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bjrogers86auto Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2009 Posts: 1375 Location: Halifax, N.S.
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Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2014 5:44 pm Post subject: Another mouse thread... mice in van while camped |
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We were camped out next to a friends cottage the past two nights. The weather was amazing and the view of the ocean even better!
The cottage has a small issue with carpenter ants and mice. The ants were taken care of today by an exterminator but the mice are yet to be foiled!
I took comfort in knowing I was safe from the pests in the Westy as I dozed off to sleep last night. The hatch screen was on and the door propped open about 6" for a nice breeze. About an hour into dreamland I felt something on my chest..my hand closed around a small warm squirming rodent! I tossed it forward and sat up and turned on a light but found nothing! I heard it hit something...no idea what. My wife insists I was dreaming but it was real! AND CREEPY! I know they are tiny but its startling!
Anyhow...van is parked in the driveway at home with traps set. Trying to prove I'm not crazy!
Brian _________________ 86 Vanagon GL Westfalia 2.1
18 Nissan Frontier Pro 4X
19 Honda Civic Hatchback
A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day. Calvin and Hobbes. |
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TequilaSunSet Samba Member
Joined: May 30, 2012 Posts: 2109 Location: Philippines
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Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2014 5:47 pm Post subject: |
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_________________ Don't harsh my mellow...
1985 Hightower Vanagon 1.8T- Gone
1972 Panel Bus- Gone
1967 Bug- Gone
1964 Euro Sunroof Bug- Gone
1969/72/63 Sunroof Bug- Gone
1975 Brazilian Bug in the Philippines 🇵🇭- New to me |
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bjrogers86auto Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2009 Posts: 1375 Location: Halifax, N.S.
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Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2014 5:50 pm Post subject: mouse |
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HA!
I KNEW THEY WERE EVIL!
B _________________ 86 Vanagon GL Westfalia 2.1
18 Nissan Frontier Pro 4X
19 Honda Civic Hatchback
A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day. Calvin and Hobbes. |
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Zeitgeist 13 Samba Member
Joined: March 05, 2009 Posts: 12102 Location: Port Manteau
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Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2014 6:00 pm Post subject: |
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Gawd, if you've never felt a rodent scamper over you while you're attempting to sleep, you're missing out on epic creepiness. I once lived in a seedy little bungalow with a mattress directly on the floor. After experiencing the creepiness first hand, I opted to place traps around my bed. When I woke in the morning, every one of those traps was sprung...one even nabbed two mice at the same time. Rodents are permanently verboten from my abodes. _________________ Casey--
'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik? |
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0to60in6min Samba Member
Joined: November 27, 2006 Posts: 3411 Location: OR & CA (Oregon/California)
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Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2014 6:17 pm Post subject: |
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get a cat ! !
better yet get 2 cats so they don't feel lonely.. ! !
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bjrogers86auto Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2009 Posts: 1375 Location: Halifax, N.S.
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Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2014 6:24 pm Post subject: Mouse |
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I'm pretty sure the creepy little critter was just passing through. The place I park my van all winter is heavily guarded by my friend who owns the garage. He traps all winter long so I avoid the spring clean up. Nice guy he is!
There were no sign of mice this year at all. They tend to leave "stuff" behind. If I didn't scare that one out last night the Nutella and peanut butter should take care of it.
Brian _________________ 86 Vanagon GL Westfalia 2.1
18 Nissan Frontier Pro 4X
19 Honda Civic Hatchback
A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day. Calvin and Hobbes. |
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the joker Samba Member
Joined: October 12, 2006 Posts: 1287
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Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2014 6:53 pm Post subject: |
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Hiking in Baxter state park, in a lean-to, mouse stole hair out of my friends head, try waking up to that
Once had a mouse - hitch hike - from NH to RI in my westy
Was his last ride |
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vanagonjr Samba Member
Joined: October 07, 2010 Posts: 3422 Location: Dartmouth, Mass.
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Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2014 7:13 pm Post subject: |
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Once when using my friend's Westy (now mine) in Washington state, he and his wife equipped the van for our 2-week vacation, including mouse traps. He said I would need them. We spent a few nights in the van at their house.
