Pest in winter storage

[bonsaiDerek]

I've started putting my trees in the unheated garage here in Minnesota for the winter. I noticed a few days ago something had been digging in the bonsai soil of a couple trees. I am assuming mice, but maybe not. I put a few mothballs on top of the soil but today noticed new digging
What should I do?

 

[JudyB]

That is not good, they can be devastating. Can you build a hardware cloth cage to put them into? They can't chew thru that!

 

[sorce]

Listen to the free Mirai Stream where he talks about talking to people in MN who found better health leaving their trees out in the winter.

#garagesareforcarsandchickens

Sorce

 

[penumbra]

Mousetrap.

 

[Forsoothe!]

Gotta kill 'um. Poison balls work. They take them back to the nest and the rest of the family "stays together".

 

[penumbra]

If you have pets, particularly cats, use traps.not poison.

 

[Forsoothe!]

If you have pets, particularly cats, use traps.not poison.

I make wire baskets out of 1" sq wire machine guard screening that a mouse can pass through, but other animals can't. I put the poison balls in a plastic candy container (ironically) to prevent rain from dissolving the bait and make a 1 1/2" dia hole in that. Outdoors, I place a 12" sq patio block on top so other animals and birds can't get in or knock it over and collect the prizes. I usually put 25 or 30 balls in so I can both monitor use and have enough so they don't just eat what's there. I want them to take some home for their pantry.

Naturally, if you have cats they will eat whatever they find laying about, so traps only for you.

 

[penumbra]

I make wire baskets out of 1" sq wire machine guard screening that a mouse can pass through, but other animals can't. I put the poison balls in a plastic candy container (ironically) to prevent rain from dissolving the bait and make a 1 1/2" dia hole in that. Outdoors, I place a 12" sq patio block on top so other animals and birds can't get in or knock it over and collect the prizes. I usually put 25 or 30 balls in so I can both monitor use and have enough so they don't just eat what's there. I want them to take some home for their pantry.

Naturally, if you have cats they will eat whatever they find laying about, so traps only for you.

I am glad you are taking these extra precautions. I would like to mention that several years ago I lost a cat that ate a mouse that ate the poison.

 

[bonsaiDerek]

Here is what I did. Wrap them in window screen with a mouse magic repelling pad between them

 

[VAFisher]

Listen to the free Mirai Stream where he talks about talking to people in MN who found better health leaving their trees out in the winter.

#garagesareforcarsandchickens

Sorce

Or ask Frary about the dangers of pests when leaving trees outside buried where you can't see them.

 

[sorce]

Or

Also!

Also ask @mattspiniken about necessary outside pest protection, and see all the comments about mice in the garage!

Sorce

 

[VAFisher]

Also!

Also ask @mattspiniken about necessary outside pest protection, and see all the comments about mice in the garage!

Sorce

I keep my old running shoes in the garage for working in the yard. Ain't no mouse gonna brave that environment - it's toxic to everything.