Protection from mice

[Brian_at_HHH 2,691]

I was going to suggest some sort of heavier wire mesh, like chicken wire, which shouldn't block the bass, and be a bit harder for mice to chew through - but only a little bit harder, but I was worried if they might rattle and vibrate against the back of the speaker.

 

Then I realized, at the volumes you're running, you'll never hear that.  

 

Mesh is only ever going to delay a mouse, slightly, so what might make more sense is to glue a couple of port sized plugs of something like foam to a backer board, that you can easily pop them into place when done,ot out to rock it.  If you design it right you could put a handle on it so you don't even need to bend down.

 

Or you could electrify the area around the speakers.  ?

[Bobby1970 1,451]

There may be effects to the bass response but might not enough to cause port noise or it may become unnoticeable based on your listening/volume levels, am not a CV owner but if I have a pair like that and have a mice problem I will have somebody fabricate a special case  for them with easy detachable parts so I can immediately turn the volume knob to "11", I know how it feels to see surrounds/cones eaten by these creatures. Daddyjt said get rid of them, they may also like the taste of interconnects, cd's, vinyls, rubber feet, remote controllers.

If the boys in blue show up again, they may be offering some sound deadening materials..?

[AndrewJohn 10,453]

Data point..., I refurbed a pair of Bose 601's, later model.  And when I opened them up, it wasn't the mouse damage (chewing) that grossed me out..., it was the piles of mouse-poop - lots of it, and stains of mouse pee in the MDF.  I replaced the fiberglass insulation with non-fiberglass speaker insulation in the rebuild, but the stains and smell took more work than I liked.

 

I don't have a solution, just another observation of what mice do in a speaker...

[Carverpro 672]

12 hours ago, Bobby1970 said:

There may be effects to the bass response but might not enough to cause port noise or it may become unnoticeable based on your listening/volume levels, am not a CV owner but if I have a pair like that and have a mice problem I will have somebody fabricate a special case  for them with easy detachable parts so I can immediately turn the volume knob to "11", I know how it feels to see surrounds/cones eaten by these creatures. Daddyjt said get rid of them, they may also like the taste of interconnects, cd's, vinyls, rubber feet, remote controllers.

If the boys in blue show up again, they may be offering some sound deadening materials..?

A case might not be a bad idea. I could build a light frame with thin plywood that I could lift up and over the speaker. Might look ugly but would keep the speakers safe and secure from mice, moisture etc. 

[4krow 6,595]

  Good idea to protect against the symptom of the problem. Also a good idea to rid yourself of the problem. They will not quit until you stop them.

[Brian_at_HHH 2,691]

9 minutes ago, 4krow said:

Also a good idea to rid yourself of the problem.

 

Time to adopt some cats!  I can personally recommend black cats as being very appreciative of a good home ...  

 

But - now you have to protect the speaker grills.   

[Daddyjt 9,614]

Depending on the size of the ports (if they’re close to standard DWV pipe sizes), you might consider PVC/ABS test plugs. I’ve used them before to modify box tuning in car audio applications. Just insert into the port, and tighten the wing nut.

 

 

[Carverpro 672]

Would it be a good idea to put a few mouse traps near my stereo? I would be paranoid that instead of being attracted to the bate....2 big speakers( hotels) might peak their interest instead.?

[Daddyjt 9,614]

Mouse traps with peanut butter are about 99% effective in my experience. If it’s enticing enough to draw them in, you’ll get them in the trap. 

[Brian_at_HHH 2,691]

1 minute ago, Daddyjt said:

Mouse traps with peanut butter are about 99% effective

+1 - best bait I've come across, too.

[Bobby1970 1,451]

how many mouse have you seen so far?..

[Carverpro 672]

1 hour ago, Bobby1970 said:

how many mouse have you seen so far?..

Actually,  the girlfriend found some new droppings in the kitchen yesterday.  How many have I seen? Just the odd dead one that my cat has ripped to shreads upstairs.  In the spring/summer I let him go outside and I find them dead everywhere surrounding my house...lol But in the basement on the opposite side of my mancave I have seen enough droppings to make me paranoid. I have laid traps in the past with peanut butter with not much luck.

Edited March 22, 2019 by Carverpro

[AndrewJohn 10,453]

51 minutes ago, Carverpro said:

[…] I have laid traps in the past with peanut butter with not much luck.

 

Hmmm, then maybe it's something larger and smarter?  Gopher?  Rat?  LoL  ?

