Cabin winterization

[blackcatsamurai]

Ahh yes, mice! So, I can set traps, but, in the event they work I imagine it would smell something nasty come spring time.

[jbolty]

Any dead mouse will be fully dried out by spring. Personally I would use poison, a trap can only get one.

Before my dad retired we did many dozens of camp closing and opening. The concept is pretty simple, gravity. If there are any low spots in the pipes the water ends up there. If there was a camp where we could not get a look at the pipes under the house we would put some anti freeze into the system.

If it's a snow year make sure the roof gets shoveled.

Assume the power will go out and don't depend on any kind of heater.

It does not take much air to blow out the pipes. A small compressor is best but a bike pump will work too if you can rig the hose to a fitting.

Put and A frame of boards over any plants near the house that might be crushed by snow.

Canned food was already mentioned, it will freeze and burst.

[Barney Bear]

We no longer use Decon. Upon opening at ice-out, we would find the green pellets in many drawers, etc. where the tiny winter residents would secrete them. Also, our dogs might eat any loose ones they found. We did not want to risk that possibility. 🐻

[jbolty]

Originally Posted by Barney Bear

We no longer use Decon. Upon opening at ice-out, we would find the green pellets in many drawers, etc. where the tiny winter residents would secrete them. Also, our dogs might eat any loose ones they found. We did not want to risk that possibility. 🐻

use the kind that is a waxy block. Drill a hole in the block then loosely screw up out of reach of the dog, plus a mouse or rat can't carry it off.

[Descant]

We have friends with lots of pipes that can sag. They disconnect the water intake (you do this anyway) and with a small pump, add RV antifreeze to the entire system . They open valves and when it flows pink, close each valve. We used to have a jet pump for water intake, and struggled many times to get it primed as the intake pipe would sometimes have a small air leak that was difficult to find. Now we have a well pump in the lake and put a 4" pvc protection pipe over the intake pipe to protect against chafing. No more worries.
We use D-Con for rodents. Never had a problem, except the year we forgot it. It's the last thing and the first when we open so kids and pets don't have access. We put mothballs around the outside perimeter; the smell is gone by spring, but we think it encourages critters to find homes elsewhere. Linens go in plastic boxes, and newspapers on the beds. Some of this is overkill but it is part of the ritual.

[blackcatsamurai]

Originally Posted by Descant

We have friends with lots of pipes that can sag. They disconnect the water intake (you do this anyway) and with a small pump, add RV antifreeze to the entire system . They open valves and when it flows pink, close each valve. We used to have a jet pump for water intake, and struggled many times to get it primed as the intake pipe would sometimes have a small air leak that was difficult to find. Now we have a well pump in the lake and put a 4" pvc protection pipe over the intake pipe to protect against chafing. No more worries.
We use D-Con for rodents. Never had a problem, except the year we forgot it. It's the last thing and the first when we open so kids and pets don't have access. We put mothballs around the outside perimeter; the smell is gone by spring, but we think it encourages critters to find homes elsewhere. Linens go in plastic boxes, and newspapers on the beds. Some of this is overkill but it is part of the ritual.

Do tell about the newspapers on the beds. I have not heard of this before. And thanks all for the responses here. Taking notes. Lots of note!

[Descant]

We're told the critters don't like the sound of walking on newspaper. The year we forgot the D-Con, they made a mess of several rolls of toilet paper, but never touched the beds. (Miss the days when island kids used to deliver Sunday paper and fresh Dunkin Donuts).

