Learning how to keep mice out of grills can make all the difference when it comes to the final product. Even the best grills, after all, are absolute magnets for rodents and other pests. That’s why you need to keep the grills clean on a BBQ, otherwise, it’s just inviting pests. Keep reading to learn several methods for keeping mice and their rat cousins away from your grill.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Keeping mice, rats, squirrels, and other rodents out of your gas grill is extremely important, as mouse droppings pose a health risk. It’ll make your grill and searing burner unusable.
- Set up repellants and deterrents near the gas grill, such as mothballs, camphor, soapy water, or dedicated commercial products.
- You can also set up physical barriers to prevent mice from reaching the outdoor grill, such as chicken wire. Also, replace the grill cover if needed and bring the grill indoors when not being used.
Why Keep Mice Out of Grills?
There are a whole bunch of reasons why you don’t want mice and rats near your grill. First of all, they pose a health risk to you and your family, thanks to their feces. Additionally, they are just unsanitary, especially when near your food. Finally, they’ll eat up your ingredients before you get a chance to do it. If you are just learning how to barbeque, a mice or two will take the joy out of it in a heartbeat.
Insider Tip
Sanitize your grill by running it closed on high for around 30 minutes.
How to Keep Mice Out of Outdoor Grills
There are a few ways to keep mice and various rodents away from your grill. Depending on the steel the grill is, 304 vs 430 stainless steel, it may be easier or harder to keep clean. If you just learned how to use a charcoal grill as a smoker, or if you are a seasoned veteran, give these options a try.
Method 1 – Employ Deterrents
- Rodents are deterred by some items you may already have laying around the house
- Mice hate certain scents, such as mothballs and those created by commercial rat and mouse repellants.
- Camphor is another option to try.
- Whichever you decide, place the repellant near the grill according to the instructions.
Method 2 – Traps and Glues
- You can always go for mouse traps, including glue traps, though we recommend choosing a humane option.
- Purchase live mouse traps and place them near your barbeque grill or your ingredients.
- Practice catch and release once you trap a mouse or two.
Method 3 – Create Barriers
- Mice can’t eat what they can’t reach, so build a barrier around your grill.
- Block off any major holes on the exterior of your grill with wood blocks or even bricks.
- Place chicken wire or any kind of mesh surrounding the grill.
- Choose a cover without a fabric lining, as mice easily hide inside of these linings.
- Take the grill inside after use and place it in a shed or a garage. This will limit access.
- Keep the grill away from a fence, as mice can climb the fence and leap onto it.
F.A.Q.S
How to rodent-proof a BBQ grill?
If you remove the food sources, such as crumbs and meal remnants, it will help keep rodents away from your barbecue grills. Put away leftover food as soon as possible.
How to protect a wood deck from hot ashes?
Make sure the grill box is covered, to prevent hot ashes from escaping, and think about placing a physical barrier on top of the wood deck.
How to keep birds from building a nest in your gas grill?
Birds need a source of food and they are attracted to a food smell, including pet food. Remove the food source and you’ll get rid of the birds. This also includes rodents, such as a mouse nest. Nothing ruins your appetite like a dead mouse near a BBQ grill.
STAT: Rodents native to the United States play an important role in the health of grasslands and forests, and are a major source of food for many predators and scavengers, including hawks, foxes, bobcats, and even wolves. (source)
REFERENCES:
- https://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=194878
- https://consumer-care.weber.com/hc/en-us/articles/360023838491-How-do-I-keep-wildlife-or-pets-away-from-my-grill-
- https://www.mouserepel.com/how-to-keep-mice-out-of-grill/r
- https://www.epa.gov/rodenticides/about-rats-and-mice
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbecue_grill
