Best way to keep mice from doing harm to Spyder

[Ex-Rocket]

I was wondering what some people do to keep those pesky meeses from doing harm to the Spyder during the winter months. I have mine parked in a 3 sided carport and keep the bike covered with an full cover. I went out today so I could go for a ride on New Years Day and I keep a towel which covers the seat and when I took the full cover off, I noticed the mice had eaten a hole in the towel. I checked the bike over and didn't see any apparent other indications that the mice had done any other damage, especially to the bike. I started the Spyder and everthing seemed fine. Went for the New Years Day ride and the bike had no issues. So I think they didn't get in the engine area or chewed any wires or hoses. So how do I keep those pesky meeses away from my Spyder?

[Sam Mac]

Very common problem with the Garden Tractor guys. Some of the recommendations I've heard, get a cat, laundry dryer sheets, moth balls, traps, Decon and probably many I have not heard of. I hate mice and have repaired plenty of damage caused from mice.

[Darren111]

Hi Ex-Rocket,

I am a qualified and experienced Pest Control Technician and here is my advice to you.
Make your carport inhospitable as possible. Get rid of the towel because this can be used for bedding material for rodents.
Your Spyder is parked in a 3 sided carport, make sure the bottom of the three sides (wall floor junctions) are well sealed. Place mouse snapper traps using peanut butter as a bait against walls of both left and right hand side of entrance to carport.
Its all about keeping the rodents out of your property in the first place.
If you can post a pic of your carport, I can advise on other pest preventative measures

[Mazo EMS2]

Very common problem with the Garden Tractor guys. Some of the recommendations I've heard, get a cat, laundry dryer sheets, moth balls, traps, Decon and probably many I have not heard of. I hate mice and have repaired plenty of damage caused from mice.

The above, as well as eliminate any and all food sources, be it food, bird food, etc ...anything they might eat. Steel wool in the tail pipe and other holes where they might go in to nest. Get rid of that towel and anything else that they can use to make nests with too. I've even heard of people buying those sonic sound wave makers that ya plug in. Supposedly they create a frequency that we can't hear but drives mice away....mehhh, not sure about those things. Good luck...mice suck

[napper39]

ive heard of people getting a spray bottle putting water and adding cloths dryer sheets like 4 and spraying the inside of the motorcycle cover let it dry then put it on the bike ,mice and other things that try to do damage wont go there any more

[DJFaninTN]

[scarecrow]

Mice hate peppermint. Read this earlier this week. Using peppermint will help keep them away.

[telespec]

You can try using peppermint oil on cotton balls, it work for me when I was having problems with mice and they don't like the smell but you might. I found it at the GNC store. Good luck.

[Grandpot]

Sounds like Darren111 is in the anti-rodent business. I would take his advice. Trap those pesky critters.

On the surface, using things that smell and repel rodents sounds good, but those smells may actually attract other critters. Just a thought.

As for me, I am fortunate to have a five foot black snake that has taken up residence in the shed where I store my bikes. He's been around for a few years and earns his keep. He startles me every once in awhile, but we leave each other alone and exist peacefully together. He does take the winter off, but I think the rodents smell his presence and stay away.

The kitty idea is a good one also.

[Tango]

Moth balls, dryer sheets, snap traps. Tom

[Brentc]

Hi Ex-Rocket,

I am a qualified and experienced Pest Control Technician and here is my advice to you.
Make your carport inhospitable as possible. Get rid of the towel because this can be used for bedding material for rodents.
Your Spyder is parked in a 3 sided carport, make sure the bottom of the three sides (wall floor junctions) are well sealed. Place mouse snapper traps using peanut butter as a bait against walls of both left and right hand side of entrance to carport.
Its all about keeping the rodents out of your property in the first place.
If you can post a pic of your carport, I can advise on other pest preventative measures

Darren, what is your opinion on the dryer sheets? Also, I've heard people putting steel wool in exhaust system openings to keep mice out?

[Bob Denman]

I like to use dryer sheets.

But I'd also like to hear what our "Pest Control" specialist thinks of them.
My bike is in an enclosed garage: I don't cover it, because the "Creepy-Crawlies" like to hide in the dark...
Don't give them a place to hide!

