@#$%@#$% vermin

[Scott Danforth]

OK, so I parked the truck on the side of the house for the past week to keep the driveway clear for a bunch of gatherings. Today, go to hop in the truck to hook up to the boat and the door wont unlock with the remote.

Unlock the door, and the light and chime do not come on.

Stick key in and the truck is dead.

First thought....left the lights on. No, switch is in off position.
Second thought..... someone took the battery... Pop the hood....

Rats nest, with Mama, Papa, and 7 little wire chewing vermin.

The two big ones went scurrying somewhere under the truck

I have gotten 4 of the little ones with 3 of them squirming into areas un-accessible.

Now there are 3 rat traps, 2 mice traps, d-con and a few small tins of anti-freeze under the hood (dont want to harm any dogs or cats)

However all vermin must die

 

[garbageguy]

Re: @#$%@#$% vermin

time to have the dogs and cats turn it up a notch

 

[roscoe]

Re: @#$%@#$% vermin

So what did they chew through?

The red squirrels ate through my coil wires last year. $$

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: @#$%@#$% vermin

looks like they ate the wiring harness coming out of the ECU

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: @#$%@#$% vermin

Had a field mouse chew through some wiring on my old Jimmy many years ago. Not as bad for damage as yours though by the sounds of it. Good Luck.

 

[sphelps]

Re: @#$%@#$% vermin

Glue traps ! Love to watch em squirm before they die ..

 

[rivermouse]

Re: @#$%@#$% vermin

I caught a mouse in a glue trap once. I think he figured that if he would impress me I would let him go. He started doing push ups for me. I brought out our cat to watch and I think that this must have gave him a heart attack ..poor thing

 

[Fishing Dude too]

Re: @#$%@#$% vermin

Moth Balls, and peppermint oil will keep them away from where you don't want them.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: @#$%@#$% vermin

I know this is a tiny image but it is a mouse that stopped a 4.7L Toyota from running right.

I keep loaded mouse traps in my 3/4 ton chev all winter and usually catch a few a week. My only advice to you is this...... when you forget the traps are set and make a sharp turn......they can spring and fly around inside the vehicle....... it is a good surprise if you forget! Scares the hell out of you.

My other suggestion is to stop coating your wires with tasty food

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: @#$%@#$% vermin

I know what you are going through, I have caught over a dozen pack rats so far this fall, they are under my house, in my garage as well the cars, if I forget to open the hoods as night I will find them starting to build new nests every single day, I sure wish I could find a way to get rid of them once and for all!

 

[avenger79]

Re: @#$%@#$% vermin

had a squirrel make a nest in my camaro once while chewing the ECU wires up.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: @#$%@#$% vermin

Have the truck running now. Check Engine light is still on. Need to resurrect my laptop to plug it into the ALDL to check codes.

Placed a few rat traps with peanut butter in the bushes along the side of the lot. lets see what we get.

The wife thinks its tree rats / citrus rats. I told her they are hunted rats

 

[Fishing Dude too]

Re: @#$%@#$% vermin

If you put peppermint oil under hood will keep vermin away as they will not be able to smell their predators. Smell is better than moth balls

 

[canoemang]

Re: @#$%@#$% vermin

When im storing a vehicle or ice fishing gear/boat i throw a bunch of bounce dryer sheets in it.. Havent had any issues with mice to date and they smell way better than moth balls.

Sucks it only took them a week to do the damage they did man..

hopefully its a easier fix than you think..

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: @#$%@#$% vermin

Dryer sheets, mothballs, Irish Spring soap run through the cheese grater on the coarse side will all repel the vermin.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: @#$%@#$% vermin

Have the truck running now. Check Engine light is still on. Need to resurrect my laptop to plug it into the ALDL to check codes.

Placed a few rat traps with peanut butter in the bushes along the side of the lot. lets see what we get.

The wife thinks its tree rats / citrus rats. I told her they are hunted rats

Why not install a snake? I am sure a snake will eat the rodents and possibly work as a good theft deterrent for your truck

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: @#$%@#$% vermin

Why not install a snake? I am sure a snake will eat the rodents and possibly work as a good theft deterrent for your truck

Bob, I have a whole yard full of black racers and every once in a while a small juvenile python. they seem to only eat lizards and frogs - LOL

 

[Mr. PapaGeorgio]

Re: @#$%@#$% vermin

The peppermint oil - is that a spray? Or do you leave cups of it out? I put some cups of mothballs in the boat when I covered it up last week. Still worried that it isn't enough. Also have a battery operated motion detecting sonar device set up.

 

[Fishing Dude too]

Re: @#$%@#$% vermin

Put in bottle caps Papa

 

[southkogs]

Re: @#$%@#$% vermin

The peppermint oil - is that a spray? Or do you leave cups of it out?

You could probably soak an old sock in it and get the effect you need. Probably have to check it every couple of weeks to see how strong it is ...

… of course, depending on whose old sock it is you may not need the peppermint oil.