Date:         Thu, 27 Oct 2005 09:33:58 -0600
Reply-To:     Bob Stevens <mtbiker62@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Bob Stevens <mtbiker62@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: mouse attacks
Comments: To: Richard A Jones <jones@colorado.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

I've had them chew up paper towel sitting on the front pasgr. footwell,
cruise around inside the cabinets next to my bed, cruise through the cabinet
under the sink, come climbing out the rear table cabinet hole, run across my
blanket from my feet, over my right shoulder and down the squeeze space near
the sliding door and into the bench seat space. I've caught them in the
cabinet next to the bed/fridge. They crawl through the holes/gaps in the
cabinetry. A nice cheezy recipe is in the offing and, as Richard said, it
will be released at a special press conference, likely in the spring '06
(the pressure's on, now). I've heard them climbing around under the dash so
I'm certain their entry/egress is "up front" and nowhere else, at least in
my van.

I've got 2 suggestions aside from screen the fresh air vents up front. They
NEVER enter the van right after it's been running! Some indication they come
up the front tires, along the axles/suspension, along the coolant pipes
after they've cooled. I'm putting "loaded" traps on either side of the front
tires and squirting charcoal lighter fluid on the ground around the tires. I
checked the NBA scouting pages and it's documented: mice can't jump! ....
just like me (White Men Can't Jump)("my" mice were gray, however). They
conspire and get travel permits in fairly remote locations. I have no mice
at home in my van. Only "out there".

In the end, I suggest doing something at the tires, where they ladder up.
OR: put a stick going from the ground up to a suspension perch/part where
there is a nice cheezy trap waiting. A "loaded" invitation. Oh, and don't
forget the note, kinda like the one for Santa next to the cookies 'n milk.
We Vanagon owners don't want any bad press.

Bob Stevens
'87 Westy Syncro
"Passion Fruit"