What are the Mice in Your Horse Trailer Seeking?

In most cases, the mice or rats are seeking food or water. They could also be seeking shelter from the elements, or a place to create a nest.

How are the Mice in Your LQ Horse Trailer Getting In?

In most cases, they are getting in where there are holes around wires or pipes coming into your trailer. This could be the hookups, plumbing or vents even.

What Pest Solutions Are There to Get Mice Out of Horse Trailers?

In my research into this topic, I've read some real horror stories about living quarters trailers being inundated with mice or rats, and destroying wiring, electrical equipment, and food. And I wanted to have a list of potential solutions to hopefully prevent mice from getting into my horse trailer. As with any list of solutions, some come with very mixed reviews.

The following solutions are ones that some swear by and some say never worked for them. All of these solutions are poison-free so won't harm wildlife or pets. I think if they work for some, you at least need to know about them. But keep in mind, apparently mice and rats have differing palates and senses in different locales. These are strictly “your mileage may vary” (YMMV) solutions. #CommissionsEarned on all below links.

“Your Mileage May Vary” Solutions for Getting Mice Out of Horse Trailers

Solutions with a Scent

• Dryer sheets. This solution is popular. Apparently the rodents don't care for the scent of the dryer sheets and horse owners tuck them in various places all over their living quarters trailer to keep the mice away. Some show a strong preference for Bounce dryer sheets specifically and others say any brand of dryer sheet will work.
  
  Unfortunately, some people say that the mice mocked them by gathering the sheets and making nests out of the dryer sheets.
  
  Personally, I won't use this solution as the chemical scent used on dryer sheets gives me a headache. I think if the chemical is bad for an animal, it's probably bad for me too. But that's just me. It really does seem to be effective for a lot of people though.
  
• Irish Spring soap. This is a big YMMV solution. Some people swear by Irish Spring soap. They hang it in their trailer during off seasons. They shave off pieces and put them in open bags or jars in various places throughout their trailers.
  
  Many others say once again that mice have attitudes and will EAT the Irish Spring soap. Some say they are even attracted by Irish Spring! I'm starting to think these mice may be poking fun at some of us. Hmmmmm.
  
• Peppermint or Lavender Oil. Used by putting it on cotton balls or spraying it throughout and around the trailer, some mice, in some locations, will avoid any areas with peppermint or lavender oil. (I prefer to use organic oils to keep it clean for use around people.) Some say application is only needed every 3-4 months and others use it more often.
  
  Still others say mice dab their tiny little paws in it and use it as deodorant before chewing through their electrical wiring or leftover breakfast. Once again, YMMV.
  

• Moth Balls. Used almost as much as peppermint oil, moth balls are a favorite for keeping mice out of horse trailers. Spread on the outside of trailers primarily, these stinky spheres work on some mice and rats in some places. The ones in the photo have solid 5-star reviews and are larger than typical moth balls for ease of use. If using large or small, one suggested use was putting them in onion bags or laundry delicates bags and draping over tires during winter storage.
  
  However, some report little to no success with them. Maybe the mice and rats are playing dodge ball with them?

Solution with a Sound

• Sonic/Ultrasonic Pest Control Devices. Using silent sound as a deterrent, some rodents will avoid areas with these devices. Thought to be more humane than poison or traps, some have had good luck with using these devices to get mice out of horse trailers. After a quick search on Amazon, there are a wide variety of these devices to choose from. Some actually go into the ground and some sit on top of the ground. Some are solar and some are powered by electric.
  
  Once again, reports vary on this method but reviews on Amazon seem to be good and the costs are low enough that it could be worth a try. Although one person in a FB group reported, “I used the sonic thing and they were hula dancing in front of it. Didn't work at all.” These mice even dance! Who knew?
  

Not As Well Known but Great Reviews from Users

A few other suggestions that are not as commonly suggested but seem to have success include:

• Placing a large sheet of plastic (like a heavy tarp for instance) on the ground before parking the trailer on top of it. The theory is that the rodents won't walk on the plastic and thus, it keeps them out of your trailer.
  
• Fresh Cab Rodent Repellent is a botanical rodent repellent that users report great success with. It comes in great smelling sachets that the user places in and around the horse trailer, typically while parked for long periods. These can be found online at Amazon or you can check with your local farm or hardware store.
  