Then we hit the road and sure enough, the 1st night, we could hear mice in the van. I got up, set two traps in the front foot wells, as he instructed, and within 15 seconds, we nabbed two mice. After that, I set them up near the front wheels prior to going to bed and often caught mice.
Weird, never had a problem with mice getting into the camper at a campground in other places, but several times in Washington we did! _________________ John - 86 Wolfsburg Westfalia "Weekender"
Flint reversed 1.8T W/Passat 5-Speed
LiMBO (late model bus club) www.limbobus.org
LiMBO is on Facebook too! https://www.facebook.com/groups/
FAQ thread: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=525798 |
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Mike Robinson Samba Member
Joined: June 18, 2010 Posts: 386 Location: Nanaimo BC Canada
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Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2014 8:13 pm Post subject: |
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Just back from a week in the Olympic National Park in Washington.
I was woken up by my wife who could hear 'a sound'
So we went in search of 'the sound of chewing' and found a lovely mouse in the large storage locker next to the back table.
It was starting to tuck into some tortilla chips.
We then played get the mouse out of the van for half an hour. Did not see it leave. Re packed the van, said goodnight to our neibour who was trying to get a mouse out of his car and went back to sleep.
No more noise, no droppings, I think we aced this one.
I think the key is not to leave doors open. I know there are other ways in, but I think this mouse took the easy way in.
M |
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snowsyncro Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2009 Posts: 1557 Location: East Preston, Nova Scotia, Canada
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Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2014 5:05 am Post subject: Re: Another mouse thread... |
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bjrogers86auto wrote: |
About an hour into dreamland I felt something on my chest..my hand closed around a small warm squirming rodent! I tossed it forward and sat up and turned on a light but found nothing! I heard it hit something...no idea what. My wife insists I was dreaming but it was real! AND CREEPY! I know they are tiny but its startling!
Brian |
Hey tough guy! That mouse was just making a nest in that thatch you call chest hair.
(If you know Brian this story is even funnier. Picture the sea-kayaking, marathon-running, weight-lifting manly firefighter.)
Funny, at the same time I was camping in Cape Breton. First night I could hear gnawing that sounded like it was up in the sheet metal between the A and B pillars, or on the headliner under the luggage rack. After a few poundings with my fist it settled down. Second night I was awoken to the sound of tearing tissue (it was very quiet where I was). I thought it was coming from the ashtray, which my granddaughter had stuffed full of Kleenex. Sure enough that was chewed but it was odd -- the sound seemed too loud. The third night my wife was in the lower bunk. I was up on top and I heard nothing, but she said the mouse kept her awake it seemed like half the night.
Yesterday, after coming home, I went on a mouse hunt. The mouse had bailed, presumably when the van left home, but I did find this (in the small cupboard under the hatches) mere inches from where my head was…
RonC |
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bjrogers86auto Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2009 Posts: 1375 Location: Halifax, N.S.
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Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2014 6:48 am Post subject: Mouse |
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Hahah yeah I'm only tough when I think someone is watching!
Last nights trapping was unsuccessful so I'm looking more like a vivid dreamer than anything!
That's some major work your mouse was doing Ron! Are you bringing him along to Graves? Hehe
Brian _________________ 86 Vanagon GL Westfalia 2.1
18 Nissan Frontier Pro 4X
19 Honda Civic Hatchback
A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day. Calvin and Hobbes. |
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snowsyncro Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2009 Posts: 1557 Location: East Preston, Nova Scotia, Canada
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Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2014 7:50 am Post subject: |
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I won't bring that one -- I think he stayed in Cape Breton. But he has lots of relatives around here…found this mess in my Syncro when I began rebuilding it in the winter:
After removing the mess:
He was even stockpiling materials for later use:
RonC |
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morymob Samba Member
Joined: November 09, 2007 Posts: 4683 Location: east-tn
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Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2014 12:12 pm Post subject: |
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Pepper mint oil on cotton balls located in hideaways, smells good & will keep them out once u get mess cleaned up, use some strong colorox mix to disinfect where they have been. Another sure cure::torch it!! |
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bjrogers86auto Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2009 Posts: 1375 Location: Halifax, N.S.
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Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2014 1:59 pm Post subject: mouse |
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WOW! Thats impressive!
