Camping and MICE

21 years ago

This is my first posting, since I've only recently discovered this site; so please bear with me!

We found a campite in the mountains that we truly love, for it's beautiful old growth forests, flowing river, and scenic nature trails. The only problem is the deer mice that come out after dark (eek)!

I am aware of the possible hazards of deer mice, and keep all food inside tins and a cooler (in the car's trunk), and try not to stir up too much dust. But, at nightfall they come scampering into the campsite, running under foot, over & under the picnic table, and all over our tent while we're trying to sleep. Every time, we've had the misfortune of taking one of these li'l guys home with us in our car too.

Our last outing consisted of broken cords in our tent poles (second time using this tent), waking up in soaking wet sleeping bags/tent, and rain coming down so hard we couldn't get a fire started. We decided to cut the trip short, only to find a mouse inside our trunk while loading up. So there we were in the pouring rain unloading everything, tearing out our back seat, and trying to scare this poor guy out. We eventually gave up, and got some food at a diner along the way. You should have seen the looks we got in there, we looked like drowned rats ourselves!

We bought a (humane) trap and set it up in our trunk, but never did catch him. I later heard he escaped into a neighbor's apartment. Ooops!

What are some ways you experienced campers have dealt with this? We would hate to have to give up our favorite spot.

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Comments (8)

jen_
21 years ago
I've never really had to deal with this! When it comes to rodents when camping I've had to deal more with chipmunks and squirrels! We did have some type of animal build a nest in the engine of our car once but that was it! Sorry I couldn't be more help to you but welcome to the site!
jennmonkey
21 years ago
Hello fellow washingtonian! Sorry bout the mice, I haven't really had to deal with this problem yet. But if you tell me what area you live in, I might know some mice-free spots you might really like (old growth and all!). Welcome to the site!
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Oh, Janet--My kids were away last week at Grandma Camp, and part of my thought I should have done what YOU did. Instead, I had a social life! Considering that I never have time for one elseways, I decided it was the best way to spend that time. (In fact, I came here to start a thread titled "wasted opportunity," LOL! Though I invested in my sense of fun and my marriage) I didn't even go in their ROOM except to feed and water the guinea pig. I have a lot of the same revelations, though--have had for a while. Your Revelation #1. I don't know HOW to teach my kid this. I can do it for myself, so I try to be more vocal about it. Your Revelation #3: Ditto. Unfort., daddy's often the guy putting them to bed, since I often work late. And he does NOT do this, I cannot get him to. Right now there are enough other things to be on his case about; I can't deal w/ disciplining HIM too on this. I *have* the small hamper in her dressing room--she throws it ALL on the floor anyway! This may have to be a hard-nosed kind of thing. My DD is 11, and a young 11 at that; she's got one foot in each kind of playing w/ toys--younger toys, that take up lots of room; and older toys (music, books) that don't necessarily.
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CandyWA
21 years ago
I didn't even know mice existed in camp grounds... thanks a LOT! LOL. Seriously, we've been camping quite a bit lately and have never encountered them... thank goodness. I might have to rethink the wild animal food I sprinkle around our camp sites. I like to have a squirrel or chipmunk dropping by. Till now I've never even considered the fact that I might be inviting deer mice over for a midnight snack!

Icicle Creek is a great campground. It's just beautiful and peaceful. And there's a town not far away called Leavenworth... lots of cute shops :)
Indoor_Girl
Original Author
21 years ago
I live in the Everett area, which is about 30 miles north of Seattle. The campground I speak of is just a little past Index. From what I've read, deer mice like to burrow on hillsides. Which we've found to be true. We had adorable chipmunks by day, and mice by night. Deer mice are by the way, very verrrry cute, they look like storybook mice.

Candy WA, it's funny you should mention Icicle Creek, because we've actually been thinking about staying there next! We love Leavenworth, but usually stay at the Enzian, we think it would be great to experience it camping next.
CandyWA
21 years ago
You'll love it... the campground is right on the river. It was warm so we put our camp chairs in about a foot of slow moving water and lounged there in the shade of the trees. A few people on innertubes floated past us but for the most part we had the river all to ourselves. I love WA camping!
jennmonkey
21 years ago
Indoor girl, check out Rockport State Park. Just head north to Burlington, then head east on Highway 20 for 37 miles (8 miles past Concrete). Rockport S.P. is on the left side of the road, you can either camp at the walk-in sites or the drive-up/RV sites. I highly suggest the walk-in sites, many are very private. It is a beautiful place to camp. It has never been logged, and the park is full of hikes of all different length, you can loop as many as you want to make the hikes as long or short as you want. You will love this place, and I've never seen a mouse there! (plus it is probably less than an hour from everett)

I'll have to check out Icicle Creek now :)
rustipup
21 years ago
Welcome, Indoorgirl! Gee, out west, mice scare me. Everywhere we are warned of hantavirus (sp?) I like mice, actually. Rats, no way... little field mice are never too much a problem for me. I usually sleep in the bed of the truck or inside the truck.

Candy, don't stop giving food offerings! I ran into a guy years ago who said your camp will not be bothered by rodents if you make an "offering" to the forest by hiking a little ways off and giving a gorp deposit for the critters. I thought, how eccentric. But, I adopted it as a camping ritual... p.s. you could always make that anonymous "offering" near the campsite of those "NOISY" folks down the way... he he...
CandyWA
21 years ago
If anybody bothers me I'll toss a lamb chop into their campsite ... thanks for the advice LOL

Camping and MICE

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