View Full Version : My latest and no doubt greatest stupid question!
Sierra Echo
09-07-2011, 22:15
Have you or anyone you know ever actually been attacked or bitten by shelter mice?
I've heard stories about how they run around and actually stand on people, but do they ever get frisky?And on that note, im gonna go think up tomorrows stupid question! :-?
Slo-go'en
09-07-2011, 22:23
Well, one thing you don't have to worry about being a woman is having mice clean crums off your mustash or beard while you sleep.
Although it is not always desirable because of how the floor slopes, it is a good idea to sleep with your head "out" rather then "in", as the mice tend to run around the edges of the walls.
Hikerhead
09-07-2011, 22:29
I've heard about girls waking up to half their hair chewed off. Wear a large mexican sombrao to keep them away.
Chaco Taco
09-07-2011, 22:30
Have you or anyone you know ever actually been attacked or bitten by shelter mice?
I've heard stories about how they run around and actually stand on people, but do they ever get frisky?And on that note, im gonna go think up tomorrows stupid question! :-?
My pack has and it was a holy mess
Were you noodling the mouse?
rjhouser
09-07-2011, 22:47
My pack has and it was a holy mess
I'm with chaco taco, i'm more worried about my bag than my head... how do you keep them from chewing up your bag every night? I spent good money on that thing...
Chaco Taco
09-07-2011, 22:54
Simple. Dont sleep in shelters
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Blissful
09-07-2011, 22:56
Never been attacked, did have a bag nibbled at that had some granola left in my accident. best bet, tent.
Hikerhead
09-07-2011, 22:57
Simple. Dont sleep in shelters
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We have a winner. Listen to Chaco Taco.
Sierra Echo
09-07-2011, 22:58
I will spend the majority of my trip in my tent, but I've never actually stayed inside of a shelter. I think I'm gonna
do it just once for the experience. I plan on staying in the loft and launching any rats that bite my brand new pack off into space. My name is Sierra Echo, now here me roar! RAWR!
Chaco Taco
09-08-2011, 07:23
I will spend the majority of my trip in my tent, but I've never actually stayed inside of a shelter. I think I'm gonna
do it just once for the experience. I plan on staying in the loft and launching any rats that bite my brand new pack off into space. My name is Sierra Echo, now here me roar! RAWR!
Put your rain cover on your pack and hang it. Not worth it if you want to just try a shelter. The only time I typically have my pack in a shelter is if it is raining. Hang your food separate from your pack because the lil bestards will climb out on the limbs of the tree.
use ear plugs so you can't hear the mice and other critters who happen to snore
jburgasser
09-08-2011, 08:01
... how do you keep them from chewing up your bag every night?...
open all the pockets and flaps so they don't have to chew a hole to get inside. And hang all your food and toothpaste and stuff like that to decrease the attraction
JB
I too am no big fan of the shelters but given the choice of setting up my tent in a driving rain and the sanctuary of a dry AT shelter at the end of the day I'll always opt for the hut. I remember some shelters as being actually overrun with mice and others where there was no evidence at all. A lot depends on the season and the amount of usage the place has seen. I've had mice run over my exposed head a couple of times (it's smart to sleep with your head towards the opening rather than the rear) and had a couple of packs chewed on even though they were empty but have never heard of anyone being bitten. Although hanging your food is generally recommended it doesn't always work. I too saw mice jumping from tree limbs onto the food hanging poles in Shenandoah, they are clever little beasts!
The only time I've seen mice assault someone was when they used their food bag as a pillow.
RITBlake
09-08-2011, 09:06
Gives me the chills. Bring on lions, tigers and bears, it's the mice I fear.
I'm with chaco taco, i'm more worried about my bag than my head... how do you keep them from chewing up your bag every night? I spent good money on that thing...
I leave all the pockets open, so they can enter, investigate then leave without damage to the pack. It usually works, unless there is a food smell on the pockets.
Rain Man
09-08-2011, 09:31
Have you or anyone you know ever actually been attacked or bitten by shelter mice?
No.
Rain:sunMan
.
Have you or anyone you know ever actually been attacked or bitten by shelter mice?<br>
I've heard stories about how they run around and actually stand on people, but Do THEY EVER GET FRISKY?And on that note, im gonna go think up tomorrows stupid question! <img src="/forum/images/smilies/think.gif" alt="" title="Thinking" smilieid="12" class="inlineimg" border="0">
Never heard of a sexual assault by a shelter mouse.
