Escapees November-December 2022

Let’s talk about critters. As an RVer, you’re sure to encounter them whether you’re in an RV park, a state or national camp ground or out in the boonies. However, boondocking seems to put you in closer contact with wildlife than other kinds of camp ing. Relax! With a little prepara tion and thoughtfulness, you’ll be fi ne. Mice and Rats them. The only time we really notice them is when they invade our living space looking for food, water and shelter. And, in most RVs, the best way to deal with them is to make sure they can’t get inside. This involves plugging every access to the interior of the RV. I suggest you spend time under your RV with a fl ashlight to see if there are any openings around pipes, wiring and struc tures that could allow a mouse to get in. Openings need not be large; a small mouse can squeeze through a ¼" opening! Plug any gaps with expanding foam reinforced with hardware cloth or steel mesh, steel wool and epoxy, or with sheet metal. It can be a formidable task, but unfortunately, most other methods are less than 100% effective. There are a lot of recommended ways to repel mice. Repellents may or may not work, and a lot of typically suggested repellents (dryer sheets, soap, moth balls, etc.) seem to work better for some folks than others. I think we can all agree that those little plug-in devices that are supposed to repel mice with sound or magnetism are snake oil. At least, I’ve never personally seen any that actually worked. Some folks swear by LED rope lights strung around and under the RV. The theory is that the light deters the mice from nesting. It sounds good, but again, this doesn’t seem to work for everyone. I’m not a fan of using poison in a boon docking setting. A lot of predators eat mice, and a poisoned one can kill them. Also, poison is a food attractant, so it tends to Mice and rats are everywhere! From largest cities to remote deserts, we live side by side with

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November/December 2022 ESCAPEES Magazine