Possible critter in the under carriage

Pappydude · 09-30-2017, 03:14 AM

About 3:30 one recent morning I woke up to a sound I'd never heard in the motor home before. It sounded like it was in the under carriage, and it sounded like some kind of a critter was wandering around chewing on stuff and pulling insulation from somewhere. I stomped on the floor in various places but couldn't get it to stop (and of course couldn't go back to sleep!) The wind was blowing moderately and at first I thought that's what it might have been, but the more I laid there and dozed, and heard the sounds, the more I thought it had to be a critter. I'm thinking a mouse - don't know where from since I was in an RV park not known for mice.....and I'd been there for nearly 2 weeks without moving the motor home. Question here is, where do I start looking? I've been under the MH as best I can and see nothing out of place. On my ACE 29.4 there is location where there is no insulation or anything - near the fresh water drain - and if he's (or she!) in there, that's possibly where it got in.
I'm planning on winterizing soon and don't want the critter in there getting cozy with my insulation or wiring or furnace ducting........and ew, consider the smell if it doesn't survive the winter.
ANY suggestions, within reason, would be appreciated. If only I could build a better mouse trap.....that would avoid wiring and everything else when it slammed shut!

99dart · 09-30-2017, 01:58 PM

If you think you have (1) you probably have ten! Get some D-con to "Get'em all"! https://www.amazon.com/Reckitt-D-Con...P5ZPXJ3DH7XSBB

Laco · 09-30-2017, 03:19 PM

Yep, you need to treat soon. If you have pets, be very careful they do not get into anything you use.

2016vegas · 09-30-2017, 05:00 PM

We drove home from a weekend of camping last summer. Next day a black snake was sitting next to RV. It then climbed under my car and disappeared. It was quite an adventure rehoming it. I look now before reaching into my sewer compartment as it is quite accessible around the gray and black pipes. I'm pretty sure the bugger rode the undercarriage. Creepy.

Bob Denman · 09-30-2017, 10:46 PM

Since most critters aren't really careful with their clean-up chores: if you don't see anything hanging loose, and all of the electrics still work... you MIGHT just be okay!

But I'd set some traps, and be sure!

Good luck!

Cason61 · 12-24-2017, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 99dart

If you think you have (1) you probably have ten! Get some D-con to "Get'em all"! https://www.amazon.com/Reckitt-D-Con...P5ZPXJ3DH7XSBB

Yeah, saw a mouse in my house one winter so I got some Dconn and put out in the kitchen under the sink, dishwasher, behind the cabinet...etc. They smell bad when they die and they tend to die in places you need a coat hanger to get them with. Do some research for something that makes them 'go away' instead.

Pappydude · 01-16-2018, 09:15 PM

I set two traps and both are still empty. Changed the P-butter twice and same result. Someone said to try Peppermint oil on a cotton ball. Since the coach is closed up for the winter and I can't get to places I'd want to put it, I've decided to wait until early spring when I can open everything up. Hopefully it was just the wind but I haven't had an occasion to sleep in the coach since I parked it. Thanks for your replyies.

TurnerFam · 01-16-2018, 11:24 PM

we've carried ants and mice with us to many places during our travels, they must like to RV too! We had trapped several mice in a rural wooded site we sat at for several months, and thought we had them all done in, until... we packed up and drove north 5 states, dropped anchor, and wondering if I had caught them all before we left, put out several more traps - next morning, several more were had in!
And don't get me started on ANTS, they may be worse!

I have tried and tried to find every hole and place imaginable in our coach, and every 'trick', such as peppermint, plug in devices, and spray foam, but the ONLY thing we've ever realized 'success' with is the good 'ol traps - when one is found, you KNOW you have found him!

Miramar Owner · 01-17-2018, 04:17 PM

I use bags of moth balls...they come 2 in a box...and place them strategically around the motorhome. I place them in any compartment that could have access into the RV...including the engine compartment, when in storage.

I leave them in the sewer compartment all year and the compartment where the power cord extends. They definitely do not like the smell. I haven't see any rodents, damage or droppings in or around the RV since I began doing this...for years.

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