4eyedbuzzard
09-08-2011, 10:12
One or two small rodents aren't too bad, but when they get big and organized, well . . . :D
http://constitutionclub.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/rat-620x415-1-e1306600606577.jpg?w=350&h=234
skinewmexico
09-08-2011, 10:14
I was expecting so much more, based on the thread title.
I had a mouse steal an ear plug right out my ear in the Roaring Fork Shelter in 2009. Felt him running around my head all night long then when I fell asleep- POP! Out it came!!
Guess the little bugger needed a pillow for his den.
TaraLovinLife
09-08-2011, 10:38
Me, myself, never biten or attacked. Really never heard of it either from trail folks!
I have frequented many shelters, I love the cover and am very grateful for the work put into it.
You are exactly correct. Head forward.
Everything (non-food) open and exposed so they won't chew & destroy.
Food completely separate and hung; preferably away from other means of discovery aka "Flight". They are very crafty!
And yes the earplugs are great idea!
I had a mouse steal an ear plug right out my ear in the Roaring Fork Shelter in 2009. Felt him running around my head all night long then when I fell asleep- POP! Out it came!!
Guess the little bugger needed a pillow for his den.
were you at the shelter when the bear came by trying to get food? - I remember the log entries from Roaring Fork in 09 had some fairly scary tales about the bear
Don't think so, but I was hiking with a fellow from Israel named Yawny Bear who had his "bear bagged" food and entire cook set swiped by a bear outside of Neels Gap. There were several hikers who got hit by the same bear that year.
I did have a mouse crawl under my sleeping bag I was only using as cover on a hot night in a SNP shelter, damn thing scratched at a freckle on my back. In GA it's bad they dive bomb everything, most of the shelters everywhere else if they had mice it was a few here and there
Jim Adams
09-08-2011, 15:09
never had mouse problems but did have cat problems due to "mouse weight"
geek
Sierra Echo
09-08-2011, 19:51
Can mice climb up into a loft?
The Old Boot
09-08-2011, 19:56
Can mice climb up into a loft?
Mice can climb anywhere they want to! And they can squeeze through a hole about the size of a pea.
hikerboy57
09-08-2011, 19:57
mice can climb, jump,sometimes it seems as if they can fly and they can chew through nylon, so hang your food..thats why tents and tarps are better than shelters. if you do sleep in a shelter, the mice tend to congregate towards the rear, so sleep head out and youll have less mouse footprints across your face in the morning.dipped in chocolate, theyre delicious. Im sure you've had chocolate mouse before.
Sierra Echo
09-08-2011, 20:00
Wow! Mice are starting to sound like worthy adversaries! *cracking knuckles*
hikerboy57
09-08-2011, 20:15
If you want to keep them out of your food, hopefully one of your shelter mates will forget to hang theirs and theyll be drawn to his food instead.but ive seen mice jump from the rafters onto food bags that were hung(inside the shelter from the string with the tuna can and stick to prevent them from getting in) theyre actually fun to watch, and we've had ratings set for some of the better leapers, points for style and points for distance.(this is what you do for entertainment on the trail.)8.9 is the score to beat!
Sierra Echo
09-08-2011, 20:18
Actually all shelters in GA have bear cables, so I will just hang my food outside. Maybe my pack too!
The time of year that I'm going I could be the only one out there all week. I'm gonna be queen of the shelter!
Wise Old Owl
09-08-2011, 20:23
Oh where do I start... Yes I have been bitten by a mouse, I chased him into a corner of a shelter and tried to grab his tail to give him a "ejection" notice... they will bite on duress. Yes it hurts, only enough to let go... and they will draw blood. They can climb up vertically 30 to 40 feet without breaking a sweat. They are attracted to breads - pizza and peanut butters,,,
vamelungeon
09-08-2011, 20:59
Oh where do I start... Yes I have been bitten by a mouse, I chased him into a corner of a shelter and tried to grab his tail to give him a "ejection" notice... they will bite on duress. Yes it hurts, only enough to let go... and they will draw blood. They can climb up vertically 30 to 40 feet without breaking a sweat. They are attracted to breads - pizza and peanut butters,,,
I always bait mousetraps with peanut butter and it works like a charm.
hikerboy57
09-08-2011, 21:00
I always bait mousetraps with peanut butter and it works like a charm.what do you do for raccoons?
