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What's in Your Garage?

98 messages,  Last post on Dec 23, 2012 at 10:57 AM

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Messages Page 6 of 11

#43 of 98 Re: I've thought about doing mothballs... [andre1969] by 1racefan

Dec 14, 2006 (8:21 am)

Replying to: andre1969 (Dec 14, 2006 8:09 am)
Remember - caulk is your friend.
 
I would go inch by inch around that garage looking for any possible opening that a mouse could squeeze through, and fill it with either caulk, or that expandable foam in a can - even up in the attic portion of the garage if it has one. However, I guess they could also be squeezing in around the garage door itself - in which case you could see if the door has any adjuability built in to it, or call the installer to see if they can do anything to hel lessen any gaps.

#44 of 98 Re: I've thought about doing mothballs... [1racefan] by andre1969

Dec 14, 2006 (8:43 am)

Replying to: 1racefan (Dec 14, 2006 8:21 am)
I think I have an idea where they're coming through. There's a spot in the Southeast corner of the garage that has a little gap in it. During the summer when I had lizards, they'd always run for that spot whenever I'd enter the garage. And a couple weeks ago, when I started to back my LeMans out, and I heard a mouse jump off of it, it ran for that same spot.
 
The garage doors actually seal up pretty tight. I was impressed. The garage at my old condo had about two inches of play in it at some points.
 
Too bad I couldn't just get some snakes and let 'em loose in there! But it's cold enough now that the snakes would either hibernate or die.

#45 of 98 Re: I've thought about doing mothballs... [andre1969] by 1racefan

Dec 14, 2006 (8:47 am)

Replying to: andre1969 (Dec 14, 2006 8:43 am)
"Too bad I couldn't just get some snakes and let 'em loose in there! But it's cold enough now that the snakes would either hibernate or die"
 
Or just get a "garage cat" (de clawed of course for when it jumps up on your cars).

#46 of 98 Re: I've thought about doing mothballs... [1racefan] by stmss

Dec 14, 2006 (12:41 pm)

Replying to: 1racefan (Dec 14, 2006 8:47 am)
I don't have mice in my garage - but I do have a 62 Jaguar - maybe that cat is the trick

#47 of 98 I checked the mousetrap in my garage... by andre1969

Dec 17, 2006 (8:49 am)

yesterday, and finally caught something. But I don't know what it was. It was small and furry, but didn't look quite like a mouse. It was dark grayish brown and had short little legs and a really short, furry tail. It also had a really tiny head and a plump body. It was kind of a cute little thing, cuter than the mice I get at the pet store to feed my snakes.
 
It had a softer looking fur than what mice usually have, too. More like the velour you might find in an '80's LeSabre Limited, rather than a base Monte Carlo.
 
So, any idea on what this little sucker was? Maybe just a different breed of mouse from what I'm used to seeing?
 
Edit: I did some digging around, and I think I identified it. I think it's a vole. Cute little sucker, and I almost feel kinda bad, but I've heard they can also be destructive little things. I'm surprised it could jump high enough to get up into a car...it didn't look like the little legs were built for jumping.

#48 of 98 Re: I checked the mousetrap in my garage... [andre1969] by odie6l

Dec 17, 2006 (1:03 pm)

Replying to: andre1969 (Dec 17, 2006 8:49 am)
Voles are really nasty. I have seen them eat through tires and make nests inside cars that have been parked for a good bit.
 
Odie
Odie's Carspace

#49 of 98 Re: I checked the mousetrap in my garage... [odie6l] by andre1969

Dec 17, 2006 (2:22 pm)

Replying to: odie6l (Dec 17, 2006 1:03 pm)
Voles are really nasty. I have seen them eat through tires and make nests inside cars that have been parked for a good bit.
 
Okay, now I don't feel so bad about snuffing the little sucker. Now that I think about it, about 10 years ago I caught one of these things in the garage under my grandmother's house. This was soon after my divorce, when I had to move in with her. I had the snake in that garage, unknown to my grandmother. I forget how I caught the thing, but I threw it in with the snake, thinking it was just a weird mouse, to see if it would eat it. Hey, I figured it would save me a trip to the store. Well, that thing stayed in one corner and the snake stayed in another, and wouldn't go anywhere near it. After awhile, I just gave up and let the danged thing go. I wonder if the vole would have been aggressive enough to kill the snake?

#50 of 98 Re: I checked the mousetrap in my garage... [andre1969] by odie6l

Dec 17, 2006 (3:21 pm)

Replying to: andre1969 (Dec 17, 2006 2:22 pm)
I have black racers that live out behind our house along the stream, and they won't even mess with them. Make sure if you get a live one, watch out for the teeth, they are very sharp (I know from experience).
 
Odie
Odie's Carspace

#51 of 98 Re: I checked the mousetrap in my garage... [odie6l] by andre1969

Dec 18, 2006 (8:16 am)

Replying to: odie6l (Dec 17, 2006 3:21 pm)
oh cool, you have a stream behind your place, too?
 
Yeah, I learned a long time ago to watch out for the mice. I've been bitten a few times by the mice, and a few times by one of my snakes. The mice, cute as they are, pack a much meaner bite! They really sink their teeth in, whereas with the snake I guess there's just that primal fear. When they strike, I probably hurt myself more trying to pull my hand away (hitting the side of the cage, elbowing a wall, etc) then the actual bite!
 
On the garage front, I've reset the trap, but I haven't caught anything else. Maybe it was just the one vole? I thought it was an odd coincidence though, that on two separate occasions, I started up two different cars, and it just happened to be in THAT car! Somehow, I think there are more than just one.

#52 of 98 Re: I checked the mousetrap in my garage... [andre1969] by odie6l

Dec 18, 2006 (6:49 pm)

Replying to: andre1969 (Dec 18, 2006 8:16 am)
Yeah, the townhouse we are in right now has a small creek behind it. The best part about the creek is it's name. All the streams, creeks, rivers and what not through-out PA seem to have names and what makes it even funnier is there is a legitimate road sign down at the road where the creek goes under with the name on it. The name of the creek is "Snits Creek" (yes that is a "N"). well right after we moved here, I went out and bought an old wooden oar and snapped it in 2 and tied it to the sign. I guess you can say it was a reference to "The person who went up Snits Creek without their paddle." The township didn't find it funny and removed it after about a week, but the sign is still there. It's gonna be sad to move to the new house, but yet exciting too.
 
Odie
Odie's Carspace
 
PS - I will go out tomorrow and snap a picture of the sign to put on my carspace.

Messages Page 6 of 11

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