I have a problem with my 455 Deere mower.

[buffy12590]

Not really a surprise, I have had to clear mice nests from a few tractors sitting around in a shed over the winter. The worst ones are after you start the mower and a mouse was still in the nest.......enough said.

 

[rayikeo2]

You better get a rat trap instead of your gun. If you don't keep him out he will chew up your electrical wires and you will have a lot more problems. Maybe your battery positive is already chewed and shorted aginst the frame to cause the first problem. Better check the battery cables. I say this because I had a pack rat eat the insulation off my positive cable. I had to tape it up but didn't have to replace it.:confused2:
You also might have hit a hidden obstruction to shake the battery loose then it grounded the cable and died. Do you hace barb wire laying in the mower path or a pipe or big rock?