How funny. I haven't checked the forum in a couple of days. I literally just ordered two bait stations and some blocks. I figured hey, wonder what's happening over here and this is the first thread I see! My rat problem comes and goes. Seems every other year I have issues. This is that year. They have chewed the wiring on my little tractor, and reeked havoc in the garden and under my sheds. Done with that!
I've had a problem with squirrels causing damage to the house and getting into the attic. My solution so far was to buy a Gamo pellet gun, and take out 1 or 2 of the squirrels. The wife hasn't heard them in the attic in a couple weeks. Mice are a pretty small target, and less likely to be caught out in daylight than a squirrel, unfortunately.
Equipment:
'88 Vintage Fire Magic gasser with over 4000 cooks to its credit
Large Big Green Egg
18 Inch Weber Kettle (Rescued from neighbor's trash)
Rotisserie for 18 inch kettle
Dyna Glo propane smoker
Pit Barrel Cooker
Smokey Joe with mini WSM mod
Garcima paella burner
Anova Sous Vide
Slaiya Sous Vide (gift)
LEM grinder, sausage stuffer and meat slicer (all gifts)
I just use regular old mouse traps with a bit of peanut butter. I don't like to use poison or bait as I don't know who/what may eat the dead poisoned body. I know when I get one in the trap, I put the corpse on a fence post and pretty soon the local Red Tailed hawk visits for lunch.
I have used mint oil in my grills. Saturate a paper towel and place in a small bowl in the cabinet. They hate the strong smell. Better than mothballs since it is a more natural solution.
After placing a portable rodent deterrent box I bought Amazon and pepermint oil extract in the grill cabinet, the traffic has slowed down a lot. I also am pulling my drip tray nearly every cook and giving it a good wash. That seems to have minimized the mice.
I had a mouse problem with my pellet smoker. I have mine attached to the Grilla outdoor cabinet and it’s up against my house, which is brick. I had already noticed a problem in that it would eat my grease in the can and the foils that I use on the drip pan. Used peppermint oil and even crushed red pepper as well with mixed results. One night I came out after dinner and heard it one in the smoker so I turned on the smoker. I wanted to watch how it got in and out. With in a minute it came out of the drip and I watched how it was able to climb up the back of the cabinet and then run out via the AC cord.
So now I remove the drip can after every cook and put it in the freezer, unplug my cooker and plug the drip tube drain with a steel dishwashing pad I bought at my grocery store. Cut off access, if possible, and problem will hopefully solve. Luckily they have no interest in my Weber genesis either.
Are y’all rural? The urbanized varmints are either less present or significantly smaller in number. The only issues have is an urbanized raccoon taking a bath to the birdbath and swiping an eggplant. Years ago when I lived rural I had a problem with field mice.
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