Shelter Mice

[Mother Natures Son]

Which state has the greatest shelter mice problem and why?

[Hikes in Rain]

All of them, because we keep feeding them.

[Hooch]

There's nothing great about shelter mice.

[Tinker]

All of them, because we keep feeding them.

Well said.
If you don't like mice, stay away from shelters. Carry a tarp or tent or hammock. Use shelters for cooking only and you'll be fine.

[Migrating Bird]

It's not only the shelters that have mice, pick any used campsite and when the lights go out (if not before), the party begins!

[Uncas10]

I was going to start bringing mouse traps to the shelters and leaving them behind, but one of the people I was hiking with almost broke down in tears at the thought of killing mice like that. Oh well...

[LoneRidgeRunner]

Well said.
If you don't like mice, stay away from shelters. Carry a tarp or tent or hammock. Use shelters for cooking only and you'll be fine.

Cooking inside the shelters and leaving food odors is one of the causes of the problems with mice, coons, rats, skunks, possums and bears.....Also, unless you wanta walk off the trail a few to several miles each day in the GSMNP to back country campsites or are willing to risk paying fines for unauthorized camping you're pretty much gonna have to stay at shelters (if you're hiking the AT there)

[royalusa]

One of the guys we met on our thru-hike, killed 28 mice (with mousetraps) in his first 800 miles of the trail! He didn't even put them out each night.

[d.o.c]

without the mice it would be a rather dirty shelter ha

[swjohnsey]

I think I'll bring a trap with me to spice up my Mac and Cheese.

[LoneRidgeRunner]

I was going to start bringing mouse traps to the shelters and leaving them behind, but one of the people I was hiking with almost broke down in tears at the thought of killing mice like that. Oh well...

Then that hiker needs to have a hole chewed in his pack by a rat ....then maybe he or she won't be so soft hearted toward them Right now I have a LARGE rat trap set in my utility building at home for a rat that's big enough to whoop a full grown Bobcat...LOL..I won't lose a wink of sleep when it gets it's neck broke in that trap...It's been crappin all over everything out there...and chewing on things...

[LoneRidgeRunner]

I think I'll bring a trap with me to spice up my Mac and Cheese.

hmmm... never tried mac and cheese with rat meat sounds tasty..lol..

[swjohnsey]

If everyone brought just one trap we could end the mouse problem. Peanut butter works for bait. Leave 'em behind, let the next bunch reset 'em. When you get to a shelter and find a trap set it.

[OliveOil]

hike with a cat or kitten and the mice will never bother you

[Tinker]

Cooking inside the shelters and leaving food odors is one of the causes of the problems with mice, coons, rats, skunks, possums and bears.....Also, unless you wanta walk off the trail a few to several miles each day in the GSMNP to back country campsites or are willing to risk paying fines for unauthorized camping you're pretty much gonna have to stay at shelters (if you're hiking the AT there)

I'll cross that bridge when I get to it, though I recognize your information as being accurate.
I'm not looking forward to the GSMNP only for the shelter rules.

[Panzer1]

what do you think.. Does a shelter mouse count as wildlife or a pest?

Panzer

[OliveOil]

wildlife

if people(not excluding myself) were better about their shelter habits they wouldn't bother them.

[d.o.c]

hike with a cat or kitten and the mice will never bother you

ha get sgt meowstein to hitch on the pack durin the day ha i bet its been done.

[gunner76]

The ultra light hikers can save weight by not carrying food and eating the mice. Solves two problems.

[d.o.c]

wildlife

if people(not excluding myself) were better about their shelter habits they wouldn't bother them.

but since we leave food in the shelters least the mice r there to clean it up ha