MySwag.org The Off-road Camper Trailer Forum
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: Hills Mum Bec on April 08, 2014, 11:52:01 AM
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We are heading to Pt Rickaby on the York Peninsula for Easter like we do every year. I have heard that they are experiencing the worst mouse plague ever at the moment. The mice were pretty bad back in 2011 but we were staying in a house that year so weren't a huge problem, this year we will be in our Jayco Eagle at the caravan park.
Any tips? I really, really hate mice & the thought of them getting into our camper trailer terrifies me.
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We had a pretty serious mouse problem in Central Australia a few years back. I guess protecting all you food is the best way to minimize their need to get into the camper. It was heart breaking to have so many food packets with a corner chewed through, only for the mice to decide it was not to their liking and leave it. I would suggest that all food in plastic tubs with secure lids, and clean up all scraps (including BBQ if you have one). If there is no food on offer there is less reason for them to come around.
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The harder part is making sure you don't pack the camper up with one inside. Leave a stink that takes for ever to get rid of.
Not sure if it's possible but you could take a leaf out of the old mariners books and build a moat around your campsite and fill it with water. Not sure that mice can swim.
Probably in between a rock and a hard place.
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Don't go camping with cheese ;D
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Don't go camping with cheese ;D
Or
Just don't go. I couldn't think of anything worse than to go camping in an area with a mouse plague ???
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Just don't go. I couldn't think of anything worse than to go camping in an area with a mouse plague ???
x eleventy.
Your not going to stop the mice, and if you hate them.. well I think its kinda obvious.. ???
or take 100kg of cheese, and dump it 500mtrs away at someone elses campsite.
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Or
Just don't go. I couldn't think of anything worse than to go camping in an area with a mouse plague ???
x100
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Mice pie, mice stew, mice omelette....
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Or
Just don't go. I couldn't think of anything worse than to go camping in an area with a mouse plague ???
Agreed 100%...The whole idea of camping to me is to relax and enjoy your surroundings.. I don't think you could do either if you were fighting of mice all night..
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If you have enough battery power I'm sure you can come up with an electric perimeter fence to keep the blighters out! 1 foot high chicken wire type arrangement, maybe topped with razor wire?
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We carry steel wool, to stick in any holes, extra led rod lights to throw under the camper, under the vehicle, under the bonnet. Mouse traps. We haven't experience mouse plague yet while camping, but have heard many stories. Idea of the lights as usually you don't see mice in the day light and they scatter when lights are turned on. We figure we might be lit up like a Christmas tree but hopefully no mice ;D that's the theory anyway, as I said not tested yet. A water trap is also good. A bucket of water, stick over the top, with a oiled up glass bottle hanging upside down with cheese or peanut butter in the end. Mice slip off the bottle into the water and you can guess the rest. We have done this several times when we lived in a place that had a mouse plague and got 25 mice in the trap one night. Yucky things.
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I would say the Flinders Ranges are looking good !! Arkaroola ??? Should be able to get in there .... Mandrake
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Maybe this guy can help
(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/08/azy8ageq.jpg)
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Mice can definitely swim.
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Yes but they get tired and can't get out. :D
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We were at William Creek in 2011 when the plague was on. We laid awake at night listening to the little buggers eating our food and scurrying around the camper. Also had a few run across our pillows........while our heads were on them..... :o :o
I'd go somewhere else.........
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Dogs are pretty good at catching (and eating) mice. Our Cavvies clean them up pretty quickly and will sit for hours in front of whatever they are hiding under. The mice wouldn't dare come out while the dogs are waiting for them.
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You could adopt a few cats from the rspca. Tie one to each corner of the camper :)
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There are so many mice, dogs and cats would go nuts..........
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REALLY not worth the hassle. You CANNOT win against them / certainly won't have a fun time trying. Just go somewhere else.
Repeat after me: "Ockham's Razor, Ockham's Razor, Ockham's Razor..."
i.e. The simplest and least complicated solution to a problem is usually correct.
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We were at William Creek in 2011 when the plague was on. We laid awake at night listening to the little buggers eating our food and scurrying around the camper. Also had a few run across our pillows........while our heads were on them..... :o :o
I'd go somewhere else.........
There is No way I'd lay there Geoff ... I hate mice there filty little creatures with beady eyes.....
Swannie
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Go to Disneyland.
M I C, K E Y, M O U S E. ;D
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Change plans and find another place to go. Not worth the hassle. IMO.
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Just the smell of that many mice alone is enough to make me not want to be there. We caught the end of the plague back in 2011, and I couldn't even go into the petrol station at Erldunda due to the stench. There were dead mice all over the ground, and a few live ones still running under cubicles in the toilets.
Our friends were caught at Kings Canyon in the thick of it, and couldn't put their feet down without standing on one. They sat around the fire with their feet up on their chairs, and they even had to set traps in the car as a mouse had run up the driver's leg while he was driving. It took several days to catch it.
I'm with the others. If it's really going to be that bad, I couldn't think of anything worse than camping in a mouse plague. I'd go somewhere else if you have the option, otherwise...good luck!
Karen
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Stay Home and camp in the back yard.
