Keeping Mice out of your Food Storage

[@leelawson8911]

I had a rodent problem for years until I started diffusing peppermint oil inside a heating vent that carried it into the rafters. The rodent problem disappeared the first time I used it. I run the diffuser every night. No squirrels, rats or mice now. I use a usb ultrasonic re-chargeable diffuser. The ones that use water mist may cause mold to grow from the moisture put into the air ( that saturates the wood).

[@Philat4800feet]

Good ideas

[@TimJackowski]

Probably the least sexy topic when it comes to food storage, but a critical one. Thank you so much for doing this video and sharing your experience. Will have to make my own bait though as none of these options can be shipped to WA state. I am not deterred.

[@NayokeHenji]

We have a cat named Tinkerbell that was looking to be rehomed about 4 years ago. the former owner had to take care of her grandmother's old cat when she passed, and the two didn't get along. My dad was NOT happy about getting a cat, but this cat turned out to be such a blessing. Our neighbors have a bit of a hoarding problem, and their yard barely gets kept, so they also have a rat and mice problem. Some of them would come over and cause issues for us especially as the seasons changed. Within three months, Tinkerbell had caught so many mice and scared the rest so bad, we haven't seen any more for almost three years now.

[@Philat4800feet]

Did Tinkerbell present any mice to you as a gift?

[@NayokeHenji]

@@Philat4800feet Tons! After she played with them of course. lol

[@carriebeard-R.I.T.S]

We use the brand at the barn. I like the bait box idea!

[@echopapa819]

All our long term storage is in steel 55 gal drums.

[@Philat4800feet]

That will work with mice, tornado, earthquake...not sure with lava.

[@dianekelly3452]

Thank you!

[@sherip1270]

We keep our chicken food outside in a galvanized garbage can. We have had it outside for years with no rodent activity inside it.

[@MrandMrsBurns]

So if they get back outside and a dog or something eats a sickly, slow moving mouse, do they too get poisoned?

[@Philat4800feet]

From the web: Although secondary poisoning is possible, it is unlikely to occur. Anticoagulant baits are manufactured with low dosages of active ingredients that range from 25 parts to 50 parts per million. A 20 lb dog would need to consume a range from 1.6 to 96 ounces of baits such as Contrac (bromadiolone) or Final(brodifacoum) to get poisoned in both primary or secondary poisonings. The chances of a pet to consume enough carcasses of a dead rat to accumulate sufficient poison for secondary poisoning would be low. It is more likely to occur with a high population of dead poisoned rats that are accessible, coupled with pets or non-targeted animals that are foraging for food due to hunger. Most pets are loved and fed well. They would need to be very hungry for them to eat many dead carcasses of rats.

[@jmgren1]

@@Philat4800feet i am concerned about our cats who catch and eat mice and rats

[@Philat4800feet]

I talked to a Vet. Dogs would be safe due to size and eating habits. Cats are another issue. You should consult your Vet.

[@lyndabuchholz1216]

I have a mouse problem. I think they are coming in where the water and sewer pipes come into the house and the house was built so a person can't get to those areas to mouse proof them. I had someone tell me to stuff steel wool in those holes but found that it just turned to rust dust so I use the stainless or copper scrubbers now and that works well. The mice can't chew through that. My neighbor fed wild cats and there are about 50 running around now but apparently when they are being fed they don't catch mice. I will have to try those mouse bait boxes to see how that goes. I use both Mylar and jars depending on what I am putting up. I did have a mouse get into the pantry and he chewed through a commercial meal I had bought and what a mess he made. The magpies got him after I trapped him. I watched a mouse come through a hole about the size of a dime once and couldn't believe my eyes. They must have flexible bones.

[@Philat4800feet]

Try expandable foam in a can from Home Depot

[@lyndabuchholz1216]

@@Philat4800feet I did and they chewed right through it. I did read somewhere that there is a foam with metal bits in it that may stop them.

[@Philat4800feet]

Another thought would be quick set concrete

[@lyndabuchholz1216]

@@Philat4800feet That is a thought but I wonder how that would work with wood flooring. I think the flooring is particle board in my house.

[@BLynnE]

Can a mouse get through heavy plastic like a storage tub? I also have oils in their original plastic containers; I’ve been worried that a mouse could chew through those. I’ve had mice when we lived in a forested area, so I’m kind of paranoid.

[@Philat4800feet]

After ten years in a dirt basement, I haven't had a problem with my food in plastic totes, but I do use mouse bait.

[@jmgren1]

What about using around the chickens themselves?

[@Philat4800feet]

I have mice in my coup, eating the feed, I use snap traps in areas where the chickens can't get too.

[@jmgren1]

@@Philat4800feet have the chickens gotten hurt by the snap traps?

[@Philat4800feet]

My chickens can't get to the snap traps.

[@TheRealBatCave]

I just saw ur video on the Mtorr, I was wondering the 62 miles up (edge of our atmosphere that u mentioned) what would an mtorr measurement be up there? I can't seem to find a ballpark answer on this wondering if u could give your thoughts. My pump will usually go down to around 180 mtorr, I wonder what the equivalent inside that chamber is in reference to going straight up in the sky would be

[@Philat4800feet]

At 62 miles there should be a perfect vacuum. An area void of all matter. Perfect nothingness.

[@TheRealBatCave]

@Philat4800feet yea, but just in terms of measurement let's say half way up (31 miles) what would the mtorr measurement be there I can't seem 2 figure this out, so if my chamber can go down to 180 mtorr I wonder how many miles up (roughly) would it take to get to the same pressure of 180 mtorr

[@mojoflyingsolo639]

I had problems with mice in my cabin filter of my car, so I took a 5 gallon bucket and filled with around 4 inches of water then I take a wire and feed it through a broth can that I drilled holes in both ends in the middle and attach the wire on each side of the bucket and put tape on both sides of the can so it can spin and not slide across the wire.. I then make a ramp and attach it to the lip of the bucket next to the wire that holds the can and I put peanut butter all over the middle of the can and some up the ramp and have not had a problem with mice in my car since. When I get mice in the bucket I give them to the wild turkeys that live at my house. Winner Winner Turkey dinner. lol

[@Philat4800feet]

Wow, turkeys eat mice?

[@brianschindler1511]

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