[A/S] Re: sealing up an airstream in the desert

["laurencarus <lscarlson@xxxxxxxxxxx>" <lscarlson@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Cheng:
I have had this problem two of seven years, this was one of the years.
1) After the first year I put aluminum patches over any hole I could 
find in the belly skin.  Any openings that were to irregular to cover 
with aluminum I shoved in steel wool, then sprayed expanding foam 
in.  Mice will not mess with steel wool.   On my storage access door 
which doesn't fit great, I spread steel wool along the seal as I 
close it for the last time for winter storage.

2) I also "built a better mouse trap".   We live in Canada so winter 
storage means freezing, but that does not mean that mice hibernate.
My mouse trap is a two gallon plastic pail with about 1/2 gallon of 
winter windshield washer soution topped off with about 1/2 cup of 
vegetable oil to reduce evaporation.   I have attached a piece of 
coat hanger wire  to the end of a 1"x1" board so that it sticks out 
about 8".   On the end of the wire I spear a 35mm film canister (no 
lid) full of peanut butter.  I even leave the canister facing down, 
and it works.   I lean this bait stick up against the pail with only 
the coat hanger wire over the pail.
No guarantees but as we are colder but I believe the w/w soltion 
should stop dead mice from stinking.  
The one problem with this is you are trying to keep mice out and the 
smell of peanut butter will make the try even harder to get in.

3)Here is my brand new 2002 soutions, 
3.1) CAB FRESH. http://www.goodearthenterprises.com/
I have had farmers tell me that it will keep mice out of tractor cabs 
for about three months.   When I smell it I would say it is sage.   
It certianly doesn't smell bad.
3.2) I also bought a box of the stongest smelling fabric softener 
sheets (dry sheets) and spread the entire box in the trailer.
I implemented both of these the same day and also have the "better 
mouse trap" as back up and have not had problems since.

I have used moth balls but I find that the smell of moth balls 
lingers all summer.

Good Luck

Lauren Carlson WBCCI # 7532   VAC 1959 Tradewind