Mice can get into the oddest places. I am adjusting a room in my basement, the washing machine was plugged into an outlet with no face plate, I was removing the whole thing and noticed a string hanging out of the box, it was a dried mouse tail the rest of the mouse was inside the box, I wonder if it got fried?

I don't use a chain morticer, but this could also be done with a bored hole by shimming the machine and using bevel square. Also use a durable wood like black locust when posting out in the open.