The $1000 dollar mouse -suggestions?

[NT5224]

Hi all

was recently back home in the Territory and bought myself a very expensive mouse. The mouses in question are antechinus's (is that antechini?) -cute little marsupial critters we have up north. This is what happened.

We work mainly overseas, so our vehicles stand unused for months at a time. To cut a long story short, during our last visit home a couple of antechini had set up camp inside the air conditioning unit of my wife's little Jumbuck. Then they died in there. The smell was disgusting and the vehicle was unusable.

Because I didn't have time to look into it myself and the car was still under warranty, we drove it to Darwin for the dealers to sort. Various bits of decaying mouse were retreived scattered through the system and ducts, and after two days work we were presented an invoice for just over $1000 bucks for 'our' mouse.

Obviously we'd prefer to avoid future mouse issues with any of our vehicles, but especially with the the new Land Rover. Anybody got any tips for keeping them out, especially when vehicles are left unused for long periods. We live on a bush property and have those antechinus mice everywhere -among other things...

Cheers

Alan

[Blknight.aus]

put a cat in the car, dont worry it wont suffocate or starve with landrover seals being what they are the cat will be able to get in and out.

[sheerluck]

How about keep your cheese in the load compartment, and not under the bonnet.

I can foresee lots of very helpful hints being written.....:D

[d@rk51d3]

put a cat in the car, dont worry it wont suffocate or starve with landrover seals being what they are the cat will be able to get in and out.

And if it does get stuck, just toss in a dog.

[bee utey]

I removed a mouse carcass out of a country doctor's Triton air cond last year, then plugged the small gaps at the ends of the plemum with teased out stainless steel pot scourers. Very effective, it hurts their little teeth too much. My wife's Camry air cleaner sems to attract rats who like the dusty little cavity so I made a mesh grille out of fine stainless lock wire at 1/2 inch intervals to not block the flow too much. Seems to have stopped the varmits.

[Ancient Mariner]

Replaced the plastic grills with expanded metal after the bastards chewed thru the grill and started on the upholstry on my sisters Suzuki .She had tried those electronic repellors:censored: I think she found mothballs worked but the cure was worse than the problem:D
AM

[laney]

If the dog gets stuck chuck in a lion

[snowbound]

OK people have had their fun! I'm a pest controller. What you need is to lay baits in your garage, if you have dogs, then you need to be careful. Dog proof bait stations are available. Your best bet is to talk to your pest controller, failing that go to bunnings or wherever & don't buy ratsak! It's crap. So are many others. Find the Tomcat brand of blocks Talon is good too. These should intercept the buggers before they get into your car. Feel free to PM me for any other info you may need.

Jez

[scanfor]

Install a couple of Chinus' in there, they should cancel out any Ante-Chinus that sneak in!

[HPLP]

I also found that if you put steel wool in cavities that works too.

Poisin wise I leave a bowl of water in the footwell of the car if you leave poisin in the car. This will attract them as they are thursty instead of finding the smallest cavity to die in.

H

[snowbound]

I also found that if you put steel wool in cavities that works too.

Poisin wise I leave a bowl of water in the footwell of the car if you leave poisin in the car. This will attract them as they are thursty instead of finding the smallest cavity to die in.

H
Makes sense. The poison is an anti-coagulant that creates an extreme thirst
.

[isuzurover]

I have been told by some biologists that WD40 (or similar) should repel them - but they offer no guarantees...

It will also help with rustproofing...

[Bush65]

I feel your concern, I have problems with bush rats.

Antechinus are protected native marsupials. In my area they do some good by killing/eating cane toads.

[NT5224]

Fellas

Thanks for all the helpful suggestions for expanding the menagerie. Geez, I walked into that didn't I? <chuckles>

If possible would prefer to avoid poisons. I'm with Bush 65, I like the little Antechinus's and would prefer to create a physical barrier to their entry into the aircondition. Bee utey will PM.


Cheers

Alan

[tonic]

Put the cars on jack stands and grease the stands, or, buy a carpet snake.

[Michael2]

Put the cars on jack stands and grease the stands, or, buy a carpet snake.

snake poo is said to repel small animals, though it didn't work on the possums for me, but might work better in a smaller area. Try a pet shop for supplies. Maybe you can sew up a gauze bag or put it in an old stocking.

[Nomad9]

Hi NT5224,
Have you thought about one of these ultrasonic gizmos? If you put a power board inside the car at put one if these units in that might work. I'm not sure where you store the vehicle but if you have it or them in a garage you could put a couple in the garage sockets.
I used to have a bit of a mouse problem in the shed, I put one of these units in and it seems to have worked. Snowbound may shatter my beliefs however seems to work for me.

[wally]

While your car is stored it's a good idea to leave the bonnet open. Rats and mice like enclosed engine bays. An open one is nowhere near as enticing. Targeting native vertebrates with poison is not good form.