Here come the mice

[Doyt W. Echelberger]

How do mice get from where they are to where you don't want them? Answer 
that question and then design structures that discourage such a path, or 
structures that entrap/distract mice that enter those pathways.

Walking in a mouse's footsteps, I hypothecate a path starting on the floor 
and traveling up the inside of a front wheel, using purchases at  brake 
components and lines, tie rod ends, CV joints, and including the ABS sensor 
wire.

Work has begun in my laboratories on Audi-benign  mouse barriers at those 
locations. All such efforts will be billed directly to your account. Until 
such designs are completed and tested, and approved by Audi USA, I suggest 
mouse traps with attractive bait at all 4 wheels whenever the car is parked 
in a mouse-infested zone. You can use live traps or lethal traps or bait 
that poisons the mouse. A poisoned mouse will flee toward the nearest water 
source, abandoning your engine in the process.

The theory behind the traps builds on the tendency of mice to investigate 
attractive food sources as they scurry around looking for protected nesting 
sites. All the mice I know behave in this species-specific manner.

Doyt Echelberger
87 5kcstq    mouse-free at 1.7 bar

 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
At 11:32 AM 11/30/00 -0500, you wrote:
     Well here we go again.  Last winter I had mice in the heater core who
clogged the fan with insulation and assorted woodland bits.  This winter has
begun quickly and so far in two days I've found to nests made in the engine
bay.  One on the block where the breather hose connects and one on the
intake manifold.  I destroyed those homes and cleaned up as best I could.
Now how the hell do I keep the buggers out of there.  I don't need chewed
wires and nests all over my engine bay, so anyone whose got a plan besides
mousetraps or cats inside the engine bay tell me please!

Regards,

Alexander van Gerbig -- '88 80