Rodents are every prepper’s worst nightmare. These creepy creatures will eat your food, contaminate your water, and ruin years of work in a single night. That’s right, all the prepping you’ve been doing for years is all gone. You enter into your food storage and all your food is gone. It’s heart-wrenching. Only people who were prepared with rodent proof storage containers were safe. For the rest of us, rodents wreaked havoc.
8 Rodent Proof Storage Tips
Preppers need to take their food storage seriously, one wrong step and you can ruin a large food supply intended to last you weeks or even months. Rodents are a big offender so here are 10 tips to help with your mouse proof storage.
Here are ways to keep mice out of storage boxes:
Bring out the cats and dogs
Naturally, cats and dogs will hunt down mice, rats, snakes, and all types of creeping creatures. If you are looking for a natural way to a rodent-free storage facility, then a cat or dog will do the trick. That’s not all, even the smell of the animal will scare them off. But ensure that your food is perfectly sealed to keep off the cats and dogs as well,
Close up all possible points of entries
Rodents will get in through cracks and openings in your storage facility. To shut them off, close up all possible points of entry. It’s not a simple job, but it’s essential. Go through all possible entry points and seal them.
Keep in mind that mice and rodents only need a hole the size of a coin to get in. Hence, you need to be very precise with your search and follow a specific pattern. Try this:
- Check both indoors and outdoors
- Look at all corners of the house and beneath furnitures
- Inspect water pipes, around washing machines and under sinks
- Look around the vents both dryer and floor vents
- Thoroughly inspect the floor & wall junctions
- Careful examine the basement especially around old junk
- The attic is also another hiding place for rodents, so check there
- Inspect the fireplace
Once you find the possible points of entry, try sealing it up. The CDC recommends the following steps:
- Use steel wool and caulk to fill up small holes
- For the bigger holes, go for cement, hardware cloth, metal sheeting and lath screen
Declutter your home and storage areas
Mice and rodents thrive in jammed spaces. Sometimes, it’s hard to declutter our spaces. Heck, most of us don’t even know we have a clutter problem. Hence the need to declutter. Remove all the things you don’t need. We know that’s tough, but it’s necessary. Keep the house and storage area free from unnecessary items. Only store what’s important.
Sew up all sources of water
Rodents, like humans, cannot survive without water. They need to quench their thirst and that’s a great tool to use against them. Experts reveal that rodents and mice like standing water and paddles especially in the garage and basement. To help chase them away, drain all standing water in and around your home or bug out location.
Find and tighten all water leaks, create a drainage for rainwater and keep your place dry. Since you need water for doomsday, keep it safely closed up in rodent proof containers. Again close up all sources of water, and rodents will have to relocate to find a drink. You can find out more about how to stockpile water here.
Take out the traps
Traps are one of the most common ways to guarantee mice-proof storage. But it’s not as easy as you may think. Rodents are clever enough to avoid traps, especially one that has been set for far too long. For traps to work, ensure that the mechanism works. Some of the most common traps include:
- Snap traps
- Bait station traps
- Glue traps
- Live animal traps
How to set glue traps:
- Set them parallel to walls as rats and mice tend to travel around there
- Place the glue traps around the most likely routes travelled and in different places.
- Glue traps tend to dry up after sometimes, so don’t leave them open for too long
- Glue traps are favourable around food storage areas as they won’t harm the food
How to set snap traps
- Snap traps are best set in dark and common rat places
- Go for traps that will encourage the rodents to go for the bait
- Use different baits all that are attractive to rodents
- Place the traps along walls (touching them) as its the likelist route
- Space the traps in safe distances of 25 feet apart
- Rats and mice are shy of new things and thus you can leave the traps unset in the room for a week or two before setting it.
- Keep on checking the traps from time to time and if they have caught any rodents, use gloves to handle it.
Baits are perfect for completely eradicating the rodents but are tricky with food storage. If you can have them on bait stations rather than in the open, the better. Live animals will also work and the traps are more humane. Just remember to take out the animals when they are caught.
Try Ammonia and other Unpleasant smells
If there is one thing that rodents fear is predators. And what do all predators have in common? They all urinate. That’s where ammonia comes in. It smells like urine and placing bits of it in selected places will have the mice running for safety.
Again, remember to be cautious as ammonia can easily spoil your food. Keep it at a safe distance, in small containers, and small quantities. Ammonia won’t do it all, but it will surely enable a mouse proof food storage facility.
Rodents cannot stand the smells of mints, olives, peppermint, cloves, and more. If you want to naturally keep the rodents at bay, use the smells. Soak cotton balls in any of the above and place them scattered around the food storage area and see the rodents vanish. They just can’t stand it. The only downside here is that you have to keep doing it as the smells tend to wear out with time.
