Winter storage prep.

[John Schmidt]

Had some good luck in looking for a storage unit for the trike. It's only 3.5 miles away with access straight up the road...maybe five minutes away. It's a 10x20 for $85/month and just went to check it out since everything was done online and phone. Problem...there's still some furniture in there from the prior occupant. The only thing of value possibly would be an old Zenith floor model tube type radio similar to what I used to listen to back in the mid 40's. I remember building a table model back in grade school and it actually worked. The old Zenith cabinet is actually in pretty fair shape, might be kinda fun to use it as a winter project...just to see if I could get it working, then sell to a collector.

So...back to storage! The unit looks to be quite weather and rodent proof but one never knows. They are quite new so I'm wondering what can be used as a last line of protection against mice, I don't need them setting up housekeeping by chewing into my hand-tooled leathers or wiring. I could remove all the leather and keep it at the house, but that won't guarantee anything either. Any suggestions?

[Rams]

Suggestions?

Yeah sure.   Save the monthly rental and concern about mice, store that fine machine in my shop at no cost.  While everything would be free, you might have to refill the gas tank if you showed up without notice. 

Rams

[98valk]

put some snow tires on, off dual sport tire on front and put heated gear on and keep riding.

[six2go #152]

Mice hate the smell of mothballs. I sprinkle them around under the bike & around the perimeter too. Some say that dryer sheets work also. I normally cover the ends of the exhaust with aluminum foil & rubber band in place. Never have had a mouse problem in my unheated garage.

[Jess from VA]

Many of those storage units have no electric for you to use.

Lighting becomes battery leds.

Besides mothballs (or other deterrents), I'd set a few traps with good bait just to see if they're around anyway.

And if any other unit renters are around when you're there, ask them if they have any mouse or other issues.

[John Schmidt]

put some snow tires on, off dual sport tire on front and put heated gear on and keep riding.

I did take it for a ride this past winter, had a blast doing power slides in the snow. 

[98valk]

put some snow tires on, off dual sport tire on front and put heated gear on and keep riding.

I did take it for a ride this past winter, had a blast doing power slides in the snow. 

Nice!!!   

[Jersey mike]

Tomcat mice killer.

It comes in 1”x1”x2” blocks.

In the package or bag I get it comes with a small plastic box to put the poison in so it’s not exposed to anyone or any other animal but in my garage I just take several blocks and place them on the floor around the overhead garage door rails and around the inside perimeter of the garage.

Sometimes I use a razor and cut them in half and crush them into smaller pieces and a little dust crumbs for the rodents to eat.

Use disposable rubber gloves and some soap snd water on your hands when done.

It’s easy to tell if anything is eating it, they either get moved a little or there’s chew marks and if you crush some up the smaller pieces and dust disappears.

[cookiedough]

yah, mouse traps, tomcat blocks for them to eat although not sure it kills them all the time?, and mothballs are all good suggestions for sure cannot hurt.

there is youtube videos of a homemade 5 gallon bucket with spinning rod in middle lathered with peanut butter in middle for mice to climb up bucket, go onto the slippery rod and fall into a bucket of water to die and I think that is a great idea to put 1 or 2 buckets in the storage area sounds like it works well.

[Jersey mike]

yah, mouse traps, tomcat blocks for them to eat although not sure it kills them all the time?, and mothballs are all good suggestions for sure cannot hurt.

there is youtube videos of a homemade 5 gallon bucket with spinning rod in middle lathered with peanut butter in middle for mice to climb up bucket, go onto the slippery rod and fall into a bucket of water to die and I think that is a great idea to put 1 or 2 buckets in the storage area sounds like it works well.

The tomcat works by drying them from the inside out. They eat it and the poison interacts with any water or moisture in their stomach. Long time ago I was told it interacts when they eat it and go to a water source. So I’m guessing any water or fluids in the digestive system does the job.

[0leman]

there is youtube videos of a homemade 5 gallon bucket with spinning rod in middle lathered with peanut butter in middle for mice to climb up bucket, go onto the slippery rod and fall into a bucket of water to die and I think that is a great idea to put 1 or 2 buckets in the storage area sounds like it works well.

Only problem with this idea, this is for winter storage, think cold temps.  Water would get stiff. 


Many years ago when I was a lad, we used corn meal plaster of paris to take care of rats and mice.  It would create a lump in the stomach that wouldn't go away.  They would go some where else to die.  It was not a problem for cats and dogs. 


Moth balls do work.  I am told that critters really don't like them.   

[Jersey mike]

Also glue traps.

I was surprised the first time I ever saw just how sticky they really are.

Putting a few around the base of the trike would be a nice touch but beware the little critters don’t just die it takes a long time for them to die of exhaustion, thirst and whatever.

Put them down and check every week at first to see just how many may be sniffing around and then adjust as time goes on.

[thedon]

John,
I've been using Bounce dryer sheets. Just put a few in the trunk and stuff some into the engine. Under the seat as well. They don't like the smell. Just remember to take them out before you start up.
Don

[Jess from VA]

The one time I had a mouse problem, I bought a few of each type of mouse trap.  Expensive electronic to the cheapest glue traps.  I caught them all in one night, and nearly all of them in the glue traps.

They were still alive (who cares) until I smooshed them with a two by four.