Johm,
Kind of off topic but you mentioned problems with varmits. Maybe this will help....
Red squirrels, piney squirels, chipmunks are everywhere on my place. In the last 12 months I have spent over $2,000 on vehicle repairs caused by the varmits chewing the wiring. Not to mention the damage to the interiors. They will get inside any vehicle. Even my car that I drive everyday.
I have had tail lights, head lights, fuel pumps (3 times), heated seats, 4-wheel drive actuators, starter, etc on four different vehicles, a backhoe and a tractor. On my F350 they get my fuel pump wires just where they enter the tank. The last time I got lucky and they left me a 1/4" length so I could solder back together and then cover them with metal flex conduit. I replaced it twice myself before I got smart and protected the wires. The pump costs over $300 and you have to pull the bed to get to it.:mad:
Someone told me about using 5 gallon buckets that are half filled with water and a 2x4 for a ramp. Sprinkle sunflower seeds on the surface of the water with a few on the ramp. The little demons run up, jump in to get the seeds and that is their end. If you soak the seeds in vegetable oil they will float longer. I have caught dozens plus quite a few mice. They are still around but I see less than before.
We tried live traps, rat traps and even a Rat Zapper that is supposed to electrocute them. Nothing worked as well as the bucket of water trap. We used to have a couple great cats that probably kept them in check but the exploding coyote population took them out.
I am not a person who likes to kill things, but enough was enough.
Tim