It doesn’t matter if your RV is new or used, drivable or towable, or if you camp in RV parks or the wild…mice will find their way into your RV!
There’s no way around it. The mice want in.
From prevention to termination, today we’re sharing seven ways to keep mice outside.
Let’s dive in!
#1 Fresh Cab
Fresch Cab is an excellent first step before mice enter your unit. It’s a plant-based solution that repels mice with a scent that’s offensive to rodents but not to humans.
It smells like Chrismas-time.
In our experience, Fresh Cab should be used generously in the RV storage bays. Think of it as the very first line of defense, not the entire army.
#2 LED Exterior Lights
Do you think that colorful lighting underneath an RV is tacky? Yeah, so does my wife!
However, those lights not only provide a relaxed nighttime vibe but deter rodents.
Keep in mind; if you’re at an RV park, it could be considered rude to keep these underneath LED lights on all night. This solution is primarily for boondocking.
Mice are nocturnal. These lights are yet another line of preventative defense.
#3 Ultrasonic Pest Repeller
If you suspect a mouse has found its way into your RV, an Ultrasonic pest repeller can help. This device emits a sound very unpleasant to all types of rodents.
Some RVs have outlets underneath the kitchen sink.
This is a prime location to place the Ultrasonic repeller.
#4 Steel Wool
If you want to take action into your own hands, and scout out potential entry points, grab some steel wool.
Covering possible entryways with steel wool will be a significant detractor to rodents – they hate that stuff.
The challenge, however, is locating every potential entry point.
#5 Get a Cat
This option won’t be great for a lot of people (including us), but it is a legitimate solution.
Cats will hunt down any mouse risky enough to enter and act as a natural predatorial deterrent.
The trade-off is a litter box. Personally, a litter box is almost as bad as a mouse.
#6 Catch & Release Trap
If you have a moral dilemma with kill traps, a catch and release mouse trap may be your final line of defense.
We understand why you may prefer a catch and release trap. In fact, we’ve used this option before.
Unfortunately, the success has been limited.
#7 Kill Trap for RV Mice
With a heavy heart, we’re here to confirm this has been the most effective tool in our kit.
A kill trap for mice in our RV has solved rodent issues every single time.
We recommend starting this process with a lot of prevention tools. But, when the day comes, and you have to get rid of a mouse, a kill trap will probably be the best option.
For the sake of morality, we recommend the most powerful trap on the market to ensure the least amount of suffering for the poor mouse.
Once You Have Your Mouse-Repelling Tools, Take Your RV Free Camping
To be honest with you, we hate paying for camping. There are so many free campsites in America (with complete privacy). You should give it a try! As a matter of fact, these free campsites are yours.
Every time you pay federal taxes, you’re contributing to these lands.
Here’s our list of the 20 Best Free Campsites in the USA.
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Great article. As a successful veteran mouse n pack rat fighter in RV’s I’ve had the best results with a Loraffe battery operated animal repeller and a Rid-a-Rat device in my Jeep engine compartment. The Loraffe sits on the floor of my travel trailer. Dog friendly too!! 2 C batteries last months. I got both at Amazon.
We are boondocking at Bryce Canyon in 12 days we have used mouse traps and have killed 15 mice. I guess I’m good at something. Travel safe. Robert.
I use peppermint oil and cotton balls ,works great.
We are camp hosts in California. We have a set of rope lights that run the length of our truck. It looks like a landing strip. We use Fresh Cab and it works wonders. The mice got used to the lights and started chewing the insulation around our truck batteries. We now lay 2 packs of Fresh Cab under our hood when we are not driving. Just remember to pull them out before you drive. No more problems!
That’s what I’ve been trying. After finding mouse poo under the kitchen sink, I put about 5 – 7 drops of peppermint oil on cotton balls and spread them around.
Glade also makes a peppermint scented air freshener for the Christmas season, and I’ve sprayed that around. The whole rig smells like a candy cane!
Just ordered some Fresh Cab through your link to Amazon for an extra layer of protection. Thanks for this humane, Earth-friendly, socially conscious remedy for critter ridding!
I’ve used Irish Springs bar soap on every tire of your RV, they don’t like the smell of it and we’ve never had a mouse in our RV in the last 5 years. Also any type of mint they don’t like the smell either.
Sticky traps with peanut butter in the middle. Nope, I have no remorse for that. The damage caused by these critters can be massive and the smell. No thanks
If you want to keep mice out of your RV then you need to close up all the entries holes regardless of all the other stuff they tell you to try , when they build most RV’s there are cut holes though out the camper in places you can’t see , that allow mice to get in from all different locations! Just saying 😎
Don’t actually get a cat…have a pal save used litter box dumpings for you and spread it around under your stored travel trailer. Instead of throwing it on the ground, you can put it in open disposable containers! Also, a 50/50 mix of dry Honey flavored Jiffy Mix and baking soda won’t hurt anything but rodents. The acid in their digestive track will make great quantities of gas…and since they can’t belch or farther, the explode (inside).