Mice

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   I recently had the "pleasure" of moving all of my buckets of "long term" food out of the space that I had them stored in and cleaning them up.  It seems that even though I had what I thought was plenty of d-CON in the room, mice chewed through one of the wheat buckets and made a real mess.

Fortunately, it was only one (our of more than 100) bucket.  You should see the hole.  It is about 3/4 inch in diameter and looks so round that it appears as though it could have been made with a drill.

While moving the buckets, I also found that I had a small crack in the top of one of my salt buckets, so I threw it out rather than risk having mouse related contamination in it.

I'm not sure what I will do, other than a visual inspection, to determine whether any of the other bucket lids are cracked.  I think that I might slosh some ink or dye on the lids before I open the buckets.  That way if I find any dye on the inside of a lid, I will know that the contents are compromised.

I store the buckets stacked 3 high and assume that the salt bucket with the cracked lid was at the bottof of the stack at some time. (they have been moved several times.)

At some time I would like to start switching my long term storage foods to #10 cans or jars to better avoid the pest problem, but I won't be able to do that right away.  Also, if the "China Flu" hits this year, well, then "long term" may not be that long.

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AVanarts Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Valued Member Joined: March 30 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 97	Post Options Post Reply Quote AVanarts Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Mice Posted: October 31 2006 at 3:47pm
	I recently had the "pleasure" of moving all of my buckets of "long term" food out of the space that I had them stored in and cleaning them up. It seems that even though I had what I thought was plenty of d-CON in the room, mice chewed through one of the wheat buckets and made a real mess. Fortunately, it was only one (our of more than 100) bucket. You should see the hole. It is about 3/4 inch in diameter and looks so round that it appears as though it could have been made with a drill. While moving the buckets, I also found that I had a small crack in the top of one of my salt buckets, so I threw it out rather than risk having mouse related contamination in it. I'm not sure what I will do, other than a visual inspection, to determine whether any of the other bucket lids are cracked. I think that I might slosh some ink or dye on the lids before I open the buckets. That way if I find any dye on the inside of a lid, I will know that the contents are compromised. I store the buckets stacked 3 high and assume that the salt bucket with the cracked lid was at the bottof of the stack at some time. (they have been moved several times.) At some time I would like to start switching my long term storage foods to #10 cans or jars to better avoid the pest problem, but I won't be able to do that right away. Also, if the "China Flu" hits this year, well, then "long term" may not be that long.

Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: October 31 2006 at 4:50pm
	I discovered a little "guest" yesterday that had found my Resses Peanut Butter Cup stash.....little varmit! He found my chocolate! Now I must figure out the best way to terminate him! Any advice anyone?

Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: November 01 2006 at 8:21am
	I ordered the 1/2 gallon glass canning jars and when my bulk food gets here this week I will be transferring my grains into these jars with oxygen absorbers. I think glass is very safe and you can easily see what is in them.

SinisterBlueCat Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Valued Member Joined: June 06 2006 Status: Offline Points: 36	Post Options Post Reply Quote SinisterBlueCat Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: November 01 2006 at 10:16am
	Most (but not all) of our preps are in our basement. i keep our kittys litter box in the basement as well, not to far from our preps. amazingly, i have not seen any evidence of rodents at all. hmmm, i wonder why! LOL

Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: November 01 2006 at 11:44am
	Bait traps with peanut butter. The little buggers love the stuff.

Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: November 02 2006 at 9:11am
	move the d-con if you need to use it elsewhere for two reasons. One its like a bait pile for the mice and draws them to it, there for drawing them to your preps. next the mice can scatter the stuff all over your preps and then craw off into you walls and die. Its better to use traps.

justducky Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Valued Member Joined: November 02 2006 Status: Offline Points: 64	Post Options Post Reply Quote justducky Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: November 02 2006 at 12:50pm
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AVanarts Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Valued Member Joined: March 30 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 97	Post Options Post Reply Quote AVanarts Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: November 02 2006 at 1:32pm
	timber, we have a cat now, so the d-CON is being limited to the crawlspace and garage (where the cat won't be going). justducky, yes they are plastic buckets. Mice definately go through plastic.

Linda-ann Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Valued Member Joined: September 08 2006 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 154	Post Options Post Reply Quote Linda-ann Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: November 05 2006 at 9:00pm
	I thought chocalte was posinous to rats and mice Like it is too dogs and cats

Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: November 06 2006 at 3:44am
	If yall have the room for one an old freezer works wonders against vermin.Its what I use to keep mice out of my horses grain.I never could stand the idea of mice in the barn.Check with appliance repair people you can get freezers that dont work for free.

Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: November 06 2006 at 8:38am
	For a safe trap, place peanut butter in a five gallon bucket, place items to jump and crawl on next to bucket. Mice will climb the stuff, jump into the bucket, then can't get out. Check every couple of days for mice.

sweetpea Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List V.I.P. Member Joined: March 27 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 299	Post Options Post Reply Quote sweetpea Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: November 07 2006 at 5:43pm
	this holiday season buy the popcorn tins ... it may be alot of popcorn to eat, or re-gift in "movie baskets" to family ... I use my tins for wheat and flour ... it's worth the popcorn!!
	"When an emergency arises, the time for preparation is past."