Author Topic: Any tips for camping trips during a mouse plague?  (Read 15165 times)

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Offline Hills Mum Bec

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Any tips for camping trips during a mouse plague?
« on: April 08, 2014, 11:52:01 AM »
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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Offline marvellous_matt

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Re: Any tips for camping trips during a mouse plague?
« Reply #1 on: April 08, 2014, 12:21:04 PM »
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.

scarps

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Any tips for camping trips during a mouse plague?
« Reply #2 on: April 08, 2014, 12:37:59 PM »
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.
« Last Edit: April 08, 2014, 12:39:33 PM by scarps »

Offline DropBearRacing

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Re: Any tips for camping trips during a mouse plague?
« Reply #3 on: April 08, 2014, 12:42:19 PM »
Don't go camping with cheese  ;D
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Offline muzza01

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Re: Any tips for camping trips during a mouse plague?
« Reply #4 on: April 08, 2014, 01:00:11 PM »
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 ???

Offline Bird

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Re: Any tips for camping trips during a mouse plague?
« Reply #5 on: April 08, 2014, 01:03:32 PM »
Quote from: muzza01
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.
« Last Edit: April 08, 2014, 01:06:15 PM by Lost »
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Offline Swannie

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Re: Any tips for camping trips during a mouse plague?
« Reply #6 on: April 08, 2014, 01:04:07 PM »
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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Offline dazzler

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Re: Any tips for camping trips during a mouse plague?
« Reply #7 on: April 08, 2014, 01:19:15 PM »
Mice pie, mice stew, mice omelette....


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Offline wilson79

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Re: Any tips for camping trips during a mouse plague?
« Reply #8 on: April 08, 2014, 01:24:56 PM »
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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Offline marvellous_matt

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Re: Any tips for camping trips during a mouse plague?
« Reply #9 on: April 08, 2014, 01:28:10 PM »
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?

Offline letsgo

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Re: Any tips for camping trips during a mouse plague?
« Reply #10 on: April 08, 2014, 01:45:08 PM »
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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Offline Mandrake

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Re: Any tips for camping trips during a mouse plague?
« Reply #11 on: April 08, 2014, 01:55:35 PM »
I would say the Flinders Ranges are looking good !! Arkaroola ??? Should be able to get in there .... Mandrake
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scarps

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Re: Any tips for camping trips during a mouse plague?
« Reply #12 on: April 08, 2014, 03:09:11 PM »
Maybe this guy can help


Offline paul.o

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Re: Any tips for camping trips during a mouse plague?
« Reply #13 on: April 08, 2014, 03:34:11 PM »
Mice can definitely swim.

Offline letsgo

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Re: Any tips for camping trips during a mouse plague?
« Reply #14 on: April 08, 2014, 04:26:21 PM »
Yes but they get tired and can't get out.  :D

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Offline GeoffA

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Re: Any tips for camping trips during a mouse plague?
« Reply #15 on: April 08, 2014, 04:32:14 PM »
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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Re: Any tips for camping trips during a mouse plague?
« Reply #16 on: April 08, 2014, 04:45:17 PM »
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.

Offline MattNQ

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Re: Any tips for camping trips during a mouse plague?
« Reply #17 on: April 08, 2014, 04:49:11 PM »
You could adopt a few cats from the rspca. Tie one to each corner of the camper :)


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Offline GeoffA

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Re: Any tips for camping trips during a mouse plague?
« Reply #18 on: April 08, 2014, 04:52:34 PM »
There are so many mice, dogs and cats would go nuts..........
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Offline Barry G

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Re: Any tips for camping trips during a mouse plague?
« Reply #19 on: April 08, 2014, 05:09:20 PM »
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.
« Last Edit: April 08, 2014, 05:11:13 PM by B&B »
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Offline Swannie

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Re: Any tips for camping trips during a mouse plague?
« Reply #20 on: April 08, 2014, 05:11:34 PM »
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.....
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Offline Jeepers Creepers

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Re: Any tips for camping trips during a mouse plague?
« Reply #21 on: April 08, 2014, 05:12:08 PM »
Go to Disneyland.

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Re: Any tips for camping trips during a mouse plague?
« Reply #22 on: April 08, 2014, 05:12:28 PM »
Change plans and find another place to go. Not worth the hassle. IMO.




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Re: Any tips for camping trips during a mouse plague?
« Reply #23 on: April 08, 2014, 05:44:50 PM »
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!


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Offline Cruiser 105Tvan

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Re: Any tips for camping trips during a mouse plague?
« Reply #24 on: April 08, 2014, 06:47:04 PM »
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.

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