OF MICE AND AEROPLANES: Things Every Pilot and Aircraft Owner Should Know.

[Bill Greenwood]

I have read that putting several sheets of dryer fabric in your baggage area will repel mice. They don't like the smell. By dryer fabric I mean those sheets that you put in the dryer to soften your clothes. I have used it in my plane, seems to work. I don't know if it has and side affects.
We had some problems a few years back when planes were parked at the north end of the ramp and the nearby field mice were disturbed by some work in the field.They are also attracted to any food in the plane. I once flew a man to a nearby town for lunch. He insisted on bringing the leftovers back with him, "so as not to waste any food". Unbenownst to me, he put the package on the rear baggage shelf and forgot about it. That defintily drew mice. Once they mowed the grass down and paved over much of the field, and also we park farther away now, I haven't seen signs of mice.
As for hanta virus, from what little I know, it seems pretty rare, not likely to be in any airplane in regular use. It is more likely in dry areas in some out building and in New Mexico, maybe sw Colo, in a dusty area.