[Jerseyjd]

We just purchased a house in Fenney and will make the move from New Mexico in several months. We are considering extending the natural gas line to the rear of the house and putting in an outdoor grill on the cement pad. Recently, I've read various threads about mice, rats, snakes, and other assorted pests inhabiting these grills despite best efforts to keep them clean and leaving them uncovered so they are less attractive to these creatures. We typically grill about 3 times a week, and all else equal, would like to avoid moving this activity indoors to cooktop or oven alternatives. Am I making too much of this issue or are pests a substantial enough problem that outdoor grilling should be avoided?

[My Post]

There are definitely critters but the real pests will be if you don't like your neighbors and they like the smell of your grilling.

[villagetinker]

If you are inside a birdcage, no problems, if this will truly be completely outside, then discuss with the designer/installer to keep as animal proof as possible.

[Bjeanj]

We are on the north side of TV and grill outdoors. We have had two incidents in the four years we’ve lived here full time. In both cases, a corn snake settled inside the charcoal bin, which is under the grill cover. No harm, no foul. Picked them up with tongs and put in the bushes.

[dewilson58]

We grill outside all the time...............no issues here.

[bagboy]

No issues in 9 years of grilling outside on uncovered patio.

[tophcfa]

We haven't had any issues, just keep the grill clean and it should be fine.

[vintageogauge]

We live in Fenney and our grill has been outside on a slab kept covered and have not even had an insect in there. I do clean it good after each use but there is still grease under the burners. I also spray the perimeter of my house every month for bugs and pesticides on the lawn. No bugs, no mini-lizards, no lizards, no snakes. We've been here about 20 months now and have never seen a mouse or rat and we do have palms, no snakes either. Just birds and alligators. Now if I did find a snake in the grill, the grill would be gone the next day, I like many others was taught to fear snakes at an early age and that fear still exists.

[Henryk]

Originally Posted by vintageogauge

We live in Fenney and our grill has been outside on a slab kept covered and have not even had an insect in there. I do clean it good after each use but there is still grease under the burners. I also spray the perimeter of my house every month for bugs and pesticides on the lawn. No bugs, no mini-lizards, no lizards, no snakes. We've been here about 20 months now and have never seen a mouse or rat and we do have palms, no snakes either. Just birds and alligators. Now if I did find a snake in the grill, the grill would be gone the next day, I like many others was taught to fear snakes at an early age and that fear still exists.

Just turn on the grill. Except charcoal, of course.

The vast majority of snakes here are black racers, which are not venomous. They’re completely black with white under the mouth.

[Henryk]

...

[BobnBev]

Originally Posted by Henryk

Just turn on the grill. Except charcoal, of course.

The vast majority of snakes here are black racers, which are not venomous. They’re completely black with white under the mouth.

And, they taste like chicken.

[vintageogauge]

They also bite.

[EdFNJ]

We always find geckos (anoles) in ours so I just turn on the grill. They taste like chicken.