We keep a mains operated water pump in its own little insulated box fixed t o the outside wall of the garage. I turn it off and drain it down every win ter, having lost two pumps to frost, and we only use it for the garden in t he spring and summer anyway. Last spring when re-commissioning it I discove red that Mr Squirrel had been hiding his stash in it as evidenced by all th e empty nut shells.
This winter I now find that some creature has been feasting on the mains ca ble. Hardly the squirrel, probably mice or rats.
So what's the best answer please ?