… in which I camped in a spot infested by mule deer, picked up spent brass, and trusted the local forecast enough to do my cooking off solar…
Re: mouse wars:
I’ve been using a Rid-a-Rat Model RC-2 for over a year now and haven’t had any rodents in the engine bay yet.
It is overpriced for what it is (low power flashing LED light) but it was easier than making my own or doing something manual every night.
I picked up a solar garden light from walmart. I pop the hood and trap the light in the lid so the light is under the hood and the minipanel outside it. I haven’t had a problem since then, but it it could be coincidence, or my being more careful scouting for mouseholes before pitching camp.
Update: near Los Alamos/Jemez Springs, NM we had a pack rat build a nest in the engine bay right under the Rid-a-Rat between my periodic checks of the engine bay, so perhaps it doesn’t work as advertised.