Sierra Echo
09-08-2011, 21:03
what do you do for raccoons?
The same. Critters love peanut butter. I accidently caught a possum in a humane trap that had peanut butter in it.
possums have scary teeth!
WingedMonkey
09-08-2011, 21:08
what do you do for raccoons?
Cat Chow. Been catching 2 or 3 a week during mango season.
The Cleaner
09-08-2011, 21:13
I've had 2 sleeping bags where mice had eaten holes and removed down feathers which were in their nest the next AM.I put coleman fuel on the nest and lit it with a firecracker.Didn't rid shelter of mice,but it was great payback....
Sierra Echo
09-08-2011, 21:28
Where did you find their nests? I have a synthetic bag!
I pulled into a shelter one night and hiker named Old Man River had completely encircled his sleeping bag with a line of powder. Look like some kind of satanic ritual in the making. He explained it was his preferred mouse protection technique.
Come to find out it was a product called "Shake Away" repellent and was made from fox and bobcat urine granules. He swore by the stuff. Here's a link:
http://www.critter-repellent.com/mice/mice-control.php
Skidsteer
09-08-2011, 21:44
Where did you find their nests? I have a synthetic bag!
They build their nests underneath the privy seats.
Mwahahahahaha!
Sierra Echo
09-08-2011, 21:46
They build their nests underneath the privy seats.
Mwahahahahaha!
Now I gotta worry about something biting my ass too? LMAO!
Sierra Echo
09-08-2011, 21:48
I pulled into a shelter one night and hiker named Old Man River had completely encircled his sleeping bag with a line of powder. Look like some kind of satanic ritual in the making. He explained it was his preferred mouse protection technique.
Come to find out it was a product called "Shake Away" repellent and was made from fox and bobcat urine granules. He swore by the stuff. Here's a link:
http://www.critter-repellent.com/mice/mice-control.php
Interesting thought!
...Everything (non-food) open and exposed so they won't chew & destroy.
They are quick little buggers too. I was day hiking once and stopped for lunch. While I was eating they chewed a 2 inch hole in the side mesh pocket of my daypack to get to my trail mix. When I went to pick up my daypack I saw them, I grabbed my pack and the little bast**ds just sat there and gave me the evil eye for taking their lunch away.
trailmix
09-08-2011, 22:36
Interesting thought!
That stuff smells nasty
Sarcasm the elf
09-09-2011, 00:44
They build their nests underneath the privy seats.
Mwahahahahaha!
*Edit* Oh forget it, I can't figure out the new image uploader for the life of me....
hikerboy57
09-09-2011, 07:10
Now I gotta worry about something biting my ass too? LMAO!forget about the mice, there was a hornets nest in one of the privies on the Grafton Loop trail a few weeks back.i chose not to take that risk.
That stuff smells nasty
hehehehehehee No worse than the hiker funk in a shelter full of thru's!
skinewmexico
09-09-2011, 09:50
All these mice infested shelters, it's a good thing the Hantavirus isn't prevalent back east.
one found its way into my mummy bag...i dont think he wanted to get frisky per say but woke me up for sure
Never attacked by a mouse, but once, while sitting with a bunch of hikers outside a shelter (somewhere in VA) I noticed a mouse scurrying around my feet, I picked it up by the tail and being a funny guy, I dangled it in a girl hiker's face. She let out a scream that scared both me and the mouse. I quickly let it go, figuring it had enough trauma for one day. The girl hiker finally settled down after threatening to kick my ass.
MyName1sMud
09-09-2011, 12:46
Good info about sleeping with head out vs in.
All these mice infested shelters, it's a good thing the Hantavirus isn't prevalent back east.
Yeah good thing Hantavirus isn't bad on the East Coast, cause they use your cups and bowls for a toilet and fart in your shoes all night. I wonder how Sarcasm "potty" trained that bugger. Nothing like having a privy mouse run up your leg while you're on the can. Wakes you up real fast.
Nothing like having a privy mouse run up your leg while you're on the can.
