Ahhhh Rats

dputnam01 · Dec 13, 2021

I know there have been posts in the past about this, but I had to bring it up again so I could B***H about it. Changing my cabin filter this weekend subsequently resulted in me cautiously lifting the hood, cringing at what I suspected I'd find. Little footprints everywhere, both of my battery blankets chewed down to the nubs, and crap & ***** stains everywhere. I can't believe how fast these little b*****ds work, and this is a daily driver. I remember reading that there is something about the batteries that they like (outgassing?) and there is something you can install to counter that. Please re-post. I guess, being that it's Christmas time, I should be happy that I can provide these turds something soft and cuddly for their nests. I'll replace the battery blankets once I've got the "fix". I've got dogs, so poison is out of the question.

turkeybird56 · Dec 13, 2021

Great Looking Gang There. 4 GSD and 1 other? cannot tell. Cannot help U on the rat issue, there was something somewhere on what to spray on there. I use TOMCAT here but my dogs are inside, so no worries. I even have some TOMCAT in my Motorcycle Trunk and and Upper Trunk.

ChaosMike · Dec 13, 2021

What seemed to cure the presence of rodents around my house was the blessing/curse of feral cats moving into the neighborhood. My wife and I were diligent in getting all of them caught/neutered and returned before it turned into a plague and now we have just a small community of about 6 cats outside that we feed and I've not see even the slightest indication of even the slightest field mouse since. One even loves to follow me into the garage to hang out all the time.

turkeybird56 · Dec 13, 2021

READ in this thread. There are some interesting solutions that may help.

Rodent issues

What is my safest/best way to rid my truck of nesting rodents on my new battery covers. Grandchildren and pet safe?

www.ramforum.com

SOKY_RAM · Dec 13, 2021

Log rolling rodent trap

5 gal Bucket 1/3 full of water
Coat hanger
Coke can
Piece of scrap wood
Peanut butter

Drill holes through bucket and coke can so that can spins freely in center of bucket. Coat can with PB and set up a ramp. Works like a charm.

EdGs · Dec 13, 2021

My son had a chevy blazer, and had the rat from hell in it, f*cker chewed through several wiring spots including several wires connected to the ecu.

Anyways, after several failed attempts, we set a large trap baited with peanut butter, right on top of his distributor and partially lowered the hood.

Not even 5 minutes passed, we were standing next to the truck talking, when the trap snapped and we got the rat. I had one hell of a time soldering replacement wires into the affected areas. All in all, the rat chewed up about 15 wires.

Not sure if this will work, but a couple moth balls might help, even though they stink.

Wish you the best on a quick extermination for your rats.

EdGs · Dec 13, 2021

SOKY_RAM said:
Log rolling rodent trap

5 gal Bucket 1/3 full of water
Coat hanger
Coke can
Piece of scrap wood
Peanut butter

Drill holes through bucket and coke can so that can spins freely in center of bucket. Coat can with PB and set up a ramp. Works like a charm.

View attachment 479685

That is one neat trap!

turkeybird56 · Dec 13, 2021

SOKY_RAM said:
Log rolling rodent trap

5 gal Bucket 1/3 full of water
Coat hanger
Coke can
Piece of scrap wood
Peanut butter

Drill holes through bucket and coke can so that can spins freely in center of bucket. Coat can with PB and set up a ramp. Works like a charm.

View attachment 479685

Interesting indeed

HEMIMANN · Dec 13, 2021

Move north. We only get mice and chipmunks. They like gnawing on wires.

When my son went to overhaul his brakes he found charcoaled mouse carcass parts in his brake rotor vents.

ILLXJ · Dec 14, 2021

SOKY_RAM said:
Log rolling rodent trap

5 gal Bucket 1/3 full of water
Coat hanger
Coke can
Piece of scrap wood
Peanut butter

Drill holes through bucket and coke can so that can spins freely in center of bucket. Coat can with PB and set up a ramp. Works like a charm.

View attachment 479685

These work great.

Jeepwalker · Dec 15, 2021

There are smells that are very offensive to rodents that humans like. Like Peppermint oil, Drier sheets (Bounce works the best), or air fresheners that smell like laundry detergent. Those kind of things. I don't know how those would work under the hood of a vehicle though. They definitely work inside the vehicle. I put dryer sheets in every one of my vehicles. Occasionally mice will come in, but they'll leave right away.