[Barney Bear]

We have stripped our beds, then spread newspaper on top, then placed mothballs on the fake news. Our water system allows us to open faucets at the cottage, and then open a valve which is located at water's edge on our intake line to drain the water lines of our entire system. 🚰

[Merrymeeting]

The problem with the rodent poisons comes when an owl or other raptor eats a poisoned rodent. You may end up killing more than just the 4 legged pests (not to mention pets as previously posted)

[Grandpa Redneck]

Originally Posted by Merrymeeting

The problem with the rodent poisons comes when an owl or other raptor eats a poisoned rodent. You may end up killing more than just the 4 legged pests (not to mention pets as previously posted)

Not only raptors, but fox, cats, and any other scavenging carnivore. In our cabin in the north country we use a few of the snap traps with peanut butter, and a couple of the bucket traps, but we use the RV antifreeze in them, safe and non toxic to dispose of.

[tis]

Originally Posted by Barney Bear

We have stripped our beds, then spread newspaper on top, then placed mothballs on the fake news. Our water system allows us to open faucets at the cottage, and then open a valve which is located at water's edge on our intake line to drain the water lines of our entire system. 🚰

That's interesting. Do the mice not like the newspapers?

[blackcatsamurai]

Blue Thunder. That. Is. Awesome!

[Blue Thunder]

Originally Posted by blackcatsamurai

Blue Thunder. That. Is. Awesome!

Thanks! It works like a champ. I can't take credit for it. Its often called the Maine Mouse Trap.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by tis

That's interesting. Do the mice not like the newspapers?

I've tried walking on spread-out newspapers, and have yet to see any critters around.

[mneck1814]

Originally Posted by Descant

Some of this is overkill but it is part of the ritual.

Closing is such a ritual. We have a 100+ year old cast iron sink that does not have an enamel on it, it's basically the same finish as a cast iron skillet. When we were closing last week and my mom was smearing the sink with Crisco like we do every year I asked, "Do you think we really have to coat the sink with Crisco for the winter? Our cast iron skillets go without it all winter and they are fine?" her response, "I do it because that's how my mother did it and you will do it because that's how I did it." And so, like we have done for the last century+, in the Spring we will spend an hour scraping Crisco off the sink, even though it seems completely unnecessary to me.

[Pricestavern]

We wrap the mattresses in heavy plastic. All the chair/couch cushions and pillows go into contractor bags, as do the various life preservers. In each bag and with each mattress we put in a Bounce dryer sheet. Mice can't stand the smell and everything comes out smelling nicely in the Spring.

Bottom line: Don't leave anything available to the mice if they should find a way in.

[Descant]

Originally Posted by mneck1814

Closing is such a ritual. We have a 100+ year old cast iron sink that does not have an enamel on it, it's basically the same finish as a cast iron skillet. When we were closing last week and my mom was smearing the sink with Crisco like we do every year I asked, "Do you think we really have to coat the sink with Crisco for the winter? Our cast iron skillets go without it all winter and they are fine?" her response, "I do it because that's how my mother did it and you will do it because that's how I did it." And so, like we have done for the last century+, in the Spring we will spend an hour scraping Crisco off the sink, even though it seems completely unnecessary to me.

It can take many uses and careful heat/cool cycles with cooking oil to season an iron skillet so it is non-stick. Probably the same for the sink. Being porous, You could probably just put cooking spray on the sink and everybody would be happy, no need to spend cleaning time in the spring. We have "butcher block" hardwood counters/kitchen island that get a mineral oil rub down twice a year. No need for cutting boards pastry boards, etc and several people can stand around the island doing food prep. If it gets too many knife marks, we can belt sand it, and it's like new. Anyway, oiling the hardwood island is part of the ritual too, so it doesn't dry out too much over the winter when there is no heat. Like your sink, it may now be unnecessary, but my kids will have to make that decision.

[Blue Thunder]

I use an old school method. Its a 5 gallon bucket with a Coke bottle covered in peanut butter mounted on a straight piece of coat hanger. Attach a piece of wood as a ramp. Put a couple of inches of automotive anti freeze in the bottom. Mice walk up the ramp, out onto the bottle and the bottle spins dropping them into the anti freeze. They drown and the antifreeze embalms them until Spring. No smell at all.

