Date: Tue, 15 Aug 2017 16:59:40 -0700
Reply-To: David McNeely <davmcneely40@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: David McNeely <davmcneely40@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Vanagon Cover?
In-Reply-To: <CANTd7Fi33JOEYVzVcJ2LBGmz0fkh3sURuM7mf0jwyFr86S1hDg@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
Not only is it no fun to clean up after mice, but some of them carry Hanta
(Sin Nombre) virus, and people are easily infected by inhaling the virus
along with dust from the nests, fecal deposits, and urine. Not all mouse
species have been tested, but in most parts of North America the most
common wild mouse is the deer mouse, _Peromyscus maniculatus_, often also
called (along with other species) the field mouse. It has been tested in
many places, and generally one in ten individuals harbors the virus.
People who contract this illness, which is a kind of pneumonia, have a one
in three death rate. These mice readily invade homes, outbuildings, and
vehicles, whether or not there is food as an attractant. House mice also
carry this virus, but in a lesser frequency. If your mice are house mice,
you can tell by the smell, very noticeable and unpleasant. _Peromyscus_
also has an odor, but not as strong and definitely not the same (or as
unpleasant) as house mouse odor. If you've ever smelled house mice you
will remember it forever.
So, if you do have mice in your vehicle (or elsewhere), with nests and or
fecal deposits, follow CDC and public health department recommendations,
and wet the materials with diluted (10%) chlorine bleach, for a final
concentration of 0.5% sodium hypochlorite, leave it for 20 minutes, then
clean it up. Wearing a mask is not a bad idea, either. Do the same with
any trapped rodents or stray carcasses, and wear gloves for either task.
Oh, do not vacuum the mess, as that will volatilize the dust and viruses
with it.
I know, seems like overkill, but death (or even serious illness) seems
worse to me. Every year someone dies of this illness, usually exposed by
cleaning up mouse messes, though some have simply slept in buildings that
were heavily infested.
McNeely
Oh, some swear that Irish Spring bath soap will repel mice. So, I have
been keeping it in various places in my camper. So far no mice, though
they are in the area. So it works, right? Well, that may be like the old
joke about elephants, red paint, private parts, and apple trees where they
allegedly hide. If you were a teen in the late fifties, you probably heard
it.
On Tue, Aug 15, 2017 at 2:08 PM, moritz schmid <schmidm90@gmail.com> wrote:
> I am interested as to what everyone has to say about covers. In the mean
> time another thing you need to consider (depending on where you are storing
> it) is rodents and mice. They will absolutely DESTROY the interior in a
> matter of a few months if they can get in, especially over the winter.
>
> The previous owner of my syncro put the little bags of Earth-Kind rodent
> repellent all over the bus and it worked great! I would highly recommend
> them! I have had a bus sit without rodent repellent and its not fun to have
> to clean mouse nests all over and trace out the wiring that is too tasty to
> ignore! My bus sat for a little over 3 years and there is no sign of mice
> anywhere in it.
>
> http://www.earthkind.com/products/featured-fresh-cab-rodent-repellent
>
>
>
> On Tue, Aug 15, 2017 at 11:00 AM, Chris S <szpejankowski@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > All,
> >
> > I'm going to be storing my Syncro for a while. Bus Depot has a "Deluxe"
> > cover for $200 while I can get a Noah Covercraft cover for $255.
> >
> > What is general consensus on a quality cover? Thoughts, experiences?
> >
> > Chris
>
|