Zap them
Just like the smell, the sound is also an effective way of kicking out the rodents. There are sound frequencies that drive the mice and rodents nuts. Some zappers produce these sounds and you can use that to your advantage. Zapping is highly recommended especially with food storage as there is little to no chance of contamination. But be sure to frequently change the frequencies and zappers as rodents are highly adaptive.
Clear the area surrounding the house
Do you see that bush around your house? Or that uncleared lawn close to your bug-out location? Well, that’s a great breeding area for rodents and other pests. You need to keep them clear all the time to minimize the chances of rodents descending on your stored food.
Store all edibles in plastic containers
Mice and other rodents are persistent creatures. Given time and motivation, they will chew just about everything. But, when you invest in high quality plastics with airtight lids, you will be buying yourself more time. Since mice need lots of time to chew plastics, they can easily access plastic containers through lids that have not been sealed completely. Hence, when storing food in plastic containers, ensure they are tightly sealed. Ensure that you store them in hard to reach areas like in a vault or tank. If you suspect rodents in the storage facility, use baits and traps to catch and kill them.
Best Storage Containers to Keep Mice Out
Storage containers have proved to be effective in keeping mice out. But getting a good quality rodent proof container can prove to be a challenge as there are many not-so-good containers. No need for a fuss as we have done all the heavy lifting for you and we bring you the best mouse proof containers:
Heavy Duty 27 Gallon Storage Containers
At 27 Gallons, these containers can carry a lot of food. The storage containers are crafted to be portable with strong handles enabling this. The rectangular containers will keep just about everything with the lid sealing tightly to lock rodents and pests out. The water-tight lid is weather resistant and will safely ensure your contents are unharmed.
The handles are comfortable on your hands and tie-downs make it easier to transport. On top, there are integrated slots for holding the containers down and providing extra security.
What we like about it:
- It’s versatile
- Weather-resistant lid
- Comfy handles
- Integrated slots added security
IRIS USA SIA-760D Store-It-All HERMETIC Totes
This is a perfect fit for anyone looking for an inclusive storage container. It’s made with durable materials and the construction is top-notch. It’s one of the versatile rodent storage containers in the market. The lid is watertight and does not permit moisture, rodents, or any other unwanted pests.
The lid is perfectly held in place thanks to clasps and there is a buckle or padlock for added security. When moving it around, a bungee rope is enough to hold it in place. At 82 quarts, you will have a large enough capacity.
What we like about it:
- Airtight lid
- Locks with a padlock or a buckle
- Large containers
- Made to last
Fullstar Food Storage Containers with Lids
Versatility and size are two important factors to consider in a rodent proof storage bin. The Fullstar Food Storage Containers offer both with 20 strongly made containers. The BPA plastic used is of high density and will give you long-lasting service.
This rodent proof storage container has a hermetic lid with a snap & lock closing mechanism. The containers can carry lots of food for longer. The food stored here will not come into contact with water, pests, or dust. The lid is leak proof.
What we like about it:
- Airtight lid
- Amazing hatch snack and lock
- 20 containers for extra space
- Made to give you a long-lasting service
Chef’s Path Airtight Food Storage Container
This is a perfect fit for anyone looking for a complete set. With 24 containers, both large and small, you will be able to store all foods right. The rodent proof storage containers are square and made with both silicone and plastic.
The see-through containers have a watertight lid with a brooch clasp. The silicone lids ensure nothing gets by. With a scoop and a marker, the storage containers will make it easier for you to fill up, mark, and store the food. On top, the containers are stackable which eases the pressure of storage. They offer good value for money as they come in plenty.
What we like about it:
- Clear durable plastic containers
- Watertight lids
- Easily stackable
- Comes with a scope and marker
FAQs
Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about keeping mice out of your storage containers and securing your food prep.
Can mice chew through plastic?
Yes, given time and chance, mice will chew plastics. How to keep mice out of storage boxes?
Keeping mice out of storage boxes means no open water or leaks, a clean environment free from food debris, and air-tight containers. You also need baits and zappers to keep them irritated.
What attracts mice to your house?
Mice are constantly looking for food, water, and shelter. If they can find one or two or all the above, they will come in numbers.
What are mice most attracted to?
Mice and other rodents find fats and sugary foodstuff irresistible. High-calorie food such as peanut butter and drops of beef will attract mice to your place.
Final Thoughts
Rodents have and will always be a menace if left unchecked. As a prepper, you need to do all that’s humanly possible to keep mice at bay. Rodent proof storage containers are a must-have if your food is going to last. Irrespective of whether you have a mice problem or not, getting mouse proof storage bins is paramount. Better safe than sorry!
Scare the crap out of rodents with traps and predators. Starve them by storing food in water-tight containers and make them as uncomfortable as possible with zappers. Make sure you’re using the best quality rodent proof storage to keep them out.
Producing your food for long-term survival is crucial. But investing in rodent proof food storage containers is even more prudent. Get this and your food survival kit will last you for a long while.
Source link: https://persurvive.com/preparing/rodent-proof-storage/ by Coty Perry at persurvive.com