[pianotech] How To Deter Mice

[David Lawson]

One thing that concerns me with the mouse problem is the use of naphthalene. 
I see this quite often being placed inside pianos where there is a problem 
with both mice and moths. This stuff is dangerous and is carcinogenic.
Recent studies have shown that exposing babies to Naphthalene, by re-using 
baby clothes contaminated by it, can cause brain damage. Quite frankly I 
don't understand why it isn't banned here in Oz, and elsewhere.
Steel wool poked into access points to the piano, i.e. pedals, gaps between 
iron plates and pedal bottoms, and any opening that will allow the little 
critters to get in, is a good deterrent.
David Lawson. Wangaratta Australia

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ron Nossaman" <rnossaman at cox.net>
To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, November 30, 2012 3:00 AM
Subject: Re: [pianotech] How To Deter Mice


> On 11/29/2012 9:13 AM, Larry Fisher RPT wrote:
>>
>> Cheese
>> turns hard with age and I’ve found peanut butter to be longer lasting
>> and more effective.  I use the crunchy type and actually push a part of
>> the nut into the bait platform making it hard for the mouse to remove.
>
> Many years ago, I had a mouse clean all the peanut butter off the trigger 
> without springing the trap. I was really impressed, but that wasn't going 
> to get it in the long run. So I disassembled a cotton ball, packed it full 
> of peanut butter, and wrapped it around the trigger.
>
> Snap.
>
>
>>The rafter tails on the
>> roof are a lasting record of how damaging they can be.  I put up chicken
>> wire and they chewed through that so I put up three layers of chicken
>> wire and they finally stopped but I had to deal with at least two
>> generations of squirrels to get them and their kids reprogrammed when I
>> first moved here.
>> Good luck.  Lar
>
> Hail screen is the way to go here. Heavier wire gauge, much more chew 
> resistant. They'll make more noise trying to get through, what with the 
> breaking teeth and cursing, but they're far less likely to get past it. 
> The zinc dip will probably poison them too.
> Ron N
>
>