Probably resolve that little "freeze dry food/too much cheese, issue too!
flemdawg1
09-09-2011, 13:14
I've only noticed mice at 10-20% of the shelters I've stayed in (I mostly use shelters and I sleep pretty hard though). Only at Spring mtn. Shelter did I have any actually touch me. Though it was just as likely Chipmunks/ground squirrles as my boots were filled with acorns in the morning. Most shelters have nails and hooks for hanging packs and I've never had a problem when I did that. (Last trip, at Iron mtn Shelter I had a racoon take my pack 30 yards down the trail when I left it propped by the outside corner. No damage though.)
bigmac_in
09-09-2011, 14:32
The only time I ever slept in a shelter on the AT was during a 48 hour downpour. My buddy and I were the only ones on the trail, so we had it all to ourselves. We set our tents up inside the shelter so we didn't have to fight with the mice. Worked like a charm.
I'm not sure why anyone would purposely sleep in a filthy, mouse ridden shelter, but if you must Echo - I'd recommend the same set up.
fadeleaf
09-09-2011, 17:31
I always bait mousetraps with peanut butter and it works like a charm.
You can also use toilet paper. Just rub it against some food and it gets them every time, especially in winter when they're desperate for nesting materials.
But to answer the original question, yes, I was bitten by a mouse in Deer Park Mtn Shelter just outside of Hot Springs near the end of my thru last year. My arm was outside of my sleeping bag and I randomly felt a little prick on my finger right as I was falling asleep.
13822
However the mice could have been agitated from us previously banging our poles against the tin ceiling whenever we'd hear their pitter-patter, so maybe it could have been avoided...
vamelungeon
09-09-2011, 18:01
You can also use toilet paper. Just rub it against some food and it gets them every time, especially in winter when they're desperate for nesting materials.
But to answer the original question, yes, I was bitten by a mouse in Deer Park Mtn Shelter just outside of Hot Springs near the end of my thru last year. My arm was outside of my sleeping bag and I randomly felt a little prick on my finger right as I was falling asleep.
13822
However the mice could have been agitated from us previously banging our poles against the tin ceiling whenever we'd hear their pitter-patter, so maybe it could have been avoided...
Good idea with the toilet paper! The little boogers chew up anything paper I leave in my workshop! I'll have to try that.
Sierra Echo
09-09-2011, 19:38
The only time I ever slept in a shelter on the AT was during a 48 hour downpour. My buddy and I were the only ones on the trail, so we had it all to ourselves. We set our tents up inside the shelter so we didn't have to fight with the mice. Worked like a charm.
I'm not sure why anyone would purposely sleep in a filthy, mouse ridden shelter, but if you must Echo - I'd recommend the same set up.
But wouldn't the mice nibble on the tent??
Deer Hunter
09-09-2011, 19:55
Spokes, the guy is right. I carry a small one ounce or so bottle of fox urine with me. A little dab in the right spots will definately keep mice away. I have never used the granules. I might give them a try because if the bottle broke in your pack, it may not be usable again.
Sierra Echo
09-10-2011, 16:21
Yeah good thing Hantavirus isn't bad on the East Coast, cause they use your cups and bowls for a toilet and fart in your shoes all night. I wonder how Sarcasm "potty" trained that bugger. Nothing like having a privy mouse run up your leg while you're on the can. Wakes you up real fast.
Is Hantavirus like a mad cow's disease, but for mice?
hikerboy57
09-10-2011, 16:23
Is Hantavirus like a mad cow's disease, but for mice?
here you go:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002358/
Sierra Echo
09-10-2011, 16:29
here you go:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002358/
That sounds horrible!!!! thank you for the link :)
If someone is sweeping the shelter -RUN!
hikerboy57
09-10-2011, 17:15
it can also cause irritable bowel syndrome.
Sierra Echo
09-10-2011, 18:41
Do the mice only come out at night or are they round the clock hosts?
johnnybgood
09-10-2011, 18:51
Do the mice only come out at night or are they round the clock hosts? They work in shifts .Seems the night shift being the more active group.
Sierra Echo
09-10-2011, 20:01
They work in shifts .Seems the night shift being the more active group.
That made me laugh so hard I snorted! Bah hahahahhahahahahahaa they work in shifts!
Leah Packard Grams
09-10-2011, 23:03
Echo, your question made my day! Hahaha I literally laughed out loud.