Oct. 21, 2026

Mice in Your RV? How to Keep Them Out This Winter

Show Notes

Mice do not wait for winter to move into your RV. As nights turn cold, a parked RV can look like the perfect place to nest. And it takes only a tiny opening for a mouse to get inside.

This week, Mike and Jennifer talk about where mice get in, how to find the gaps, and what actually helps keep them out. They also discuss the products and folk remedies that may not be worth your money.

Plus, our new guide, The Ultimate Canadian Maritimes RV Road Trip, is now available in print and digital. And we answer your questions about crossing into Canada with dogs and food, and whether to leave your RV plugged in between trips.

In this episode

Why mice head for RVs in the fall
How small an opening a mouse can squeeze through
Where to look for entry points
Ways to seal gaps and discourage mice
What to know about mothballs and cleanup
Taking dogs and food across the Canada-U.S. border
RV battery care during storage

Links and resources

The Ultimate Canadian Maritimes RV Road Trip

Print and digital editions:

https://shop.rvlifestyle.com/products/the-ultimate-canadian-maritimes-rv-road-trip

Mechanic's wheeled creepers (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/47wFteE

Keeping mice out of your RV

Victor: How mice fit through small spaces: https://www.victorpest.com/articles/how-do-mice-fit-in-such-small-spaces
Victor: How to keep mice out of your RV: https://www.victorpest.com/articles/how-to-keep-mice-out-of-your-rv
University of California IPM: House mouse pest notes: https://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7483.html
Orkin: Steel wool and copper mesh for rodent control: https://www.orkin.com/ask-orkin/steel-wool-rodent-control
University of Florida IFAS: The facts about mothballs: https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/PI289
CDC: About hantavirus: https://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/about/index.html
National Park Service: Hantavirus facts and cleanup guidance: https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/upload/Hantavirus-fact-sheet-and-light-infestation-cleaning-guidanceJune2025-508c.pdf

Crossing the border with dogs and food

Canada: Traveling with pets, food or plants: https://inspection.canada.ca/en/travelling-pets-food-plants
Canada: Bringing animals and pets to Canada: https://inspection.canada.ca/en/importing-food-plants-animals/pets
Canada: Bringing food into Canada for personal use: https://inspection.canada.ca/en/food-safety-consumers/bring-food-personal-use
CDC: Bringing a dog into the United States: https://www.cdc.gov/importation/dogs/index.html
CDC: Dogs entering from rabies-free or low-risk countries, including Canada: https://www.cdc.gov/importation/dogs/rabies-free-low-risk-countries.html
USDA APHIS: Traveling from the United States to Canada with pets: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel/us-to-another-country-export/pet-travel-us-canada