Mouse damage

[ge_rik]

When I was setting up the other day, I found that one of the electrically operated points behind the workshop had ceased functioning. I suspected the LGB point motor had succumbed - after all it had been there for fifteen years. I replaced it but still no joy. Sod's Law applied - it is the point furthermost from my Deltang RC triggered control box in the leanto by the back door - a run of about 30m. The control box was tested and it was fine so it had to be the cable The two core mains rated cable has also been buried for fifteen years so I dreaded having to track the fault. I traced it back from the motor about eight metres. Still no power in it. I then plunged into the hedge to try and dig it up - this was a nightmare, so I decided to switch to the control box end. Wise move! Where the cable emerged from the leanto it was neatly severed. Closer examination revealed teeth marks.

IMG_20240624_195109_018.jpg (311.13 KiB) Viewed 55137 times

It seems the little blighters (polite version) had decided to widen the hole into the brickwork of the leanto by nibbling the pesky cable out of the way.

It was a bit of struggle threading a new length of cable through the hole and soldering it in place but it's now working ok. I've filled the gaps in the hole around the cables ( seven run through it) with silicone sealant. I've heard our rodent friends don't like the taste - I do hope it's true ....

Rik

[philipy]

Commiserations. We've just had a narrow escape from a similar problem.

SWMBO kept her stocks of assorted wild bird food in the garage over winter. Back in April, the dog started going crackers every time she could get in there and we couldn't see why, but it was the same behaviour that she shows when hunting mice in the garden. So we moved the bird food out, swept up spillages and put a humane mouse trap in there and caught one the first night, repeated for the next 3 or 4 nights and then decided to get a couple more traps. All three filled up every night and sometimes one or two during the day as well. This went on for weeks and by the end ( about 2 days ago) we had caught well over 200! So far, apart from droppings in my stock of wood, I haven't actually found any damage, by some miracle.

[ge_rik]

Two hundred!!!! Yes, I store wild bird food in the leanto but in sealed containers. I do find mouse droppings in there from time to time!

Rik

[Petersfield]

My sympathies. After an episode with mice in the garage, we started putting bird food in glass jars (mainly ex-coffee jars). I can't speak for what they don't like but if anyone wants advice on what to bait traps with - [bird food] peanuts have worked well for us.

[philipy]

if anyone wants advice on what to bait traps with - [bird food] peanuts have worked well for us.

We used 2 out of date bars of Rum & Raisin chocolate. They certainly like that!

[Preseli Chris]

Be careful storing 2 stroke powered strimmers ,chainsaws etc they like chewing though the fuel lines.

[drewzero1]

Be careful storing 2 stroke powered strimmers ,chainsaws etc they like chewing though the fuel lines.

Most of my trouble is with chipmunks. Last summer they chewed through the fuel hose on my propane grill, lucky they didn't explode!