Yep I put a Rat trap on top of my control center/ fuse box under the hood and caught one damn rat so far thats been pissing and shitting on my engine

I'm not sure if condolences or congratulations are in order.  I'm glad I have never dealt with that issue.

No kidding, that would drive me crazy.  So far I just have a mouse that eats my shop rags.

Edited June 7, 20186 yr by Sycostang67

I have had to resort to leaving my hood open on my truck there are nest in there all the time. not the best solution a get rust on some of the metal part and I live in the desert. but better than eating up the computer wiring.

Typically I keep my trucks in the garage. Then the main house here has an ultrasonic box point in the direction of the truck. Animals need a place to sleep at night but if there is constant noise they move on. The ultrasonic box I've got has quiet mode which is true ultrasonic and the noise mode that even you can hear which can be pretty loud. Typically leave them on ultrasonic. If I find signs then I step up to the low volume mix. Still seeing signs I go for the loud setting. Typically they move on. 

 

I hate using traps because you're baiting others animals into the bait. Poison works again baiting into the area again. Old school pellet bait seems to be gone which I'm happy for. Those tend to be packed off by pack rats and not eaten until way later. Do not work very fast. The new bait station is typically built for mice and larger rats can't enter the bait station. I like the block style stuff where you can tie wire the block under the hood for those parking outside. 

I think mothballs of something like that works

I say congrats and good riddens. I had a battle with those dang things and they chewed my high idle harness up, and caused my truck to run like crap and there was a short. I have been using Irish spring soap and the pouches you can get at Home Depot. Fingers crossed so good so far, the colder weather seems to drive them to search for places. Good luck 

Irish spring soap to repel rats?  Never heard of that one

But I googled it and sure enough

 

 

 

..

4 hours ago, Dieselfuture said:

I think mothballs of something like that works

 

I can say without a doubt mothballs do not work. Dryer sheets don't work

Move to my neck of woods. Never had that problem at all over this way.

12 hours ago, Mopar1973Man said:

 

I can say without a doubt mothballs do not work. Dryer sheets don't work

       

Back when I had both the 1973 Dodge Charger under the tree I stuck mothballs in the Dodge Charger the mice would pack them around the car. So instead of being in the cup where I had mothballs in I'd find them all over the car then. I tried the dryer sheet idea too and watch how mice used the sheets for bedding.

 

Even in the RV I tried again. Mice walked right past the mothballs wouldn't phase them. Drier sheets again they dragged them off and made nest out of them. 

 

Two things I found that keeps mice out is noise and lack of entry. Even mice need to have sleep so if there constant loud, obnoxious noise all the time they will not build home there. The other then is not to have shelter or warmth. Lot of ranchers up here leave the hood open then vents the heat out quickly and doesn't provide shelter for the mice.

just removed a mouse decomposed in my electric shock trap from the basement of the trailer just after adding moth ball for the first time. MY next move is to do as someone I met today is using is a light that goes on at dawn and off in the mourning. one for under the hood of my Dodge and one for the underside of my 5th wheel. see what happens

I find dead and digested mice and rats in Barn Qwl turds under my trees where the owls nest

 

 

.

Edited June 9, 20186 yr by GSP7

We have a very useful device around the house for the few small mice we see. It's called a "cat". Our last cat ran out of mice and started hunting rabbits. He would decapitate them and bring them to the house for us to admire.

Edited June 9, 20186 yr by dripley

I was called out onetime to get a car started that was in a small field next to Lone Jack rd. Encinitas, CA.  When I opened the hood two rabbits jumped out to either side and scared the heck out of me.  I found electrical wire and vacuum hose damage.   

 

Most of the cars I see having rodent damage are parked out in the country near avocado, lemon and orange groves.  They seam to like sparkplug wires and favor any injector or ABS/SRS sensor wiring. 

 

1 hour ago, dripley said:

We have a very useful device around the house for the few small mice we see. It's called a "cat".

                          I've had a few cats over the years.  The vet bills were killing me. 

                                       May be it would be cheaper to get a chicken  

             

                

 

 

51 minutes ago, IBMobile said:

 

 

                          I've had a few cats over the years.  The vet bills were killing me. 

                                       May be it would be cheaper to get a chicken  

             

                

 

 

Chickens out my way are vegetarians.  No vets needed either, just a frying pan.

I read an article not to long ago about how the new soy based wiring insulation has been found to be even tastier for rodents.  New cars with so many electric features being munched on by critters, it's like a rolling buffet now. 

@IBMobile where do you find all this pictures , or you sitting in fotoshop making them up 

  I just go to Google and type in "The chicken man"  and up they come.  I wish I did Photoshop I'd really have a good time.

10 hours ago, dripley said:

We have a very useful device around the house for the few small mice we see. It's called a "cat". Our last cat ran out of mice and started hunting rabbits. He would decapitate them and bring them to the house for us to admire.

 

I hate cats inside the house so of course we have 2 and sometimes 3.  Don't ask but the 2 that stay do this a lot and also get moles of all things.  Last summer was the first in the 20 years we have lived here that I was not fighting moles digging up the yard so I guess there is some good in them.  And they keep the rabbit/mouse population under control.  =)