How to Keep Mice Out of Your Camper
So, you opened up your cupboard and yikes! The plastic lid on the cocoa powder has been chewed through and there are little black droppings all around it. (This actually happened to me)
YEP, mice have invaded your camper!
Now what?
How Did They Get In?
Mice are small and can get in through the tiniest openings. Sadly, by tiniest, I mean a hole the size of a dime! And once they get in, they are not going to want to leave. Why would they? It is a warm, cozy place to take up residence.
Common places for these pesky rodents to enter are:
- Cracks around doors
- Holes around plumbing and electrical material
- Gaps in the floors and walls
- Poorly sealed slide-outs
- Access panels
Rodent infestations can occur whether your camper is in storage or you are actively living in it. Many winter-living campers put RV Skirting around their unit and the mice love the warmth it provides.
It is important to identify these entry points and properly block them to keep the mice out.
Try to crawl under your camper and look for small gaps. Focus on areas where plumbing and wiring enter your camper’s living area. Check the seals on your slide outs and make sure they are secure. Open drawers, cabinets, and closets and look for signs of daylight.
Get the Holes Sealed
Now that you have identified the point of entry, it is time to seal them. Many RVers use expanding spray foam as it is a simple way to fill the holes. The foam expands as it dries, quickly filling the entire space. Be sure not to use too much!
Another effective way is using silicone caulk to seal smalls cracks or gaps.
Many campers swear by steel wool. They say to stuff it into the holes and it keeps the mice away.
Non-toxic Mice Repellent
Now that you have sealed your camper up, it is time to use a repellent against these annoying critters. Here are methods tried by other Campers:
- Peppermint oil- an effective product that repels rodents because they do not like the scent and avoid it. Dip cotton balls in oil and place several in each location/compartment where mice could get in.
- Bounce Sheets- placed in spaces that they could get in.
- Irish Spring soap bar- use a cheese grater and shave into slices and place in spaces they could get in.
- Wall plug-ins- uses ultrasonic sound waves to repel unwanted pests
It seems that after trying all the above options, Peppermint Oil won for fellow RVers Katie and Eric at Mountain Modern Life.
If you are anything like me and you want an easy solution where you don’t have to hassle with dipping cotton balls in oil, I recommend Victor® Scent-Away™ Natural Rodent Repeller Packs™. The peppermint oil is infused in small granules that are kept inside mesh pouches. All you have to do is place the pouches (they last up to 30 days) in compartments, drawers, cabinets, and other areas where the rodents can get in.
Resources:
https://mountainmodernlife.com/keeping-mice-out/
https://www.victorpest.com/