A few weeks ago I noticed a nasty smell when I took the cover off my Laser. I assumed it was the smell of mildew from my life jacket. Yesterday I was rigging up for a sail. As i stepped the mast I heard a gritty sound as the mast was seated. I didn't liek the sound so I pulled the mast out and found that a field mouse had fallen into the hole and decomposed. Since them I keep an empty water bottle as a loose fitting plug to keep unsuspecting critters from meeting the same tragic end. Has anyone experienced this before?