Protection from rodents

[Tangent_tracker]

Hi folks, we want to utilise a roofspace for tackle at our club, but there has been concern about rodents accessing ropes and other equipment such as harnesses etc.

I wonder what measures other clubs take against such issues? Atm we have some large metal cabinets, but they are not very space efficient. It would also be better if any damp equipment could breathe and thus dry for obvious reasons.

There must be issues that clubs have had to overcome previously where it was very difficult to ensure rodents couldn't get access?

Any ideas appreciated!

 

[Pitlamp]

Dunno if it helps but you can buy sachets of natural plant based stuff which give off a smell that deters rodents (peppermint etc). You can also buy ultrasonic repellers; these do work if located as per instructions and cost next to nowt to run.

I'm led to believe that a cat might be fairly effective . . . .

Hanging stuff up is also good, rather than keeping it on the floor (more accessible to mice there).

There's a company called "The Big Cheese" that sells all sorts of repellers and traps, if you wanted a search term to start looking online? If you're in the Dales, Ashfield's DIY store in Settle sells their products (but not necessarily the full range).

 

[underground]

I’m not sure even metal cabinets would exclude mice if there’s even a small gap round the door etc
Not exactly evidence to support any decision making but, I took a few years off caving and my kit languished in boxes in the garage. None of it was touched apart from my undersuits, so rope, harness, oversuits etc all survived but one warmbac suit was shredded.
Thankfully the powerstretch one had been nibbled and was repairable.
Whether that means rodents find nylon unpalatable and poor nest material I have no idea!

 

[Flotsam]

Mice and rats will eat rope and webbing. It's happened to me. Some cats will tackle rats and some won't. Trapping and poison do work.

 

[Bob Mehew]

If you have the height, then try mooring rope guards on a horizontal metal bar see https://www.force4.co.uk/item/Force-4/Anti-Rat-Cone/D6S

 

[paul]

I’m not sure even metal cabinets would exclude mice if there’s even a small gap round the door etc
Not exactly evidence to support any decision making but, I took a few years off caving and my kit languished in boxes in the garage. None of it was touched apart from my undersuits, so rope, harness, oversuits etc all survived but one warmbac suit was shredded.
Thankfully the powerstretch one had been nibbled and was repairable.
Whether that means rodents find nylon unpalatable and poor nest material I have no idea!

One of my clubs recently had some rope in the tackle store damaged by mice. Luckily not seriously damaged, but they had a go at them!

 

[Tangent_tracker]

Dunno if it helps but you can buy sachets of natural plant based stuff which give off a smell that deters rodents (peppermint etc). You can also buy ultrasonic repellers; these do work if located as per instructions and cost next to nowt to run.

I'm led to believe that a cat might be fairly effective . . . .

Hanging stuff up is also good, rather than keeping it on the floor (more accessible to mice there).

There's a company called "The Big Cheese" that sells all sorts of repellers and traps, if you wanted a search term to start looking online? If you're in the Dales, Ashfield's DIY store in Settle sells their products (but not necessarily the full range).

Thanks Pitlamp, I also figured hanging rope up would be good to a degree, no guarentee. I suggested traps but none like that. To be honest you could argue no where is safe from rope. I have had rope stored in my cellar for years without ANY rodent damage. They were hung up on pegs screwed to the wall.


I also hate the thought of keeping rope in metal cabinets due to the fact you cannot put it in there damp. To me the rope needs good ventilation.

 

[Flotsam]

Bear in mind that rats and mice can jump a decent distance

 

[hyweldavies]

You need one of these

You can see how diligent she is doing her daily checking of the map cupboard for rodents. Now that said, we only really get mice in the house when she brings them in at 3am to chase round the bedroom. And there was the dead rat in the bed incident reminiscent of the horse's head scene from the Godfather, but she does catch a lot of rodents

 

[paul]

Thanks Pitlamp, I also figured hanging rope up would be good to a degree, no guarentee. I suggested traps but none like that. To be honest you could argue no where is safe from rope. I have had rope stored in my cellar for years without ANY rodent damage. They were hung up on pegs screwed to the wall.

Our ropes are hug on pegs well off the floor and the little bugger(s) still got onto them.

 

[JAshley73]

I guess it depends on the metal cabinets that you have. If you mean larger locker-style cabinets, then perhaps consider cutting holes in them for ventilation. Place a small fan at one end of the row of cabinets. Cut another hole at the opposite end. Cover the holes with either expanded metal, metal-mesh, a furnace-filter, whatever.

Another alternative would be plastic tubs to store items in. Probably not the best idea for ropes (for space reasons) but for harnesses, etc, they would work just fine. Place some lumps of scrap cedar-wood inside as an all-natural dessicant/dryer. (Hint: This is how, and what cedar shoe-trees do, and they work wonderfully.) The cedar wood will absorb the moisture and prevent any kind of mildewy smells.

The important part - When you get the gear out, remove the cedar chunks from the container, and let them dry out themselves. Obviously, the dryer the kit is before it goes into the plastic tubs, the better. But the cedar chunks will work wonders.

(Any wood will do really, but cedar is also a natural pest-repellent, it imparts a nice smell into the area instead of a funky odor like some other woods would impart, and it also is very tolerant to moisture and won't facilitate any kind of other mold or bacterial growth either.)