Winter critters
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 592
Likes: 0
Winter critters
My '73 will sit outside under a car cover but I am afraid critters, field mice, etc will get under the hood and chew thru wireing.
Is there a product I can place under the hood or on the ground under the front of this car to keep critters from damaging her.
Someone sugested MothBalls under the hood but I'm thinking maybe not.
Is there a product I can place under the hood or on the ground under the front of this car to keep critters from damaging her.
Someone sugested MothBalls under the hood but I'm thinking maybe not.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,116
Likes: 5
From: Livonia MI
You maybe wont have as much a problem with your car stored outside where everything about it will be cold as the surrounding element's. Critter's are usually more interested in a warmer sheltered garage, or nesting in the nice warm engine compartment of a driven car. If not much other shelter around, could decide on your Vette though. Check with site "bugspray.com" for more information.
1969/1971/2021 Coupes
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,212
Likes: 80
From: Port Huron MI
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
You maybe wont have as much a problem with your car stored outside where everything about it will be cold as the surrounding element's. Critter's are usually more interested in a warmer sheltered garage, or nesting in the nice warm engine compartment of a driven car. If not much other shelter around, could decide on your Vette though. Check with site "bugspray.com" for more information.
I'm not too fond of mice anyway so I almost burned the thing to the ground to get rid of them. 
Instead, I sold all of the mice and gave the Bronco away free. And yes I told the new owner. 
As 78pace said, dryer sheets has always worked for me but get good name brand ones. I used some cheap dollar store generic ones one time in my shed and the mice ate em.
good luck,
Terry
1969/1971/2021 Coupes
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,212
Likes: 80
From: Port Huron MI
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,485
Likes: 7
From: Peekskill NY
I've read Irish Spring soap is a good deterent. You would need to have it up off the ground though so it doesn't dissolve from the winter moisture.
Put some inside the car, and in the engine compartment.
Glenn
Put some inside the car, and in the engine compartment.
Glenn
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,247
Likes: 471
From: Glen Allen, VA
The only thing that worked a couple of years ago when I had mice in my garage was mouse poison. I haven't seen another one since. You do run the risk of one dying in a very inconvenient place, and decaying there, though. Glue boards, mouse traps and dryer sheets did absolutely nothing.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,775
Likes: 4
ive had an irish springs bar sitting under my drivers seat for the last few years. it doesnt actually keep the mice out of the car. instead the mice eat it, then go off and die some place. its kind of win/win, the mice all die, and my car smells nice.
now if i could just do something about the damned chipmunks that decided my wiper bay and intake manifold were good locations to store acorns.
now if i could just do something about the damned chipmunks that decided my wiper bay and intake manifold were good locations to store acorns.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,669
Likes: 3
From: Kingston Ontario
Not much you can do about the engine compartment when the car's stored outdoors! At best you can protect the interior by having it sealed closed and make sure that vents and heater controls are in the closed position. Try to remove all food before closing up!
Dan
Dan
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: Edmonton AB
Irish Spring user
Have been using Irish Spring for about 5 years now in my holiday trailer which gets stored out at my brother in law's farm every winter......no mice....used it my wife's MG for about the same amount of time and no mice ( this car was prone to mice living in it previously...) Presently have it in my 82' ( so far...no mice...)
I buy about 6 bars....cut shavings off them and put them in small foil tins in the engine bay and inside the car on the floor...
Bonus is in the spring when you take out your car doesn't smell like your grandma's house if you use moth ***** !
I buy about 6 bars....cut shavings off them and put them in small foil tins in the engine bay and inside the car on the floor...
Bonus is in the spring when you take out your car doesn't smell like your grandma's house if you use moth ***** !
Last edited by mauiwilly; Nov 19, 2010 at 04:35 AM. Reason: spelling
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 138
Likes: 3
From: Montreal Quebec
Take 4 dollar store lasagna tins. Flatten them out on one end, stick one in front of each tire, roll the car until the tires are inside the tins. Re-fold the tin until each tire is in it's own dish.