There will be an ensuite and dining Hall just outside as well as Laundry facilities Just as good as home.
HEHE ;D ;D ;D :cheers:HE
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well that's unanimous... still bet they go there!
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I have fond (?) memories of a mouse plague at Pt Rickaby, must have been 45 years ago :( It is one of the few trips that I remember as a child - putting shoes on in the morning to find a mouse in them (both of them), watching mice run up and down the guy ropes in the moonlight, having them run across your face whilst sleeping on the canvas stretcher.. :) Ahhh, those were the days. No thanks!
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this thread needs to be locked.. no more mice stories.
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this thread needs to be locked.. no more mice stories.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/wet-summer-sparks-invasion-of-pests/story-e6frea6u-1226029067540 (http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/wet-summer-sparks-invasion-of-pests/story-e6frea6u-1226029067540)
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We were at William Creek in 2011 when the plague was on. We laid awake at night listening to the little buggers eating our food and scurrying around the camper. Also had a few run across our pillows........while our heads were on them..... :o :o
I'd go somewhere else.........
Hey, we were there in 2011. Some campers had dogs who got tired of catching the mice. Regular squeals around the campsite as someone got a surprise.
One good habit I have learnt from that is if you have those two way zips, always make sure the zips always sit high off the ground, not down low. Velcro has it's down side - hard to avoid small gaps which can be turned into bigger ones.
But yeah, I'd go somewhere else if I knew a mouse plague was happening.
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Just caught the report on the news. Your gunna need elastic bands for your pants legs
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Just caught the report on the news. Your gunna need elastic bands for your pants legs
That's hilarious!!!
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After travelling around Aust a couple of times, we've had mice hiding in our car on more than a few occasion.
It's very annoying, and very frustrating. Even though we lock away all the food they can get, they still hang around. It has taken days to catch them at times with a mouse trap. Sneaky little buggers.
We have turned to not leaving car doors open whist camping.
I'm with the crowd though, not sure is go!
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I stayed in a caravan while picking cotton in 2011 , made it on to win news .. lol
mice were running up our legs while cooking the bbq , you had to swat them off the hot plate
they chewed the annex in dozens of places , they chewed the wires on all the light on both the
van and a heap of wires in utes and pickers .. they would try and eat the bread while it was toasting in the toaster . they ate the drain pipe from the sink , thus getting access to the van cupboards , and from there well , they got into every thing ..
We were putting 10kgs of bait out every night , the stench was horrendous and there was a lot of dry reaching ..
Do you relly want to camp at this spot??
Good luck.
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We camped at Wyangla Dam one easter ina mouse plague (?). Didn't see too many really. Funiest thing ever is watching a friend who was 8 months pregnant running from a tent screaming, didn't know she could run that fast even when not pregnant!
We didn't see too many until it was time to pack up, under the tents there were heaps of them most live but a few that I had rolled over in the middle of the night and they had not been quick enough.
Bunyip
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We had a pretty bad mouse plague back down in Warwick years ago when I was a kid, not something I'd like to live through again! When we used the hammer mill for getting the grain ready for the Emus you would hear the squeals of the little buggers and the Emus got extra protein. The cars copped a flogging with wire, seats and dashes being high on the menu list for them.
We retro fitted an old falcon seat onto the tractor and I remember going to sit on the seat and it came alive!
So my tip is go if ya want some added excitement but I'd prefer to go else where! Cars have too much wiring and yummy stuff for mice these days!
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I think it can add to the fun sometimes , sitting by the fire watch the better half clean up after dinner as one run up the inside of her pants and watching do the shuffle ;D (it does get cold in the middle of winter sleeping in the car by oneself)
It's not only food that you need to keep away from the little buggers
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I think it can add to the fun sometimes , sitting by the fire watch the better half clean up after dinner as one run up the inside of her pants and watching do the shuffle ;D (it does get cold in the middle of winter sleeping in the car by oneself)
It's not only food that you need to keep away from the little buggers
Not the Shit tickets!
So I'm not the only one having to sleep in the car.....
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Just don't leave any food anywhere, and don't leave your rubbish wrapped up in your travel cover because you are too lazy to take it to the bin >:(
(http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh502/GGPatrol/xmas%202012/P1000558_zps0ab22b7b.jpg)
They also take a liking to Patrol wiring and engine bays, have learnt to leave the bonnet up now to disperse the heat
(http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh502/GGPatrol/xmas%202012/P1000556_zps38575bfa.jpg)
(http://i1249.photobucket.com/albums/hh502/GGPatrol/xmas%202012/P1000557_zps710a6a16.jpg)
GG
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REALLY not worth the hassle. You CANNOT win against them / certainly won't have a fun time trying. Just go somewhere else.
Agree 100%. Bit like Pi$$ing in the wind.
:cheers:
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As you've read Hills Mum Bec, nothing stops mice damage during a plague, and daylight/heaps of lights at night also won't stop hungry mice...stay home - to many yobbo's around at easter anyway, or try and find somewhere else. I'm sure you'll find heaps of (polite) alternatives from members here ;)
Staying at a CP when I was a kid. Mother headed off to the showers - almighty scream - ran over - mother screaming 'mouse' - looked down to see a mouse on it's back dead.