• Rope or Strobe Lights. Some owners will place rope lights or strobe lights around the bottom of their horse trailers to keep rodents away. Rodents of course prefer darkness, so the lights deter them from coming around. This solution makes more sense if you are horse camping, rather than for long-term storage of your horse trailer.
  
• Mixture of Jiffy cornbread and baking soda. This is one of my own tips from using in my barn. If you mix up equal parts of Jiffy cornbread and baking soda (can even be 2/3 cornbread and 1/3 baking soda in my experience), and either place in an open plastic bowl or a plastic food storage container with a hole cut in it, mice and rats will eat it and since they can't pass gas or burp, it takes their life. AND it is not harmful to other animals like poison can be.

Sure-Fire Solutions to Get Mice Out of Horse Trailers

The most effective ways people report to get mice out of horse trailers can also be the most ahem….final. But for those who understand just how destructive they can be or have tried many of the above solutions without success, these solutions WORK. I have divided the solutions between those that preserve life and those that may need a little RIP gravestone.

Solutions That Preserve Life

• Secure or Remove Food. While camping, ensure that all food is secured in mice-proof containers, such as glass. When storing your horse trailer for an extended period, remove all food completely. While it seems logical, sometimes the most obvious solutions slip by us. If there is no food to tempt them, it reduces, or in some cases, may eliminate the chance of mice getting into your horse trailer.
  
• Steel Wool. The use of fine grade steel wool is a very popular solution used by many with living quarters horse trailers. Since mice most commonly use the space around wiring, connectors and in vents to make themselves at home in our home, steel wool is an easy way to say, “You're not invited.”
  
  Mice are unable to chew through the steel wool and thus can't get in. This is a safe and effective way to get mice out of trailers.
  

• Spray Foam. Used similarly to steel wool, spray foam insulation can be injected into the spaces around wiring, connectors, plumbing and vents. However, some say that unlike the steel wool, mice and rats can chew through spray foam alone. So, some suggest using steel wool AND spray foam for double protection.
  
• Bucket Trap. This is another humane method of getting mice out of horse trailers. Essentially, you use a 5-gallon bucket, an aluminum can (soda or beer can for instance), a thin dowel to put the can on (a wire coat hanger works), a piece of plastic or wood for a ramp and some peanut butter. The mouse jumps on the loose can spinning on the dowel in the bucket to get to the peanut butter, the can spins and gravity takes the mouse to the bottom of the bucket where it is trapped. You can then release the mice far, far away from your horse trailer, or otherwise dispose of them as the case may be.
  
  The “beauty” of this trap is that multiple mice can be caught using it.
  
  I found this image and step by step instructions here.

RIP Solutions

• Poison products–While I hesitate to even list this option, poison is a long-standing solution that can be very effective. Why do I hesitate to recommend it you ask? Well, the downside to using anything with poison in it comes if the rodent dies somewhere that other animals have access to it.
  
  The dead rodent with poison in its system can then take the life of a cat, dog, bird, or other wildlife that happens upon it and decides to make a meal of it. If you are going to use this solution, you must make very sure that other animals won't eat the body.
  
• Snap Traps. These are the traps that use peanut butter or some other sort of food bait to lure the mouse in to be caught in a quick snap that ends their life. However, the instant nature of the process is considered to be humane if you're going to use this method. Amazon has a plethora of choices for snap traps for mice.
  
• Glue Traps. Along with the snap traps and bucket trap, there are also glue traps. The controversy over glue traps is alive in people who find them inhumane since the mouse is still alive and according to their philosophy, shouldn't have to suffer. Some of those who used them reported finding ways to quickly put them out of their misery. But what you do with the trap after the mouse is caught is totally up to you.

I'd love to hear in the coments if you've tried any other solutions for getting pests out of trailers. (Keep it family friendly.)

This article is the first in a series of articles I will be writing as I prep to go on the road full time with my horses. (Planned time frame is fall of 2025 after my youngest son graduates from high school and goes to college.) I am starting to research things I will need to know about living full time on the road with horses. I will write about them here so that not only can they help me, I hope they can help others as well.

As a single mom of two, one with special needs, purchasing from the above links doesn't cost you anything extra and the commissions I earn help me to make this dream come true. Thank you for supporting my dream.

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