Haven't posted in a while, went through a few things, divorce, got laid off, new job, moved, but I still have my 14 so how bad could things be, right?

Anyhow, I have a barnlike outbuilding which I keep the bike in, under a cover, and I dutifully removed my battery a few months ago to keep on a tender inside, as there is no power to the outbuilding.

Stupid me, not equating that space with a wildlife sanctuary, but I failed to put the side cover back on. Now that I come to put the battery back in, there was a big ole mouse den back there. I can't blame the mouse, it is very cozy in there.

Questions:
- What kind of damage should I look for?
- I have never really looked back behind the battery when I removed it, and it looks like there is a lot of empty space back there, after I removed the nest. Is that really so, or was there a spacer or something behind the battery that has been completely devoured? I can post pics in a bit.

* Last updated by: tooncinator on 2/20/2017 @ 9:26 AM *

Post pics. If the wire harness is eaten up, that's where the photo comes in.

How do two mice screw in a battery???

Hi toonce. Long time no hear.

There is some kind of black block with a few large wires coming out of it behind the battery. There is supposed to be some space back there. People put there nitrous solenoid there sometimes.

Good to hear from you. Hope those mice didn't get the last laugh on you.

I accounted for the two big, taped-off wires and the smaller wire that clips between the battery and the foreman and it all looked good. After it was thoroughly vacuumed and cleaned it looks like all they did beyond bringing all of their crap in there was to gnaw on the interior padding on the bottom and sides of the empty space in back. Little shits. It's all back together now and I forgot to take pics, and it is running fine so I think that is a wrap. Next time I pull the battery I will make sure to put the foreman back on!

Ha. I was gonna say something about a cat. Although there's downsides to them too. I was getting my daughters 4 wheelers out yesterday. Told one of them to grab their helmet. She let me know real quick that it stunk. Apparently the cat thought it'd be cool to piss in it. So not sure if I should try and clean it or just get a new lid....

Anyways hopefully they didn't do any more damage than already found

The dad thing to do is give her your helmet and you take the pisslid.

I'll bet your daughter has an opinion about whether the new .vs cleaned, old lid.

Would 8you* wear it, knowing where it's been? Yuk!

If it was expensive enough, I would wear it after a good washing.

I'm betting she will wear it! As long as the stank is gone! Haha. I'm enough of a tightass I'd wear it for sure...

Rat bait or rat bites the wire harness next nesting season.

Never use poisons!

Get a cat or physical trap.

I've have problems with my truck parked in my barn with, mice, rats, squirrels.

We have a cat, and neighborhood bobcat, coyotes, etc.

But I still have to take more measures since had to replace engine wiring harness.

I spray a cayenne pepper spray all over the wires once a year they don't seem
to like that or want to nest anywhere near it.