Another rodent Fun Fact, and myth. A common thing I see said in forums is rodents are attracted to the wiring in today's vehicles because the insulation is Soy based. This is simply not true. Rodents instinctually chew to keep their teeth sharp, and to control growth because rodent teeth don't stop growing. Did you know, on the Mohs scale Rat teeth have the same hardness as iron? Chewing is instinctual, and wires and hoses resemble roots and twigs that they naturally chew in the wild. Plus, they just pain chew on anything handy. Modern cars have miles of wiring compared to care 50 years ago. A little critter sitting comfortably in your engine compartment or on a wiring harness will simply follow instinct, and chew on whatever is handy and is chewable. Rodents, ants and stinging insects were a topic every year in our recert classes. In our classes, the #1 method of control is exclusion. Unfortunately, it is the most difficult and time consuming, and isn't always possible with motorhomes with exposed engine compartments, which is why the idea of repellents are so popular. Luckily our trailers are typically pretty well sealed, or can be sealed. NOTE: A mouse can fit through any opening his skull can fit through. They literally dislocate their shoulders and hips to wriggle the rest of their body through. We were shown an example of one doing so as seen through a fluoroscope. It was amazing. If you can fit the tip of your pinky finger in a hole, chances are a mouse can get through. We were also shown slides of a mouse beds made from dryer sheets, a video of a mouse contently washing himself while sitting in front of an electronic "pest chaser," rodents running right over the top of rope lights in search for food, and bars of Irish Spring soap partly consumed, clearly showing teeth marks. Basically, if any type of repellent worked, it would be standard in the industry, it's not. Now, to be clear, I have never doubted people's sincerity when they tell me a home remedy works. In my job I've probably heard them all.
Oh, while unrelated to rodents, there's another pest that can be a problem with RVers. Ants. And they come with myths of their own. I have had people tell me more than once that they sprinkle corn meal on the ground when they have an ant problem. They explain, ants eat the corn meal, and when they drink, the corn meal expands in their stomachs, and because of an ant's exoskeleton, pressure builds up and either kills them or they explode. It's always a bit awkward to explain why this is a myth, because the myth sounds like it makes a lot of sense. But, adult ants don't, and in fact, can't eat solid foods. Their anatomy prevents it. Instead, they carry it back to the nest where they feed the grubs, which then excrete a nutritious liquid that adults consume and share. Ant Fun Fact: Ants have two stomachs, a personal one, and a social one. One is for sustenance, and the other is used for sharing the liquid with other ants or fed to the queen. We commonly share liquids in a social setting, but not mouth to mouth, usually it's from a bottle or can, but the reasons are similar, providing social bonds. Even after explaining this ant fact, a common rebuttal is: "But it worked, they disappeared!" To which I explain, ants have foraging cycles, as they grow the colony, or store food for the winter, they forage. The reason the ants disappeared is you ended the forage cycle by helping them fill their pantries quickly, and by doing so insure a healthy, well fed colony that will return next season. Win the battle, but lose the war.
Finally, I suggest every time you service or winterize/un-winterize your rig, that you do a pest inspection. The expanding foam and caulking used by the factories can come lose, crack, or even fall out. When camping, make sure all utility lines are sealed off where they enter the rig, if they enter the rig. Trailer manufacturers have gotten better at making these connections on the exterior. I can't stress enough you are dealing with experts. A few years back I sat outside our rig in a campground and watched the resident Chipmunks travel from rig to rig, stopping and looking up where sewer, power and water hoses went up into the rig, like little gangs of burglars casing the neighborhood. They knew where the common entry points were. One ran right between my legs and stopped under my utility compartment. He looked up and moved on. I had made plastic shields with wing nuts to hold them in place, and holes just large enough for the hose and electrical cord to pass through. Sometimes it doesn't take an impenetrable barrier, to discourage them especially if your visit it temporary. Their survival is about energy out vs energy in, and they'll often explore and move on if an easy route isn't obvious, as in the case of my chipmunk friends. When storing a rig unattended, it's best to make sure your exclusion is more robust. And never, ever, think you've won. I learned very quickly when I started pest control, the enemy is smart, patient and resourceful, and is on duty 24/7/365. Never underestimate your opponent. Don't let that little peanut size brain fool you. They're pros and we're in their world.
