Sure fire way to stop mice??????

[steveinindy]

Interesting to be able to tame a totally wild animal...he appeared with one ear chewed off, probably in a fight, or perhaps something a coyote did to him.

Maybe "CLEAR PROP!" doesn't translate well into feline?

about two years ago as i was starting my second rv a ferral cat appeared...i just happened to have some dry cat food, so i kept putting that out in a bowl by the hangar door every night. After a very long time the cat would come into the hangar to get food and water...months later i was able to touch him, although he would swat at me quite often. By now he has become a lap kitty and sleeps in the hangar way up in a storage cabinet on a folded up quilt. When it is cold, as over winter, there is a heat lamp for him. I also added a 'doggy door' so he can come and go as he wishes. He is now a permanent resident in the hangar.

I commend you for looking out for the cat (even if it is a "you scratch my back..." arrangement). The 'doggy door' idea is a great one that not a lot of folks would think of doing.

[Joe Delene]

Just go to Home Depot or a farm supply store & get a 'bait house' for poison. Bait it up & set it in a corner somewhere. Any mice will find it before they get into your plane. Traps & cats require maintenance, poison is on duty 24/7. When it come to mice I like to fight with the gloves off.

[rosiejerryrosie]

RE: the sheet metal guards to keep mice out.

Question - How would you use one of these on a taildragger?

[martymayes]

Question - How would you use one of these on a taildragger?

Same way. The tailwheel ring may be restricted in height but it still works.

[steveinindy]

Question - How would you use one of these on a taildragger?

Stupid question, but couldn't you just figure out a way to prop the tail up a little so you'd have more clearance for the ring?

Same way. The tailwheel ring may be restricted in height but it still works.

A lot of mice species have a "vertical leap" of several inches. The common house mouse can jump 18 inches for example.

[n43511]

I had a mouse get into my Archer over 20 years ago when I was based on a grass strip, shredding a box of tissues, pooping on the seats, and we found a small collection of debris below the floorboards at the next annual. It was gone after an overnight trip to another airport. Anyway, to keep that from happening again, I fashioned three barriers out of 12 inch aluminum flashing that I bought at a local store. The rings are large enough to encircle my wheel pants and they clip together at the front with two simple bends at the ends that I interlace. Takes 1 minute to install and I've never had another mouse. While you say that a mouse can jump 18 inches, I went on the theory that it would have little motivation to do that. I just eliminated the easy access to the wheels and thence to the cockpit through the vents or however the little bugger got in. One thing to consider, though: My airplane is hangered, so I don't have to worry about wind, snow, etc. knocking them down or open. Something to consider and they don't need to be fed or watered.

[rosiejerryrosie]

Stupid question,

Thanks so much for that learned evaluation.

A lot of mice species have a "vertical leap" of several inches. The common house mouse can jump 18 inches for example.

That would mean that I'd have to lift the tailwheel at least 19 inches off the ground, then prop it up on something that would ensure that it wouldn't fall off, and encircle the whole thing with sheet metal. Right?

[steveinindy]

While you say that a mouse can jump 18 inches, I went on the theory that it would have little motivation to do that.

Food and shelter are apparently powerful motivators of the rodent mind. I see your point, but one should not underestimate the basic instincts of animals.

Thanks so much for that learned evaluation.

I was actually calling myself stupid in that regard since I was not sure how that would work precisely so far as a taildragger is concerned. I wasn't sure if they could be stored "flat" with the tail elevated or not.

That would mean that I'd have to lift the tailwheel at least 19 inches off the ground, then prop it up on something that would ensure that it wouldn't fall off, and encircle the whole thing with sheet metal. Right?

I dunno. It was just a technical thought process and something of an engineering quandary. I've never tried dealt with the issue directly so I was just posing a question.