Hello Moth balls and Repel All work if they are not hibernating. Typically they start hibernating late October or November when it gets cold! Under the shed is not a free shelter to all the homeless wayward chipmunks in the neighborhood! The first year the moved some stones in the back of the shed to create a small entrance so a few could sneak in! Last year they moved a lot more stones to create a larger side entrance for all their rodent buddies and pals!! No big holes for ground hogs or squirrels just chipmunks that can get through very small spaces!! Basically I pryed off the composite trim bottom board. Pull out the nails. Cut the hardware cloth to make 4 - 118” long pieces. Staple it up and screw the trim board back with deck screws which will hold better over the screen mesh. Note: Front composite board only that goes under the ramp. I had to cut it on the front of the shed with a sawzall because it went under the ramp. Then after the hardware cloth went up, I had to grind the edge of the front composite trim so it would fit back up with the screen going in between on each side of the ramp. Parts for 10’ x 10’ shed Aluminum flashing or Hardware Cloth can be used but Hardware Cloth still lets air circulate. 2 - 10 foot Rolls 36” wide for 4 10’ x 15” wide lemgths on sale at Lowe’s $20 each total $40 Box of 1-5/8” long $5.00 Total $45.00 Tools used Air powered shears Air powered stapler Pry Bar Hammer Phillips screw driver Battery Drill Driver with drill bit Battery Drill Driver with Phillips screw head Sawzall - to cut composite trim boards 4” Grinder with flap pad for grinding composite board Pic 00 - Hardware Cloth at Lowe’s Pic 01 - Larger side entrance Pic 02 - Pry off all bottom composite trim boards that were nailed on with a nail gun and pull nails out of sill board. Pic 03 - shovel out stones on a blue tarp Pic 04 - Tools Compressor pry bar etc Pic 05 - Cutting hardware cloth with air power shears Pic 06 - Bend & Air Staple Hardware Cloth to PT sill board to cover space between cider block and 7” of ground to prevent chipmunk entry Pic 07 - Cut additional piece of Hardware Cloth to go around electric wire pipes Pic 08 - Using wire cutters - Cut and bend Hcloth around electric pipes Pic 09 - Drill pilot hole and using galvanized 1-5/8 deck screws to screw composite trim boards back up Pic 10 - Cut additional pieces of hardware cloth to cross cross the ground on the corners to prevent hole digging. Pic 11 - Shovel stones back
Looks like a good job. I have had good luck with the 1/4" hardware cloth doing much like did here. Now I need to figure out how to keep the woodpeckers from making holes in the T111 on the shed.
Hello Just use woodpecker rods like I did here. They work like a charm!!! Cheap & Easy too!! Anyone have good luck with Woodpecker rods?
I have given up on trying to put up rodent barriers for the house and under the sheds. Instead, I bought a few bottles of mint oil off of Amazon and sprayed the stuff all over the place. Rodents hate mint.
Mint sounds good but I talked to a few people and they had good luck with the right hardware cloth. It is tricky and here is more info from google AI Do chipmunks and squirrels chew thru chicken wire? Yes, both chipmunks and squirrels can chew through chicken wire, and it is not an effective barrier for keeping them out of a garden or chicken coop. Chicken wire is too thin and flexible for a determined squirrel or chipmunk, and its large hexagonal openings allow chipmunks to squeeze through without even needing to chew. Why chicken wire fails Too flimsy: Squirrels and other rodents can easily chew through the thin wire strands. They are also known to chew through other materials like plastic and wood. Holes are too big: The large holes in standard chicken wire allow small animals like chipmunks to simply pass through without chewing at all. Burrowing: Even if you secure the sides, chipmunks and ground squirrels are experts at burrowing underneath fences and barriers to gain entry. A secure alternative: Hardware cloth To effectively protect a coop or garden, use hardware cloth instead of chicken wire. Hardware cloth is a thicker, stronger, and more secure wire mesh with a smaller opening size. Recommendations for use Mesh size: Use hardware cloth with a maximum mesh size of 1/2-inch to 1/4-inch to prevent chipmunks and squirrels from getting through. Gauge: For especially persistent rodents, use a heavier gauge wire, such as 19-gauge or 16-gauge. Install underground: To stop burrowing pests, bury hardware cloth around the perimeter of the coop or garden, extending it at least 6 to 12 inches underground.
