Critters in the RV...

[CPittman]

I keep my RV parked on my rural property and we're out there every Wednesday and on weekends. I realize that I will have some mice that will get in so I set the anti-coagulant bait traps which seems to keep them under control.



However, this past weekend we had two snakes in the RV - I'm guessing they heard the mice and were going after them, but is there some kind of repellant I can put in the camper to keep snakes out? I think they're climbing up the landing jacks and getting in from the under-gooseneck storage area. I thought about using moth balls or something like that.



Any ideas about how to keep snakes out?

 

[Katman]

My local southern states sell s a product called snake away. smells like mothballs.

 

[jjordan1]

Moth balls. Works good around areas like the back of fridge, hot water heater. I put mine in cup cake baking cups OR empty medicine bottles & drill several holes in the lid. Good Luck

 

[Tractorat]

snakes

Well thanks, you just spoiled my day.

I was planning a possible trip down to Arizona this summer and I told my wife that, if she is in the trailer, she doesnt have to worry about rattle snakes. If she see's this, she may not leave the truck.

 

[starkmr]

Tractorat,



That is funny!!! I've never heard of rattlers getting into an RV but I suppose anything is possible. Unless you leave your trailer parked for an extended period of time, I wouldn't think you will have trouble. Just make sure you take action at the first sign of mice and the snakes won't have a reason to visit!!!!



Seriously rattlers avoid most populated areas if at all possible, especially if that area has been established for quite a while.



Mike

 

[JWilkinson]

One non toxic product is diotomaceous earth. Snakes wont cross it. To them it is like crawling across broken glass. Most garden supply or nurseries have it. You do have to maintain the barrier if it is outside. You can just sweep or vaccuum to clean up if inside.

 

[Joe G.]

My wife tells me that Bounce Fabric Softener will keep mice away. Just lay some sheets of it around.

 

[AMink]

I'd let the snakes hang around and take care of the mice! If the wife will stay in the truck too, well that's just more room to sleep!

 

[kelly4463]

When i store my 5er for the winter i put mothballs in some of the wifes old stockings and place in different parts of the camper no issues yet.

 

[SHobbs]

On my 5er I have small round plastic covers to conceal my waste tank dump handles. There are two on the side of the 5er. Take off the covers and reach in, pull the handle, sounds easy right? NOPE! Just around a month ago I reached in to dump the black tank, I felt something hit my hand. I always have leather gloves on when doing this, why I don't know always have and lucky for me I was wearing them. I backed my hand out of this little cubby hole to find a copperhead a 3ft long copperhead mind ya.



I took my awning rod and spent a few minutes fishing this unhappy fella out of the hole. I can't believe my luck that day, I know he struck my hand and if it were not for the gloves. Just beware if you got little compartments like this to be weary in the warmer months ya never know what will be in there. Now I remove both covers and look inside before sticking my hand in there just in case

 

[CPittman]

SHobbs - sounds like your "luck" comes from some common sense and a dose of preparedness - a 3' copperhead can put the hurt on ya. I've got a feeling one of the two snakes in my trailer was a copperhead - looked like dried oak leaves down the body, but was greenish around the head. I gotta get that dude outta there. Priority one is to remove his food source, the mice.

 

[SHobbs]

Copperheads are just that they are colored like pennies, I have yet to see any green on one. Not to say there isn't any though. That dang thing was fat too, he was good sized and was real hard to get through the 6 in. hole that I had to stick my hand through. I am still not sure how he got in there, my underbelly in enclosed and sealed with expanding type foam. There are a few small holes but not one the snake could have gotten through. I did reseal everything and hopefully won't have to see another one.

 

[JasonBrown]

And a copperhead will bite you just because they can!

 

[Jumbo Jet]

Copperheads are just that they are colored like pennies, I have yet to see any green on one. Not to say there isn't any though.

The very young copperheads have a greenish/yellow color about 2 inches at the tip of the tail. They will stick this tip out of grass to attract birds, etc.



I've not noticed that color on the head though. Copperheads love wood piles - even piles of scrap plywood and lumber.

 

[SHobbs]

I think my neighbor thought I got shocked or soemthing that day. I jumped about 10ft backwards, scared me to death. Needless to say I am very careful now and continue wearing ther leather gloves. Really scares me to think what if I was not wearing the gloves because I know it struck at my hand I felt it. Only thing I can think of is that my g-ma is watching over me still. I had a close call at work one night and got lucky not to loose a leg or both of them, still walking today thankfully. I lost her in 97 due to cancer and and I always carry an angel pin with me it is the same as the one I placed on her bonnet at her funeral. Sounds crazy to some but my g-ma is my guardian angel.

 

[starkmr]

Shobbs,



Having grown up in southern AZ, I have had my share of close calls with snakes as you can imagine. I don't think it's 'crazy' or 'weird' or anything else, if it makes you feel better that is all that counts!!!! Anybody who has had a close call with one of these varmints has their own method of future prevention!!!!



God bless your G-ma!!







Mike

 

[SHobbs]

Mike,



Thank you. I have seen some nature shows on the tube and it looks like the housing boom in Arizona has stirred up some interesting creatures that home owners are battling.