She said it was running out of the building as she was walking in. Her screaming terrified the poor little thing, and it'd died of fright ;D
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Anyone know exactly how wide spread this mouse problem is on the York Peninsula? You guys are scaring me with your horror stories, we are supposed to be touring this area in the coming week.
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Take this bloke with you ;D
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Anyone know exactly how wide spread this mouse problem is on the York Peninsula? You guys are scaring me with your horror stories, we are supposed to be touring this area in the coming week.
News report indicated last night that the problem is being caused by wheat fields that have not been turned over after the last harvest leaving a lot of feed around for mice. Farmers have been advised to commence baiting. I would imagine that the problem is not going to be huge on the coastal areas as much as it will be inland throughout the wheat belt areas.
You couldn't really tell from the news report how bad it was because you never know if they are using old archival footage of previous plagues. The footage I saw last evening is not as bad as I have seen it previously, but still a lot of mice around. Same in Adelaide, our dogs have been catching one about every 3 days or so, which is unusual.
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Hmmm, to go or not to go. ???
We have been going to Pt Rickaby every Easter for around 8 years now, would be a shame to miss it because of mice. Was very excited this year because we now have our camper, we used to rent a house there.
We have friends that are going up in their caravan a few days before us so might suss out what their opinion of the mouse problem is once they get there. In 2011 they had their zip up camping pantry chewed through & all their easter eggs eaten but no other damage.
We can keep all the food in closed plastic containers etc but my biggest worry is the mice getting into the Jayco & running on our bed while we are asleep. That is the stuff of nightmares.
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Hmmmmm,
ABC report indicates worst plague that some of the locals can ever remember.
Dead mice mounting up as South Australian plague worsens (http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/bushtelegraph/mouse-plague/5362038)
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News report indicated last night that the problem is being caused by wheat fields that have not been turned over after the last harvest leaving a lot of feed around for mice. Farmers have been advised to commence baiting. I would imagine that the problem is not going to be huge on the coastal areas as much as it will be inland throughout the wheat belt areas.
You couldn't really tell from the news report how bad it was because you never know if they are using old archival footage of previous plagues. The footage I saw last evening is not as bad as I have seen it previously, but still a lot of mice around. Same in Adelaide, our dogs have been catching one about every 3 days or so, which is unusual.
When we went in 2011, on the way there we stopped at the in laws to drop the dog off. They live on 60 acres in the middle of nowhere between Two Wells & Mallala & they were having mice problems real bad. By the time we left their house it was getting dark & just about the whole way to Pt Rickaby all we were hearing was crunch crunch under the tyres with mice all over the road however it did seem to get quite a bit better the closer we got to the coast.
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...but my biggest worry is the mice getting into the Jayco & running on our bed while we are asleep.
And they will as others have said has happened to them.
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Take a cat.
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Take a cat.
(http://www.uglypersonsface.com/howl-o-ween/22.JPG)
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(http://www.uglypersonsface.com/howl-o-ween/22.JPG)
BAHAHAHA!!!
Not that cat!
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This should be a funny posts section of the Forum, It's Hilarious. ;D ;D ;D :cheers:
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It's Hilarious.
Yeah right up to the moment one starts nibbling on your earlobe while asleep. ;D ;D ;D
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All you have to do is either stay home or go somewhere else.
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If I had a nice new 'pride and joy' I wouldn't be giving the meeces an opportunity to nibble at canvas / wires, etc. :-[
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Mice pie, mice stew, mice omelette....
Mice golf , mice cricket , mice skeet , mice tennis
BUSTer
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Crazy cat lady and Feline friends security service :)
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Take this bloke with you ;D
As long as you don't take your kids ;(
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(http://www.uglypersonsface.com/howl-o-ween/22.JPG)
Looks like I was correct, she hasn't replied!!
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We went. No sign of any mice for the first 4 nights over Easter then when the rest of the caravan park packed up to go home the mice moved in in droves. I don't think they got into the camper at all but sitting out at night there were dozens running in & out of the annexe. They didn't bother me too much until the morning we were packing up & I found one in my suitcase! >:(
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Your patience is amazing. Glad to hear the mice didn't bother you too much on your trip. I wouldn't have gone, the words "mice plague" and happy camping just don't go together.
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We went. No sign of any mice for the first 4 nights over Easter then when the rest of the caravan park packed up to go home the mice moved in in droves. I don't think they got into the camper at all but sitting out at night there were dozens running in & out of the annexe. They didn't bother me too much until the morning we were packing up & I found one in my suitcase! >:(
Hope you ditched the hitch-hiker and ruined its travel plans.
Kids would have wanted to keep it too maybe?
Or did you invoke Darwin's law of natural selection?
By teaching it to swim or give it a real bad concussion.
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Hope you ditched the hitch-hiker and ruined its travel plans.
Kids would have wanted to keep it too maybe?
Or did you invoke Darwin's law of natural selection?
By teaching it to swim or give it a real bad concussion.
It was scared off by my blood curdling scream, never to be seen again.
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Awww. Ya deafened it.