Throw a dozen mothballs in each one and voila - no critter will climb up into your car (from the ground, anyway)
EDIT/CAVEAT: this will keep mice and small critters out. Bigger / more acrobatic ones (squirrels / raccoons) that don't need to go up via the tires are another story.
Throw a dozen mothballs in each one and voila - no critter will climb up into your car (from the ground, anyway)
EDIT/CAVEAT: this will keep mice and small critters out. Bigger / more acrobatic ones (squirrels / raccoons) that don't need to go up via the tires are another story.
Last edited by LeSkid; Nov 19, 2010 at 08:01 AM.
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,480
Likes: 2
From: Circleville Ohio
Vader Vette
Take 4 dollar store lasagna tins. Flatten them out on one end, stick one in front of each tire, roll the car until the tires are inside the tins. Re-fold the tin until each tire is in it's own dish.
Throw a dozen mothballs in each one and voila - no critter will climb up into your car (from the ground, anyway)
EDIT/CAVEAT: this will keep mice and small critters out. Bigger / more acrobatic ones (squirrels / raccoons) that don't need to go up via the tires are another story.
Throw a dozen mothballs in each one and voila - no critter will climb up into your car (from the ground, anyway)
EDIT/CAVEAT: this will keep mice and small critters out. Bigger / more acrobatic ones (squirrels / raccoons) that don't need to go up via the tires are another story.
Im suprised no one does what I do :
Feed the wild cats in the neighbor Hood They bring me moles and mice right up to the porch and I trade them for cat food.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 138
Likes: 3
From: Montreal Quebec
You'd be amazed at some of the farmer's 'bulk' mousetraps that can be crafted with simple items. Very ingenious, although not terribly humane.
Have you ever walked into a grainery, lifted a bag of grain and seen a hundred mice scatter? Necessity is the mother of invention. I know of a couple really neat solutions that can capture hundreds of mice in a bucket.
When you're dealing with an infestation, humane is no longer a concern. If I found a colony of mice making their home in my car, sorry - the gloves come off.
Have you ever walked into a grainery, lifted a bag of grain and seen a hundred mice scatter? Necessity is the mother of invention. I know of a couple really neat solutions that can capture hundreds of mice in a bucket.
When you're dealing with an infestation, humane is no longer a concern. If I found a colony of mice making their home in my car, sorry - the gloves come off.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,152
Likes: 23
From: Kawartha Lakes and PEC, Ontario
I have one of these outside the garage and glue traps inside in case that fails, which is rare.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 138
Likes: 3
From: Montreal Quebec
We wouldn't fill the bucket though. We just used those tall white 5 gallon buckets so no jumping out and stuck it beside a bale of hay, for easy access. Once a day, fill it 1/2 way with water, insert a second identical bucket and push down until water squirts-out.
They drown just the same but at least it's quick and not swimming til they're exhausted.
Funny, I was raised on horse farms not far from you (Blackstock Uxbridge). I thought that was a farm thing (high mouse volume), not for you hoidy-toidy Brooklinite city slickers with the occasional squatter...
ever heard of mousetraps?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,152
Likes: 23
From: Kawartha Lakes and PEC, Ontario
Scott, I'm not claiming I invented anything
We wouldn't fill the bucket though. We just used those tall white 5 gallon buckets so no jumping out and stuck it beside a bale of hay, for easy access. Once a day, fill it 1/2 way with water, insert a second identical bucket and push down until water squirts-out.
They drown just the same but at least it's quick and not swimming til they're exhausted.
Funny, I was raised on horse farms not far from you (Blackstock Uxbridge). I thought that was a farm thing (high mouse volume), not for you hoidy-toidy Brooklinite city slickers with the occasional squatter...
ever heard of mousetraps?
We wouldn't fill the bucket though. We just used those tall white 5 gallon buckets so no jumping out and stuck it beside a bale of hay, for easy access. Once a day, fill it 1/2 way with water, insert a second identical bucket and push down until water squirts-out.
They drown just the same but at least it's quick and not swimming til they're exhausted.
Funny, I was raised on horse farms not far from you (Blackstock Uxbridge). I thought that was a farm thing (high mouse volume), not for you hoidy-toidy Brooklinite city slickers with the occasional squatter...
ever heard of mousetraps?