How to mouse proof a camper

How To Mouse Proof A Camper Quickly and Effectively

Mouse or rodent infestation in general can have a devastating effect on your camper. Not to mention the damage it can cause to the wiring and structural integrity, mouse possesses substantial health risk as well.  This is why knowing how to mouse proof a camper is essential for you to have a good time on RVing trips. In the case that your camper is having a rodent problem, this article will come in handy.  You can find helpful information about mouse entry points, what attracts them and how to keep all uninvited guests out right here.

It’s vital that you don’t underestimate a mouse ability to infiltrate and wreak havoc on your camper. This is a small creature but if you let a mouse found an opening, it will set up its home in the RV. In the worst case, it will call over friends and in a blink of an eye, your camper is officially mouse nest. This means you have to prevent everything from the start if possible. Should a mouse or two make it inside the camper, you must try your best to eliminate or get rid of them.  Down below are a couple of hints on what to in such situations.

How to mouse proof a camper

Check all mouse entry points on your camper

It doesn’t take much for a mouse to get into an RV. Cracks and gaps in the size of a nickel are more than enough to the rodent. If you want to mouse proof the camper, the first step is to ensure you don’t have an opening. Once a mouse manages to get inside, it’s unlike to go out on its own.  Prevention is better than a cure so seal all the possible entry points which a mouse can take advantage of. Be thorough and pay attention to achieve maximum effect.

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Here are a couple of places which looks like an entrance to a mouse:

  1. Cracks on doors and frames
  2. Pull out compartments that are poorly sealed
  3. Gaps in the piping and the floor
  4. Loosed access panels
  5. Cracked corners and walls

Go around the camper to inspect the vehicle carefully to detect vulnerable spots then quickly repair them. Expanding spray foam is a nice tool for the job with its efficient filling effect. Cracks and gaps can be dealt with effectively by this material though it’s a bit tricky to handle at first. The foam could end up damaging the RV if overused so make sure to only apply a moderate amount. Silicon caulk is another great solution. But if you dislike the use of chemical stuff, thin metal sheet and alike are adequate, depend on the positions.

Being aware what makes your camper appears attractive to a mouse

It’s necessary to find out why mouse love your RV that much and then you’ll know how to mouse proof a camper effectively. In the average case, a mouse infestation is most likely to happen in the winter. When food is care and temperature is low, your camper is a heaven to the usual mouse. Many people don’t use their RVs in the winter and put them in storage. An idled camper without human observation is ideal for a rodent to make its home.   In order to make your vehicle unappealing to the mouse, clear out leftover food or cookie crumbs. Anything that a mouse can use as food sources, get them out of the RV.

Don’t count on plastic containers for food storage, they can slow a mouse down but far from stopping it. This means you must not store foods on the camper even if they remain edible after winter. The last thing you want to do is to prepare food to sustain the rodent while it’s settling in. When you have finally removed all of the food, the next thing to do is to check up the camper regularly. You can use peppermint and repellant products to discourage a rodent from exploring your RV.

For the rest of the year, proper disposal of food wastes will be sufficient. Don’t leave the camper door and window open for too long without a human around.

Sights of a mouse infestation

Even after you have applied the necessary measures of “how to mouse proof a camper” guide, there is a small chance that a mouse could still get in. Therefore, identifying a mouse presence is crucial to prevent further damage. There are several sights and trait which point out a possible infestation is taking place.

  1. Mouse feces: This is quite obvious, where there is a mouse, it must have mouse feces around. Check through every nook and cranny of the camper for rodent feces.
  2. Damaged facilities and accessories: Mouse likes to chew virtually anything whether it’s edible or not. From the mattress to the cabinet door, exam them to see if you could find teeth marks. RV air conditioner is sometimes their favorite target. Electric wires being bitten may lead to RV air conditioner compressor not coming on.
  3. Nest and noise. If a mouse has settled in your camper, it will create a nest. It should be where the mouse can stay warm and cozy so take a look at the bedding and engine compartment. A mouse also tend to squeak frequently which is a clear indication of uninvited guests should you hear it.

How to deal with the situation  

Well, there are two things you have to do here. First, eliminate the mouse and check for openings to seal them back. Second, clear out all health hazards associated with a mouse infestation.

To get rid of the mouse, you can use a variety of methods to either kill or trap the rodent. Place your traps in strategic locations and wait for the result. Usually, if a certain trap is activated many times then the entry point of the mouse should be close by.  Keep doing this until at least a week pass by without new victim in the trap.

When the annoying mouse has been dealt with, now is the time to process the camper. Use a combination of thick rubber gloves, disinfectant and towels to wipe clean the camper interior. Wash your hand with hot water and soap to complete the process.

Best way to mouse proof a camper

Conclusion

And that is pretty much it, not too hard to understand, right? As long as you know how to mouse proof a camper, you won’t have too much problem with rodent infestation. Read through the information above and put it into practice then everything will turn out to be fine.

Last Updated on May 12, 2018

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