounce. It has worked for the last 3 years and smells a lot better in the spring.
I know it works for mice but don't know about Chipmunks.

Larry K -Odyssey

iggy · Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2006 6:37 pm Post subject:

Obviously this can be a much larger problem on bigger boats. PassageMaker Magazine just had an article this month on a marina invasion of rats, apparently due to nearby construction.

The author spent a great deal of time solving his problem, including gnawed teak floor board grids in the shower, etc. etc. Another boat incurred tens of thousands of dollars of damage, which is often not covered by insurance!

Once aboard, you cannot be sure that -anything- is intact! Wires. Cushions. Carpets and floorboards. Water hoses. The list goes on . . .

I hope you don't have these problems, but I'd suggest a very careful inspection.

e.g.

Captains Cat · Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2006 6:52 pm Post subject:

JamesTXSD · Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2006 7:27 pm Post subject:

Besides the dryer sheets, which really work well, we put D-Con around the boat and motorhome. The rodents (a chipmunk is just a rat with better PR) eat it and go outside to die. We also put Comet cleanser around the tires and the trailer jack (sprinkled in a 6" circle around anything that touches the ground). I've been told this also keeps the crawly critters out... must work, we haven't found any in our stuff. If there are any gaps/openings in walls or storage space, we put steel wool in there. No free rent for the varmits. Evil or Very Mad

Best wishes,
Jim B.

AstoriaDave · Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2006 8:58 pm Post subject:

The mothballs will also keep yellowjackets from nesting or wintering over. [The queens generated from an old hive spread out and hibernate ... to spring to life in April or so.]

Chris Bulovsky · Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2006 11:44 pm Post subject:

I had a mouse trouble in an other boat and a car a couple of years ago. They like to chew wires Evil or Very Mad

. I placed some rat poison from the feed store. That did the trick. Also started storing bird seed in metal trash cans with lids. That also helps. Eliminate the food sources and apply poison.

Good hunting

Chris Bulovsky