Wintertime boat guests

[Jim]

Has anyone had a mouse problem over the winter? Not the computer kind, the four legged kind, and if so what do you do?

 

[Doug]

funnels over dock lines

Large end facing the dock.Never had the problem but have heard of them nesting in mainsail covers and using shredded dacron (your sail) for bedding only to leave huge holes in your sail next season. Doug

 

[Andy Falls]

Dock Mouse

We had a mouse that visited several boats last winter. He/she (genderbender), loved nibbling in the stores and making toilet paper nest.But then Henry (Hornblower) was caught in the trash can of a 380. After snorting too much oven cleaner, he went for a swim. Although he was a good, rather prolific swimmer, I don't think he made it back on board.Other than a live catch, what do you do? Will decon kill him on board or make him run overboard to die? If he/she is caught in a trap & not found promptly, there might be a stench worse than droppings?

 

[Stephen Ostrander]

Hate meeces to pieces!

Andy, your post illustrates why I never leave sails or cushions on the boat over the winter. Just a few nibbles on either could cost several thousand $$. (The toilet paper, they can eat all they want.)D-Con works when the mice drink water, causing internal bleeding and ultimately death. If there is no water on board, they would probably die off the boat. But unless you can gaurantee a totally dry boat, it's a risk.

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

Prevention is better than cure

Funnel on the dock lines is a great idea! Also take all food, paper products etc off the boat. Don't give 'em a reason to stay if they do make it aboard. If you use your boat occasionally during the winter, it may be a PITA to carry everything back and forth, but not nearly as much of one as cleaning up after 'em or trying to find one that crawled into something and died there.

 

[Doug]

How about...

A big-ass mouse trap with a hunk of swiss cheese smack dab in the middle of the dining table?

 

[Gene Barton s/v Paradigm]

Risky, Doug...

...if a motor boater comes on board it could get ugly.

 

[Al Sandrik]

Gee and the only wintertime pests...

we have to worry about down here is our snowbird relatives dropping in for a wintertime sail. ;^ )