February 2020
Mice…the little bastidges. I had a family of them take up residence in the HVAC control wiring of my Chevy Silverado–cost me a bundle to get them cleaned out and the destroyed wiring repaired.
I don’t have any good answers for mouse deterrent. My thinking swings more toward barbarism–say, a line of mouse heads on spikes around the area you want to protect–but I suspect the fertile little iceholes would not be impressed.
Speaking of HVAC, I’ve heard tell a length of circular sheet metal ducting encircling each wheel prevents access, but I’ve never given the technique a try.
February 2020
Mice, birds, mud daubers, wasps, snakes.
Nature turns you expensive airplane into it’s own protected nesting area almost as soon as you park it.
1 reply
February 2020
▶ system
Snakes. I hate snakes. (Bitten twice, by a rattler. They’re fast.)
3 replies
February 2020
“Nature must not win the game, but she cannot lose.”
~ Carl Jung
February 2020
I’d welcome Diamondbacks in my hangar. Probably not much help for meeces tho, and likely would slither away to never return.
February 2020
My solution to the rodent problem: 1.Own taildraggers only for personal airplanes, 2.store the airplane with the tailwheel on top of a 2 foot tall overturned plastic bucket, 3.fly the airplane regularly. If 1 & 2 don’t keep mice away, 1 will at least give you a sense of dignity, 2 will make you feel better for trying, and #3 will solve the rodent problem.
1 reply
February 2020
▶ system
The Flying Ophidiophobians.
February 2020
Haha. I love your writing!
February 2020
Why can’t we all just get along? Failing that, I’ve been told rodents are “allergic” to peppermint oil, which should make it one of the more pleasant-smelling deterrents. My issue is centered upon reopening a vacation home. If the peppermint oil didn’t work I’m ready to deploy the Carton Of Snakes I ordered from Acme Pest Control.
February 2020
“I hate to be a stickler for details” said Waldo Pepper, but Pixie and Dixie were the mice. Mr. Jinx was the long suffering cat. Happy Landings!
February 2020
▶ system
Many years ago, when I had flown a camping trip through France in fall with the kids and the dog, I made the huge mistake to leave a half sack of dog pellets in the plane. What a huge mess I discovered after winter! The about a zillion mickeys on that field didn’t have a party, they had a veritable orgy! The about 10 kg of dog food was gone. Nests all over the place. The plane was stinking like a stable. Had to remove the floor boards and pressure-clean everything…
Some years later I had a corrosion issue of the fixed slat. Removed the wingtip and voila… A nice nest left in there. Some of them had even found their way into the wingtip.
BTW: This is a Dornier27, a big taildragger. So yes, that gives me a sense of dignity. But to leave the pellets in there was not really smart…
February 2020
▶ system
I like snakes. They are tasty. PETA. People Eating Tasty Animals. 
America: Love it or Leave it!
GOD Bless and GOD Help us,
rich!
February 2020
I removed the mice and their leavings from many an HVAC system in cars. As a Master Automobile Technician I often got the task of working on Volvo 840s. They would climb in through the intake vent and setup house keeping. To remove them entailed removing the complete HVAC system which entailed removing the front seats, center console, and the dash assembly. I probably did about 100 cars. What a mess. I hate meeces to pieces.
America: Love it or Leave it!
GOD Bless and GOD Help us,
rich!
February 2020
If you ever want to see a truly unhappy face, catch the expression of a proud antique airplane owner when you show him the mouse damage you discovered during an annual to his airplane’s wooden spars. It’s really, really expensive, too.
February 2020
▶ system
Not bad eating, but always give me gas. - Paul Hogan.
February 2020
I’ve never had mice, snakes or any rodent of any type in my hangars. Don’t want any either.
February 2020
February 2020
▶ system
I live in Hantavirus Central. We also have a small number of bubonic plague cases on a semi-regular basis. Hantavirus is dealt with by providing plenty of ventilation - open up inspection panels with the airplane outside the hangar - and a dust mask when doing the initial disturbing of droppings. Action plan for bubonic plague is: Don’t get bit.
February 2020
The Kangaroo Rat, a protected species, also carries the Hantavirus. Although by a smaller percentage than the Deer Mouse population, they are, nevertheless, a threat. A few decades ago, the Ramona CA airport runway was to be extended by 1500 ft in length. The work was approved. Then, mysteriously, a “K” Rat nest was found along the centerline of the runway extension. Work was put on hold until an agreement was reached between the protectionists and the San Diego county. Since the “K” Rat was/is a protected specie, the runway extension was limited to 1000 ft. The airport is base for the California Dept. Of Forestry with air tankers in operation, at times, needing the full length before rotation. KRNM RWY 5,000 ft elev. 1395 ft.
1 reply
February 2020
▶ system
Yeah, the world would be a far lesser place with fewer Hantavirus-infested rats, wouldn’t it?
1 reply
February 2020
▶ system
All things considered, the “hantavirus infested rats” is a a minuscule problem. But, indifference to detail can bite you. I live in New Mexico, where the CDC has identified the most cases of hantavirus in the nation.
