Every fall, RVs, campers, holiday trailers and fifth-wheels go into storage for an Alberta winter, often parked beside a shop or in a farmyard where mice are already looking for shelter. This guide sets out what the Health Canada-registered rodent repellents we list actually allow inside a stored RV, camper or trailer, how their labels say to place and check them, and what Alberta's public-health advice says about cleaning up droppings when you open the unit in spring. Every registration number below can be looked up on Health Canada's Pesticide Label Search.
Can you use a mouse repellent in an RV or camper?
Two of the three registered repellents we list name RVs on their labels; the third is outdoor-only.
Rodents Away Odor Free (PCP Reg. No. 33648, Domestic class). The label's use site is "Indoor spaces including modes of transport (e.g., homes and recreational vehicles) where house mice are present." The guarantee is stearic acid and related fatty acids, 99.7%. The label states its purpose as: "Rodents Away Odor Free reduces house mouse (Mus musculus) presence and activity." It names house mice only, not rats. We list the Rodents Away Odor Free 6-pack of 40 g sachets; the brand page is Rodents Away Odor Free.
Tomcat Ultrasonic Rodent Repeller (PCP Reg. No. 33070, Domestic class). The box lists it as ideal for "Farm Buildings, Boats and RVs". It is a plug-in device: the manual says "Plug the unit into a 120V AC outlet." and "Do not expose to moisture." So it only fits an RV that stays plugged into shore power over the winter. The manual also says "Do not use outdoors." and "Do not expect immediate results." See the Tomcat Ultrasonic Rodent Repeller.
Tomcat Rodent Repellent Spray (PCP Reg. No. 32499). Its label says "For outdoor use only." and lists fence posts, bark of trees, siding and garbage as places to spray. It does not name vehicles, tires or wiring, so we will not tell you it is labelled for an RV. See Tomcat Rodent Repellent Spray 400 g.
Where to put repellent sachets in a stored camper
The Rodents Away label gives the placement rules; it does not give a number of sachets per RV, so count your own unit against them:
- Along the floor: the sachets "are best located on the floor along walls, in confined places, by gnawed openings, and on either side of doorways to rooms."
- Spacing: "place at approximately 3 m (10 ft) intervals throughout the areas where there is house mouse activity."
- Cupboards and other enclosed spaces: "If house mouse activity is present in a confined place, such as in a cupboard, position one sachet within each space (one per 114 L volume)."
- Before you start: "Clean areas where house mouse activity is observed."
The label's precautions are "KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN" and "Wash thoroughly with soap and water after handling." It also says "Store this product away from food or feed." and "DO NOT reuse the empty packaging or sachets."
How often to check an RV in storage over winter
From the Rodents Away directions: "Check every two weeks for evidence of house mouse activity or other indications of presence. Replace sachets as necessary, or if house mice return."
Two more label lines matter for a unit that already has mice in it. During the first days the label says to "Provide an exit/opening during early stages (24 - 48 hrs) of treatment to allow house mice the opportunity to vacate." And on entry points: "If small holes are observed in the structure, plug or repair these openings once house mouse activity has ceased to prevent further house mouse infiltration."
For the ultrasonic unit, the manual's own placement line is "Best placement is 0.5 to 1 m off the floor with the speaker grill aimed at known problem areas." and it warns that "Ultrasound is directional and can't penetrate anything solid." Cabinets, bed bases and storage bays are solid barriers, so place it with a clear line to the area you are protecting.
If mice are already living in the RV
Neither repellent label says it kills mice. The ultrasonic manual answers the question directly: "Q. Can I do away with pesticides and/or traps? A. No. Ultrasound is one tool used in an integrated pest management program." We also list Tomcat mouse snap traps, Tomcat wood mouse traps and the Tomcat multiple live catch mouse trap. For how many traps to set, where to put them and how often to check them, see Mouse and Rat Traps in Canada: Snap, Wood, Glue or Live-Catch?. Rodent baits each carry their own label rules on where they may be placed; our guide Mouse and Rat Bait in Canada: Domestic vs Commercial Class, and What Each Label Allows sorts them. For the shop or barn the RV is parked beside, see Fall Mouse Control for Barns, Shops and Outbuildings in Alberta. Our rat and mouse control category lists the stations and traps.
Cleaning mouse droppings out of a camper in spring
Alberta's government page on reducing the risk of hantavirus lists the precautions to take "before you start cleaning or working in an area that may be contaminated, and not after." Among them:
- "Open doors and windows for ventilation and keep out of the area for at least 30 minutes prior to commencing clean up."
- "Wear rubber gloves, and thoroughly soak droppings, nests and dead mice with a bleach/water solution (one part bleach to nine parts water) or a household disinfectant."
- "Let the bleach water solution sit for five minutes."
- "Mop up bleach-soaked droppings, nest and/or dead mice, or pick up with paper towels, and place them in a plastic bag."
- "Seal the bag and put in a garbage container with a tight-fitting lid."
- "Wash your gloves before removing and then wash your hands."
- "Never vacuum or sweep droppings, nests or dead mice."
For a badly infested or poorly ventilated unit, the same page says: "If dealing with significant mouse infestations or with mouse infestations in enclosed spaces with poor ventilation, contact Health Link 811 to discuss necessary precautions."
Common questions
Is Rodents Away registered for RVs? Yes. Its use site on the label (PCP Reg. No. 33648) is "Indoor spaces including modes of transport (e.g., homes and recreational vehicles) where house mice are present."
Can I leave an ultrasonic repeller running in a stored trailer? Only if the trailer has power: the unit plugs into a 120V AC outlet, and the manual says "Do not expose to moisture." and "Do not use outdoors."
Can I spray Tomcat Rodent Repellent Spray on my trailer? Its label says "For outdoor use only." and names fence posts, bark of trees, siding and garbage; it does not name vehicles. Read the label before using it anywhere it does not list.
Which of these labels name rats? Of the two that name RVs, only the ultrasonic unit's label names rats; the Rodents Away label names house mice.
For the full comparison of the three registered repellents, indoors and out, see Rodent and Mouse Repellents in Canada: Pouches, Spray or Plug-In? What the Labels Allow.
Pipestone Farm Supply is in Millet, Alberta, between Leduc and Wetaskiwin, south of Edmonton, with in-store pickup and Canada-wide shipping.
Pesticides are regulated by Health Canada; read and follow the label before every use.
Sources: Health Canada Pesticide Label Search, labels for Rodents Away Odor Free (PCP Reg. No. 33648, Rodents Odor Free International, Inc.), Tomcat Ultrasonic Rodent Repeller (PCP Reg. No. 33070, Scotts Canada Ltd.) and Tomcat Rodent Repellent Spray (PCP Reg. No. 32499, Scotts Canada Ltd.), viewed October 2026; Government of Alberta, "Reducing the risk of hantavirus" (alberta.ca), viewed October 2026. Every quotation above was checked against those sources.