[Cavman]

When baiting traps, put part of a mini tootsie roll on the trap. Get it soft and wrap it around and into the hook. Let it get hard before putting out the traps. The mice/rats can't get the tootsie roll off like they can with peanut butter.

Also, I have purchased a bunch of the small cotton draw string bags and put a few moth balls in them. I hang these down low on the bike or toss them under the bike.

[Bob Denman]

Put this video on a loop, and let it play constantly...

[garb55]

Lf you don't stop ridding the mice will not catch you

[bmccaffrey]

Used dryer sheets for years in my motor home. Have not had issues.

Cab fresh works.

The green xmas tree air freshners also work

[Darren111]

Darren, what is your opinion on the dryer sheets? Also, I've heard people putting steel wool in exhaust system openings to keep mice out?

Can't comment on the dryer sheets because I have never used them. Putting wirewool in the exhaust system is a solution that works, but if your Spyder is stored in a garage/storage and its well sealed against rodent entry bearing in mind they can get through a 6mm gap, then there would be no need to put wirewool in the exhaust because there is no rodent access in the first place. Bristle strip proofing on the bottom of doors/garage doors, sealant applied to any cracks/crevices/wall floor junctions, wirewool, wire mesh and airbrick covers are all good to keep rodents out of any property.

[Darren111]

When baiting traps, put part of a mini tootsie roll on the trap. Get it soft and wrap it around and into the hook. Let it get hard before putting out the traps. The mice/rats can't get the tootsie roll off like they can with peanut butter.

Also, I have purchased a bunch of the small cotton draw string bags and put a few moth balls in them. I hang these down low on the bike or toss them under the bike.

Peanut butter used on this type of mouse snapper trap (see attached pic) has caught me hundreds of mice over the years.

[Darren111]

Sometimes we gas mice by using radars containing aerosol of 2.8g carbon dioxide. We place units against walls at appropriate intervals such as every 2 -3 metres (depending on area) in the hope that a mouse will travel through it, causing the radar shutter to shut and gas the mouse at the same time.

[cptjam]

Our last house had mice. Bought several of the high frequency emitters. In a couple of days, they left. No more mice! Worked for me.

[4 MARIE]

Rodents also like dark hiding places, so unless you are parked outside, I would leave
it uncovered.

[BamaJohn]

You can try using peppermint oil on cotton balls, it work for me when I was having problems with mice and they don't like the smell but you might. I found it at the GNC store. Good luck.

After spending around $1000 on my truck and car for mice damages, I asked RV'ers (who store their vehicles mostly) and they recommended the Peppermint-on cotton balls trick. Works for me so far...that and the feral cat i rescued!
jb

[jaherbst]

We keep a radio on and a light on in the Hanger where I store most of my "adult" toys. We keep a light on in the garage at home.

Keeps the Pack Rats, which are the worst and the mice away. They hate noise and light.

Jack

[Chupaca]

Lf you don't stop ridding the mice will not catch you

That works for me... I also spend a lot of time banging around (my work shop) where the spyder is ...

[CapNCrunch]

I was wondering what some people do to keep those pesky meeses from doing harm to the Spyder during the winter months. I have mine parked in a 3 sided carport and keep the bike covered with an full cover. I went out today so I could go for a ride on New Years Day and I keep a towel which covers the seat and when I took the full cover off, I noticed the mice had eaten a hole in the towel. I checked the bike over and didn't see any apparent other indications that the mice had done any other damage, especially to the bike. I started the Spyder and everthing seemed fine. Went for the New Years Day ride and the bike had no issues. So I think they didn't get in the engine area or chewed any wires or hoses. So how do I keep those pesky meeses away from my Spyder?

I live out of town in the country (Montana), and we have field mice on our property. I park the Spyder in an enclosed garage, but they still got in! SO ........ I started using MOTH BALLS. I put them in used butter cups, and distributed 4 cups on the floor of the garage, one under my Spyder. No more mice!!! Also, no more bugs of any kind in the garage, and that's pretty nice. Those MOTH BALLS kill everything you don't want!!
GOOD LUCK,
CapNCrunch : =)