Yes, mice are able to nest inside lawn mowers and they often like doing so in the engine compartment and the space under the seat.
When you look at a riding mower, you see a convenient way to manage your lawn. But a mouse will look at it and see dry cavities for shelter and a seat full of cushioning that can be torn up and used for nesting. It doesn’t help that lawn mowers go unused for at least a few months every year. But it’s frustrating because they can chew the wiring and the fuel lines while nesting in there.
Mice tend to go first for the engine compartment. It’s enclosed and off the floor. It has the air filter housing, foam padding, and insulation that mice can shred and pack into nests. The space beneath the seat is also another good place for them to set up. Mice will sometimes go for the mower deck, battery box, and storage compartments as well.
This can get expensive fast. Rodents constantly grow their teeth in much the same way that people grow their fingernails. They gnaw constantly, often on wires and spark plugs. Rubber and fuel lines are soft and they’re right there, ready to chew. Owners tend to find this out around April when their very expensive mower is no longer working right at the moment when the grass is getting shaggy. The mower often won’t start. And even if it did, rodents nesting inside would be bad news because their nesting is a serious fire hazard if it gets by the engine or air intake.
Reducing the presence of mice often comes down to storage discipline. Store the mower in the tightest building you have. Clear food sources out of the building, especially birdseed and grass seed, both of which are notorious for feeding rodents. Store them in metal or heavy plastic containers with tight lids. Keep the area around the mower clear rather than packed with boxes. Open the hood every once in a while and check for nesting material from time to time.
If mice are getting into your outbuildings or your home, Mosquito Squad of Princeton can help. Mosquito Squad finds how mice are getting in, clears them with traps and bait stations, and seals the entry points with chew-resistant materials.
