Rodent Deterrent

We all love seeing the owls, bats, geese, and squirrels that share our campground. It’s one of the best parts of being out here. But we’ve got a growing problem that we need your help with: mice and rats in trailers.

Information from conservation officers and pest control is that the #1 reason we’re seeing more rodents is simple – there’s too much food available.

Here’s how feeding birds and squirrels makes the problem worse:

1. Bird seed & peanuts feed rodents first

Mice and rats eat 15-20 times per night. For every cup of seed you put out, most ends up on the ground. That’s a buffet for rodents. Once they find a steady food source, they nest nearby – often under or inside trailers.

2. It draws in bigger predators

Rodents attract raccoons, skunks, and yes, cougars. Bears learn that campgrounds = food. A fed bear is a dead bear, and we don’t want Conservation Officers having to remove one because it got habituated.

3. Rodent poison creates secondary hazards

Some campers are using rodenticide for mice. Rodent poison doesn’t stay in the mouse. Owls, hawks, and eagles that eat poisoned rodents can get sick or die from secondary poisoning. Pets are also at risk if they eat bait directly or a poisoned rodent. In BC, secondary poisoning is a known cause of raptor deaths. Snap traps in sealed stations are a safer option.

What you CAN do to enjoy wildlife safely:

•  Watch, don’t feed: Use binoculars and cameras instead of food
•  Plant native: If you want birds, find out about native plants that feed them naturally
•  Keep it clean: Store all food, pet food, and garbage in hard-sided containers

BBQ grease trays are rodent magnets

We know everyone means well. But the crumbs and peanuts we drop today become the rats in your walls tomorrow.

We would like to thank Terry Marshall (B23) for gathering this information for us.