[Daddyjt 9,614]

58 minutes ago, Carverpro said:

Actually,  the girlfriend found some new droppings in the kitchen yesterday.  How many have I seen? Just the odd dead one that my cat has ripped to shreads upstairs.  In the spring/summer I let him go outside and I find them dead everywhere surrounding my house...lol But in the basement on the opposite side of my mancave I have seen enough droppings to make me paranoid. I have laid traps in the past with peanut butter with not much luck.

 

Make sure you remove all other food sources, or secure all food in air tight containers - especially pet foods. 

[Bobby1970 1,451]

aaaaahhhhhhhhhh....this is one perfect example of how we show love for the audio gears we have. maybe a subject for another thread..just thinking.. 

[Shalimar 29]

21 hours ago, Carverpro said:

Actually,  the girlfriend found some new droppings in the kitchen yesterday.  How many have I seen? Just the odd dead one that my cat has ripped to shreads upstairs.  In the spring/summer I let him go outside and I find them dead everywhere surrounding my house...lol But in the basement on the opposite side of my mancave I have seen enough droppings to make me paranoid. I have laid traps in the past with peanut butter with not much luck.

ive never had a mouse issue myself thankfully.

 

 however my moms other half has extensive exp since hes a bird breeder and mice LOVE bird food etc big time.  if you don;t have a good permanent fix yet and can give more details .. (a detailed writeup maybe with pics via email)  id be happy to show him that etc and/or get him to email u about it  i;ve no doubt he;d be happy to help as best he can and share his exp in this area.

 

just lmk

 

 

ps his exp was more mouse proofing entry info room/bldg not speakers etc

 

 

Edited March 23, 2019 by Shalimar
added info

[drmarka 104]

i would put down some traps w/ p butter somewhat away from the speakers and put down "stick" boards right behind the entire back length of the speakers not just by  the port openings and a few mesh bags with a few moth balls behind the stick boards.  I don"t want to attract them with bait near the speakers and if they want to make a home they can"t get buy the stick boards and they hate moth balls.    I also use stick boards around the perimeter and moth balls  in a few (4-5) cigar boxes underneath my Aston Martin and I sprinkle them under the hood just anywhere  and 4 small mesh bags on the floor inside when I store it for the winter.  Never had any mouse problems with it and they will destroy wiring etc if they can, and pee/defecate all over the place.  The moth ball spell goes away quickly in the spring it is not a big deal.  Happy hunting for those little bastards!

Mark

[bluefan 31]

How about using these speaker protector things over the port?  Are those foam surrounds on your Vega's.  Never seen a graduated foam surround like this.

 

[Dadvw 2,876]

On 3/19/2019 at 9:54 AM, BarryG said:

Pretty sure they won’t go in there if your playing loud bass heavy music!  Spiders don’t look me the bass either! Lol Led Zeppelin at ear blistering volume sent the eight legged critters fleeing my room!

 

 

Can you sell that idea and make money as a pest control company?.......grin

[BarryG 2,853]

Maybe, don’t want to compete with my friend travis also known as Bugman!

[BarryG 2,853]

A few pet snakes would keep them in check I would think!

[Brian_at_HHH 2,691]

4 hours ago, BarryG said:

A few pet snakes would keep them in check I would think!

 

But how do you extricate the snakes from the bass ports?  😉😁

 

I can tell you, mice are something I never worry about.  Any rodent stupid enough to enter my house has their lifespan measure in milliseconds.  My kids take great pleasure in making extremely short work of any unwanted small visitors. 

 

In the past, there was one mouse who did survive enough to manage to commit suicide.   I heard squeaking one day and found a very brain-damaged mouse, sitting in the middle of the floor surrounded by 3 cars who were trying to decide how to divvy up who gets what part.  Seems the cats couldn't survive, and much later I hound the mouse stuck in an air grate under a cabinet where he tried to escape to.  He didn't fit.

 

Having a houseful of cats makes for a very mouse-free world for me.  Just beware your speaker grates don't become scratching posts...  😺

[danowood 2,167]

steel wool in the port holes should keep them out but sill allow air to move.

 

[BarryG 2,853]

I would not worry about snakes in porthole, start out at low volume they will leave quick enough.  my ex had a pair of rat terriers, have you ever seen them be of those dogs, do the rat shake, shake, shake it hard enough to break its neck!

Cleared yard of rats  in a few weeks, snakes in the yard d,and rat terriers a good combo!

 

 

 

Edited March 28, 2020 by BarryG