I have a feeling I was parked inline with the cottage exit and the nest in the woods and he took a short cut through the van. I have 3 traps set with nutella and peanut butter but no action yet. I'll leave them in there for a few days but thinking it was a pass through.
Either way I won't forget that for awhile...motivates me to improve rear screen security.
B _________________ 86 Vanagon GL Westfalia 2.1
18 Nissan Frontier Pro 4X
19 Honda Civic Hatchback
A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day. Calvin and Hobbes. |
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Mmartinphd Samba Member
Joined: March 17, 2012 Posts: 42 Location: Newnan, GA
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Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2014 7:18 am Post subject: |
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We tried the peppermint oil things all throughout the van and it did not work. We use Freshcab, which we order from Amazon. We have not had a critter stay since. It also smells good and it works well. _________________ ------------------------------
1987 Westy |
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supersooner Samba Member
Joined: July 27, 2005 Posts: 131 Location: At the ranch - 20 miles east of Oklahoma City
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Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2014 7:33 am Post subject: |
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I swear by peanuts superglued to the bait pedal. Mice seem to lick off peanut butter without tripping the trap. Front passenger floorboard in the westy seems to be a good place. _________________ 71 tintop westy
82 Diesel westy
75 westy
76 westy |
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bjrogers86auto Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2009 Posts: 1375 Location: Halifax, N.S.
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Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2015 6:25 am Post subject: more mice |
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Just finished another great summer of camping in the Westy and have another mouse story to share!
Camped in Lac Cascapedia for two nights in the Chic Choc mountains in Quebec on our tour. On the first night while enjoying a lovely quiet snooze my wife heard a "mouse in heaven" and woke me up. He indeed had found the mother load of sugar in a bag of trail mix. Yogurt covered raisins seemed to be the favourite but would prove to be his downfall!
After setting up a clear plastic bowl upside down over the trail mix on the floor...I waited. It took me over two hours to finally lure him into the trap but in the end it was those raisins! (note to self...pack some traps)
The waiting wasn't all bad...at one point a bull moose wandered by just outside our site. I didn't have a clear view of him but could see the outline through the trees...it was huge!
B _________________ 86 Vanagon GL Westfalia 2.1
18 Nissan Frontier Pro 4X
19 Honda Civic Hatchback
A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day. Calvin and Hobbes. |
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oldhuldy67 Samba Member
Joined: November 25, 2008 Posts: 506 Location: somewhere with a southern exposure
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Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2015 7:27 am Post subject: The first one and the last one .. |
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My first resident didn't want to leave..
My guest for coffee on the Blue Ridge this summer
They're back.. _________________ Currently:1980 Westy Westfalia Poptop (a total stock-look rebuild with all my favorite camping mods)
1967 stock Sunroof Beetle
Formerly:
1978 Westy Campmobile, the"EM50 Urban Assault Vehicle" code named "The Pickle"
1973 Squareback (sold on a lark)
1973 Super Beetle (crashed..walked away without a scratch)
1972 Standard Beetle (lost in a relationship..)
1966 Beetle (the Black Beauty, my Dad's)
1964 Beetle (the Beige Bug, my beginning beater, also my Dad's) Thanks, Dad. |
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dobryan Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006 Posts: 16450 Location: Brookeville, MD
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Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2015 7:31 am Post subject: |
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On the last two nights camping on the Colorado I had a mouse visit each night. I noticed that the river bank had plenty of holes and there was a tiny mouse about. I'm going to have to go over the entry points again. I thought I had them well blocked, haven't had a mouse in years, but this one was able to get in. I will say that the mouse I saw was about half the size of our field mice back east. Over 60 days camping and I didn't get one until the end. Looks like he was just a nocturnal visitor since I saw no signs or noise after I left that site. _________________ Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD
"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson
MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646
Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371
The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794 |
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dhaavers Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010 Posts: 7717 Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2015 9:52 am Post subject: |
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3 tips...
- front air intake (close up gap with hardware cloth):
- battery box vents (stuff with stainless sink scrubbies)...PS & DS:
- food (keep every bread or chip bag inside another tub or bin)
If they do make it in, they'll get bored and leave... _________________ 86 White Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS> |
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