Glue boards work really well too for catching Rats/Mice/Snakes. They have kind of a peanut-butter smell which attracts them ...or at least some of them have that smell (I don't know about others I haven't used).

But yeah, a cat is handy too. Just don't poison the rodents if you have or get cats.

clifford15 · Dec 16, 2021

Our outside cats are too fat and happy to take care of gross mice. Going to make one of those log roll traps.

Rockyhammock · Dec 18, 2021

Had that happen in my 69 camaro. We take cotton swabs and squirt peppermint oil on them and place them inside car and engine compartment. It works.

Bob1313 · Dec 18, 2021

Best results we've had is using Victor Electronic Mouse and Rat Traps. Remembering to remove them from under the hood before driving off in the morning is the only problem we encountered.
Saves spending hours chasing down shorted sensors, coil wiring, chewed winshield washer hoses, and the **** being everywhere.
Tried securing the traps under the hood so as to not have to remove them, but the heat made the peanut butter run all over.
No more **** or chewed wiring.

Fishhaggis · Dec 18, 2021

I just had the same issue. Rats chewed about $1500 worth of engine bits and insulation. No idea until the check engine light came on. It was a real mess. the repair guy showed me a new Power Wagon With over $17,000 rat damage. Chewed the seats, everything under the dash including the dash, what a mess. covered by insurance so brought it to the dealer and they fixed it up. They suggested spraying under the hood with Doktor Doom Rodent repellent. seems to be working.
After you spray, don’t drive for a few hours or else the cab smells like pepper. After a good rain or every few weeks, reapply the spray, so the rat moves on. Also bought a Haveaheart live trap, sized for rats.

Moose2 · Dec 18, 2021

Fishhaggis said:
I just had the same issue. Rats chewed about $1500 worth of engine bits and insulation. No idea until the check engine light came on. It was a real mess. the repair guy showed me a new Power Wagon With over $17,000 rat damage. Chewed the seats, everything under the dash including the dash, what a mess. covered by insurance so brought it to the dealer and they fixed it up. They suggested spraying under the hood with Doktor Doom Rodent repellent. seems to be working.
After you spray, don’t drive for a few hours or else the cab smells like pepper. After a good rain or every few weeks, reapply the spray, so the rat moves on. Also bought a Haveaheart live trap, sized for rats.

Have a heart sounds too good for the rat!

Mbi777 · Dec 18, 2021

I had some chew thru my 4WD wiring harness costing me $250! My insurance paid for it but then that went up the next policy period. Then a few months ago they did exactly what happened to you, and made a nest in the front corner underneath the hood.

I bought one of these on Amazon:
Loraffe Rodent Repellent Ultrasonic Under Hood Animal Repeller Battery Operated Rat Strobe Light Mouse Deterrent for Car Engine Garage Home Attic Warehouse, Indoor Pest Control, Vehicle Protection
by H&G Professional Solutions
So far I have not had a problem and it’s been a few months! Good luck!

weldguy · Dec 18, 2021

I've read placing a couple of Irish Spring soap bars will discourage mice.

GTyankee · Dec 19, 2021

a guy filmed the rodents chewing on 3 bars of Irish Spring

irish spring soap as a rodent deterrent - Google Search

Old Cop 66 · Dec 29, 2021

Neighbor “feeds” birds. Translation…. Birds don’t eat 90% of whatever the mix is so they kick it out.
Now title changes….” Neighbor draws rats”….
Only took a short time for them to find outside parked truck.
**** and pi$$ everywhere in short time.
Battery insulation, gone, firewall insulation looks like a dinosaur tried to claw its way out of the power barn!
Peanut butter…. Nope
Snap trap…. Nope
Peppermint…… nope
Moth balls…… nope
Trip the hardware, got a box of the “sticky “glue traps.
Tied off one end do that if only partially stuck, there would not be an escape.
Yep….. caught a couple of those vile nasty creatures, boys and girls… those things were MAD!
Growling hissing, writhing around pulling out hair, only to get more stuck.
Safisfytin indeed!
Yep
Sticky traps for me!

Ahhhh Rats

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