How Do I Keep Mice Out Of My Otter?

Just got my 2 year old otter 650 out of the shed. I had it hanging in the rafters. I put moth balls and dryer sheets in it before hanging it up in the Spring. Still had mice chew 4-5 holes in it. Kind of makes you sick to see that kind of investment with holes. Any suggestions for next Spring when I hang it back up?

Thanks

man,that sucks!! I feel your pain,had the same problem with my boat,peppermint oil,dryer sheets,fresh cab,all of them a joke.
so I built a rodent bucket,heres how,
three to five gallon bucket,two,two inch square holes 180 degrees apart three inches down from lid,and adjacent to handle,drill two 1/8th inch holes through center of favorite beverage can length wise.drill two 1/8th inch holes one hundred eighty degrees apart, perpendicular to buckets handle,
1/8 inch piece of music wire the length of buckets diameter,thread wire through bucket side,can,and out the other side of bucket,you will now have the can on an axle,put a nail through two pieces of lathe,(acting as stop peg) on one end,lathe must be at least long enough to reach ground at a forty five degree angle to the bucket depending on bucket size,about one foot,to two feet long,the nail will prevent lathe from falling out of the bucket when nailed end is placed in bucket holes.
fill bucket one third full of used anti-freeze,or rv anti-freeze,smear beverage can with peanut butter.

mice/rats will climb lathe seeking bait,reach for bait,can rolls with them and they fall into anti-freeze solution drowning quickly due to cold,and energy expenditure to stay warm and afloat.

when full,pull lid and empty dead rodents.
hope that makes sense,it works!!!

You have to mouseproof shed. Period.

It would seem to me to not, NOT put or leave anything that had a SENT of food that they love. jmt

p4walleye wrote:

You have to mouseproof shed. Period.

good luck finding any contractor or carpenter that can do that!!!
only way to do that is concrete on all sides,top and bottom,no windows or doors,any and all holes must be smaller than a mouses head,they can get through a hole smaller than a dime,if their head will fit through,so will the rest.been there,done that.

my luck with poison is this,they eat it,they die in my stuff,and stink to high heaven,after they have chewed to their hearts content.

Tim, I’ve also got the xt-650 at the end of the Season I make sure my canvas is dry spend the 2-5 minnuts it’s takes to take it off the frame put in in a large lawn leaf garbage bag and it goes under our bed until the following year. Problem solved the extra 10 minnuts this whole process takes is well worth the time in my mind with the investment I’ve made….Kent

The only thing I found to work is to remove the canvas and store it separately in a footlocker. A bit of a pain, but it works.

I also like to just take my canvas off and put it in a plastic tote and store it. I have seen too many suffer the same fate from mice, so instead of dealing with poisons or moth balls I just remove it in the spring before I put the sled in the shed.

Thanks to all responders. Looks like the best thing to do is take the canvas off and store it. Wish I would have thought about that.

I think you should put a bucket trap in the shed just to get some revenge!

I agree with storing the canvas as easiest option, and what John23 said! Lil buggers are relentless!!!

Hire a honey badger.

Do you guys that take the canvas off put the self tapping screws in, or do you just stick with that plastic snap that holds the shell ?

we use to have a problem with mice every year when it started getting cold out we bought five of these set them out around the house. Since we did this we have had a mouse in our house in six years. We change the bait out in the fall of every year problem solved.

http://www.menards.com/main/p-1444453648353-c-10120.htm?tid=4022043882520011313

I used the self tapping screws. My Otter shell never really fit well enough to do otherwise.

There have been some good suggestions for rodent control also. The bucket trap works well, but better with some bait. I run a trapline in all my outbuildings with JAWZ traps and where I used to catch six a day I’m now down to one a week. They also catch voles.