Having mice nest elsewhere.
October 11, 2022Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:12 — 2.7MB)
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Educating the agriculture community on every aspect of today’s complex farm machinery.
I read your columns in Hemmings Muscle Machines each month and always learn something interesting. I also read your Farm Machinery website and, though I am not a farmer I thoroughly enjoy your learning series articles. I hope you can help solve my current problem.
Today I am searching for a reliable product to help with mouse proofing my older cars while in winter storage. In the past I have relied on little pie pans full of old fashioned moth balls to keep the critters at bay. It appeared to work OK, however, this last winter the moth balls failed and I had some minor mouse damage under hood on my C6 Corvette, the little devils chewed some of the factory aluminum foil heat shielding near the brake lines. The little critters were obviously very comfortable through the cold months all snug and cozy in other items I had stored there. There was a real mess to clean up. Fortunately they were not inside the Corvette, or the old Mercedes I had in the adjacent garage. The Corvette was the only victim this year.
I recently found a product called Fresh Cab at our local farm store. I got several boxes but must say that it does not smell very intimidating to me. Are you familiar with Fresh Cab? Do you have any other recommendations for those of us who store our collector cars (I have 4 so would really like to find something that works reliably)? What do you think of doubling up with moth balls and Fresh Cab? Any thing you can suggest will be greatly appreciated.
My cars are stored in rented storage units so I have little control over who or what is stored in adjacent units by the other renters. To their credit, the facility managers immediately notified all of us when mice were discovered so we could check and correct things if we were affected. Needless to say, it would be great to get ahead of the problem this winter by having something reliable that would encourage the little critters to seek accommodations elsewhere.
Best regards from Montana,
Jim Hansz
Mr. Hansz,
Thanks for reaching out to me. I believe we communicated in the past, possibly about the carburetors on an old M-B.
I would use the product such as the Fresh Cab for the interior and a liquid such as the link below under the hood and on the mechanical parts:
Amazon.com : Mice/Mouse, Rat, Squirrel & Rodent Wire, Engine & Vehicle Protection Spray Prevents Chewing & Nesting for Cars, Trucks, RV’s, ATV’s. Great for Winter Protection. Ready to Use (128 Oz Gallon) : Patio, Lawn & Garden
I personally would be afraid to stain the interior with the liquid but under the hood, etc. it will be fine.
I use a liquid deer replant around my sweet corn fields but there is always one doe or buck that does not care about the odor. It works on 99% of the deer.
I feel you will have similar experience with the cars. You may get one or two mice that just do not care but the lion’s share will be kept away.
Please let me know how you make out.
Thank you so much for reading my ramblings and listening to my babbling!
Have a blessed day,
Ray