Camping with family, friends, and pets can be delightful. But RV pests like spiders, ants, and mice are unwelcome guests. Learn how to identify, remove, and prevent a pest problem while enjoying the open road and protecting your rig.
Identify Common RV Pests
There are lots of bugs, insects, and other pests that could invade your RV in search of shelter, food, water, and warmth. Likewise, pests can vary based on where you’re camping and the time of year. For example, mosquitoes may hover near shaded, damp areas. Inspect your rig carefully to check for signs of these unwanted invaders.
Ants: Find ants near food sources, on counters, inside cabinets, or on the floor.
Bed bugs: Notice small, red, and itchy marks on your arms, legs, or torso. Also, check bedding, mattresses, and other dark places for black specks and reddish or copper-coloured stains.
Cockroaches: Look for live or dead roaches, eggs, brown smears, and droppings that resemble pepper or coffee grounds.
Fleas: Inspect your pets, clothing, bedding, carpeting, and furniture for small specks that resemble dirt and jump.
Flies: See and hear flies buzzing or check for black spots on curtains and other upholstery.
Mice: Hear mice foraging or nesting in cupboards and walls. And see holes in your food containers or droppings on counters or inside cabinets.
Mosquitoes: Observe swollen, red, and itchy bites on your skin.
Spiders: Watch for red and inflamed bites on your skin or look for webs, nests, and live or dead arachnids.
Ticks: Detect ticks in warm, dark places like your hairline or behind your knees and ears. Black or brown ticks could be as small as needle tips and resemble dirt, warts, or moles.
Remove Pests from Your RV
While annoying, most invasive pests are easy to remove from your rig. To get rid of most common pests in your RV, arrange traps or bait where pests commonly travel, such as along the floor, on the counters, or under the fridge. Specific pest wrecking your relaxation? Here are some ideas that have helped other campers banish each of these unwanted guests.
Ants: Place cornmeal, ant traps, or bait along the perimeters of your RV and on the counters.
Bed bugs: Wash all infected bedding, clothing, and fabrics frequently in hot water. You may need to toss infected items or hire an exterminator to eradicate troublesome bed bugs.
Cockroaches: Make dough with equal parts boric acid, confectioners’ sugar, and flour. Sprinkle marble-sized dough balls anywhere you see signs of roaches. Or set out sticky traps or bait.
Fleas: Sprinkle borax powder on the carpet and rugs and vacuum thoroughly after 24 hours. Also, wash all bedding, clothing, and other removable upholstery daily until the fleas disappear.
Flies: Hang fly traps near open doors or windows and use swatters or fly zappers as needed. Small containers of apple cider vinegar will collect fruit flies.
Mice: Place traps or cotton balls soaked in peppermint or clove wherever you see signs of mice invaders.
Mosquitoes: Citronella or lavender candles and plug-in bug zappers repel these flying insects.
Spiders: Sweep away webs and nests, then set glue traps or bowls of water with onions wherever spiders could enter your RV.
Ticks: Learn how to check your body and pets for ticks every time you return from outdoor play. If you find an attached tick, grasp it with tweezers close to your skin and pull upward with steady pressure.
Prevent RV Pests
- Create a more enjoyable camping experience for your family by keeping pests from getting into your RV in the first place. Inspect your camping spot before you set up your RV. Switch locations if you notice ant mounds, mice droppings, standing water, or other signs of pest infestations.
- Repair and seal entry points like cracks and crevices in the doors, windows, seams, corners, vents, and elsewhere. And ensure doors and windows close completely.
- Cover mattresses with zippered protectors.
- Place food items in sealed, airtight glass or plastic containers. Make it difficult for mice, ants, and cockroaches to smell or get into your supplies.
- Implement a cleaning routine to remove food sources and hiding spots. Immediately put food away, wipe up spills, and remove rubbish. Also, vacuum upholstery, sweep the floors, remove clutter, and wash bedding regularly.
- Check food, bedding, clothing, toys, and other items for pests before you bring anything into the RV.
- Apply repellant to your body, clothing, and pets before heading outdoors.
- Brush pets with a flea and tick comb before they enter your RV.
Enjoy Fewer Pests While Camping
As you spend time in nature, you will encounter pests. Fortunately, you can manage and prevent various pests from ruining your RV or affecting your vacation. For additional protection, request a quote from Wayfarer for RV insurance before your next adventure.