[Merrymeeting]

Originally Posted by Blue Thunder

I use an old school method. Its a 5 gallon bucket with a Coke bottle covered in peanut butter mounted on a straight piece of coat hanger. Attach a piece of wood as a ramp. Put a couple of inches of automotive anti freeze in the bottom. Mice walk up the ramp, out onto the bottle and the bottle spins dropping them into the anti freeze. They drown and the antifreeze embalms them until Spring. No smell at all.

Interesting. But how do you dispose of the embalmed bodies/antifreeze in the spring?

[Barney Bear]

The mice dislike the smell of the mothballs. It also deters the pineys from staying. 🐻

[BroadHopper]

In case of the family cabin, a competent plumber actually set up all the pipes to drain back to the pump by shutting off the pump and open all the faucets. When flushing the toilets make sure the flush stays open. Works like a charm for decades! Of course we fill all the sewage traps with antifreeze.
Mice eventually will tolerate moth balls, dryer sheets, Irish Springs etc. So the Maine mouse trap is your best bet. Trouble with poisoning mice will go off and die in places that will scare the missus to the point of no return. The mouse traps are fine, just get the strong plastic ones, the wooden ones don't snap hard enough. You have to go back and reset them. If you have electricity, those electric rodents eradicators on every floor works fairly well!
Make sure all food are in glass or metal containers. Mice eat cardboard and plastic. Don't leave paper around, mice uses them to make nests. Same as clothing, towels and bedding. Best to bring them home or store them in cedar chest or wooden boxes with moth balls/lavender combo balls found in your local hardware stores.
Only other thing you need to worry about are lady bugs and or bats. That another chapter to discuss.
Welcome to seasonal living in the Granite State!

[TheTimeTraveler]

Originally Posted by Blue Thunder

I use an old school method. Its a 5 gallon bucket with a Coke bottle covered in peanut butter mounted on a straight piece of coat hanger. Attach a piece of wood as a ramp. Put a couple of inches of automotive anti freeze in the bottom. Mice walk up the ramp, out onto the bottle and the bottle spins dropping them into the anti freeze. They drown and the antifreeze embalms them until Spring. No smell at all.

Nice plan. Their last meal is a good one!

[NH.Solar]

Another method is to spray fox urine under the camp in the Fall. The rodents will immediately move out and if you're lucky the foxes will build a den nearby. I've been using that along with rat sized snap traps and the bottle over the bucket method to control my chipmunks (rats in cute suits) and mice. It's kinda stinky when you spray it but will fade away by Spring. Agway used to carry it but don't anymore and since then I have been able to get the same Maine company product from Amazon.

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by TheTimeTraveler

Nice plan. Their last meal is a good one!

I made a couple of those, best mouse trap ever! Better fill that bucket up half way though. If it's there all winter without emptying it they could pile up.

[SAMIAM]

Originally Posted by Biggd

I made a couple of those, best mouse trap ever! Better fill that bucket up half way though. If it's there all winter without emptying it they could pile up.

Last year I was collecting 3-4 mice each day in my bucket trap........have not seen a single mouse this year.Starting to see an occasional squirrel and chipmunk

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

Last year I was collecting 3-4 mice each day in my bucket trap........have not seen a single mouse this year.Starting to see an occasional squirrel and chipmunk

Same here, not one mouse this year but I did catch a chipmunk.

[Taz]

Originally Posted by jbolty

Any dead mouse will be fully dried out by spring. Personally I would use poison, a trap can only get one.

Tried it, doesn't work, they don't eat it, most success with peanut butter on a mouse trap, works most of the time, but I am able to check them and rebait them unlike an island camp.

[SAB1]

Originally Posted by Taz

Tried it, doesn't work, they don't eat it, most success with peanut butter on a mouse trap, works most of the time, but I am able to check them and rebait them unlike an island camp.

Never heard of such a thing. D con works great and yes use the blocks. Much better than pellets