I HATE MICE!!!!

[ILRiverRat]

Thos little bastages have caused me more problems over the years. Chewing wires up in my mowers and getting in the fan in our mini-van and what not. Last year I trapped over 50 of them in the barn. Guess I need to get me some outside cats again..!!!!

But how do I keep them out of my Champ??? I honestly don't even know how they're getting in the rod storage boxes. THey've chewed up cork on the rod handles, various articles of clothing or life jackets. I'm worried they'll chew up electrical wires or something!

I've resorted to keeping traps in the storage boxes and just have trapped my first two of the 'fall' - but I don't know if they're going in there BECAUSE I've baited traps or if I'm better off with the traps than without.

Could they be going up the extension cord to the top? But how the HECK are they getting in the boxes??? That tells me they're crawling around under the floor somehow and god only knows what they've chewed up under the flooring. They love styrofoam!!!

I've tried moth balls - but they end up eating them! I swear!

Anybody got a great idea????

[kris_tx]

They fall down onto the boat from above. I had some rats in the past in my boat storage. I used traps, and also put out rat bait. Do you keep a cover on it?

[Black Duck]

mothballs or dryer sheets

[BILLY]

fEW DABS OF SPEARMENT OIL ON A COTTON BALL.
Cr$p, I did it again.

[Lea]

Hit the caps lock, did ya, Billy?

I had a mouse get in my 1990 176 many years ago. In the rod locker. Fortunately, I had left a paper towel in there, so they chewed that. Put a live trap in the locker and relocated the little monster. So far, so good in last two boats!

Just got one in my house last night. First of many. Older house!!! Cannot figure where they get in, but they do!!!

[ILRiverRat]

The boat's in the barn so no, I don't cover it. If they fell onto the boat from above - I doubt they'd survive. It be at least an 8 foot drop. Of course they are tough little gomers.

Still don't get how they get in the rod lockers.

I think I might try the dryer sheets - several folks have mentioned that - but didn't have good luck with mothballs - plus dryer sheets do smell better.

In the meantime - I'll keep trapping them....

Sorry Lea - but I use kill traps.

[James.Harner]

Billy is right...spearmint oil works.....and it leaves your boat smelling like a pack of Wrigley's and not your Grandma's closets!

[axis]

i cover mine and use moth balls.

[Bounce]

A good buddy of mine had his 1989 Champ stored for the winter and left the prop down to drain. Mice got into his lower unit and ripped it up. Needed a complete replacement. If they've got to chew on somethin, I guess rod handles are cheaper.

[BRETT]

Dryer sheets do NOT work. Trust me. They will use it for bedding. Use of dryer sheets is by far the most hanus rumor

[BILLY]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by James.Harner &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Billy is right...spearmint oil works.....and it leaves your boat smelling like a pack of Wrigley's and not your Grandma's closets! </td></tr></table>

Yea. and with teal carpet(in the other champ) It made you smile and snicker at it.

[Wags]

I have a 30x50 garage with fields around me, and have always put out d-con, and moth balls before the weather starts getting cold and have never had a problem with them getting into the champ.

[Steve 187]

Leaving the cover on just gives them a better place to hide.

[ILRiverRat]

Yeah - I've seen boats have moisture problems in dry storage with the covers left on them. SO - I figure I can always spray out the boats and vacuum them good. It does get dusty with a lime floor in the barn and it's hard to keep from tracking crap into it....

Sigh... I don't worry about that with my 'tin boat'.

gotta keep the Champ 'purty' tho...

Can't poison the mice cause I'm worried about my 4 dogs getting it. THe cats used to keep the mice in check but the coyotes started killing all my cats - so now I hunt coyotes! But the mice are back with a vengence...

I will try that spearmint oil tho. THanks for the tip...

[champ1264]

^^ The circle of life ^^

[steve1206]

Funny you mention the fan in the mini-van....better than the 10 lb. rotted house cat I pulled out from behind the grill on my Tahoe on our Florida trip this summer. We thought one of the kids sh@t their pants before we found it...Pure soup...Oh, my stomach is turning over now....

[ILRiverRat]

ICK.....

[Mark Tr.]

When I store mine for the winter everything comes out, life jackets, rods, tackle, and especially any boat snacks. Never had so much as a mouse turd. Having Nemo our out side Tom cat sleeping in the boat kinda helps though...

[kmed2]

get a cat...

[mha]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by BILLY &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">fEW DABS OF SPEARMENT OIL ON A COTTON BALL.
Cr$p, I did it again.</td></tr></table>

+1 !!!